Information Last Revised: 3 August 1993
TTP Reference Number: AL231105
1. Technical Name of Technology: Directional Sonic Drilling
2. Common Name of Technology: Sonic Drilling
3. PI and Telephone No: Jack L. Wise, 505-844-6359, Fax: 505-844-3952; Jerry W. Mercer, 505-845-7564, Fax: 505-845-7602
4. Affiliation: Department 6111 and 9333, Sandia National Laboratories
5. Technology Category: Drilling
6. Developers: Water Development Corporation & Sandia National Laboratories
7. Application
7.1. Where (in-situ/ex-situ): In Situ
7.2. Media: any geologic formation
7.3. Targeted Contaminants: wide range of VOC's, radiological materials, heavy metals, other chemicals.
8. Scope of project (feasibility study, treatability, bench, pilot, field):
Field
9. Integrated Demonstration (ID) Need/Requirements:
Slant hole boring is required by the Mixed Waste Landfill ID for access to, and characterization or monitoring demonstrations at, contaminated or potentially contaminated regions (e.g., the vadose zone) under, and adjacent, landfill regions.
10. Objective
10.1. Objective of technology (e.g., This technology will destroy VOCs in groundwater.):
This technology aims to provide rapid, cost-effective slant hole drilling and borehole emplacement for access to, and characterization/monitoring of regions within, under, and adjacent to known or suspected chemical or mixed waste repositories.
10.2. Baseline (baseline technology to which it is compared):
Cable Tool Drilling (Cable Tool)
11. Process Description:
Resonant sonic drilling employs an inertially activated drill head which generates high-frequency sinusoidal vibrations in a drill string to produce a resultant cutting action at the bit face. This cutting action forces a continuous core of the formation into the drill string. Due to the large forces developed by the resonance head and the uniform outer diameter of the drill string, excess formation material removed by the cutting face of the bit is forced back into the borehole wall, eliminating the production of cuttings during the drilling process. Boreholes featuring different depths and dimensions can be drilled with various sizes and types of tooling.
11.1. Input:
Borehole plans (e.g. location, slant angle, diameter, and depth); assessments of geologic formations to be encountered; selection of appropriate drill head, drill string, and cutting head elements; site preparation and hardware set-up; appropriate casing materials; technique for core sample recovery and handling; safe operational procedures; environmental protection measures.
11.2. Output:
Cost effective, angled boreholes beneath or near potential contamination sources (e.g. landfills, storage tanks, and laboratory/processing facilities).
12. Summary of Technology Advantages (relative to the baseline: faster, better, cheaper, safer):
Resonant sonic drilling yields continuous, relatively undisturbed cores; eliminates the downhole introduction of air, water, mud, or other drilling fluids; affords high penetration rates (up to one foot per second); is adaptable to any slant angle from vertical to horizontal) and virtually any type of geologic formation; and, most importantly, typically produces no cuttings (secondary waste stream) from the drilling process.
13. Limitations of Technology (relative to the baseline: faster, better, cheaper, safer):
The intense, cyclic mechanical loads associated with sonic drilling systems have led to destructive failure of certain system elements. Additionally, drilling performance is highly dependent on operator expertise. Heat generated downhole by sonic drilling may also be problematic for certain applications (e.g. bioremediation or monitoring of VOCs).
14. Major Technical Challenges:
Determination of the mechanical response characteristics of a sonic drilling systems an the associated loads experienced by system elements is needed, followed by (1) development of feedback control methods for optimization of system performance, and (2) hardware design changes leading to improved component and system reliability.
15. Technical Effectiveness:
15.1. Performance
15.1.1. Remaining Contamination: (contamination mobility reduction, volume reduction, toxicity reduction)
Summary (20 words or less): Not relevant for a drilling technology which only provides access for characterization, monitoring, and/or remediation.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.2. Process Waste
15.1.2.1. Status of waste (mobility, volume, hazard, recyclability)
Summary (20 words or less): Secondary waste stream is virtually eliminated by sonic drilling process; core samples are responsibility of monitoring group/agency.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.2.2. Treatment (needed, available)
Summary (20 words or less): As appropriate for contaminants entrained in the minimal waste stream, if any.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.2.3. Decontamination / Decommissioning
Summary (20 words or less): Decontamination necessary for hardware (e.g., drill head and string) retrieved from contaminated borehole, and for any contaminated vapors emanating from borehole.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.2.4. Disposal (needed, available)
Summary (20 words or less): According to appropriate regulations and site protocol.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3. Practicality
15.1.3.1. Foreclose Future Options
Summary (20 words or less): No effects on future options.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.2. Reliability
Summary (20 words or less): Mechanical failure of system elements to be minimized by redesign activities.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.3. Failure Control
Summary (20 words or less): Redesign and/or field replacement of affected components. The only impact to failures is system stoppage.
Further Description (unlimited length): A typical failure involves the drill pipe breaking, in which case it only need be fished out and replaced.
15.1.3.4. Ease of Use
Summary (20 words or less): To be improved by development of feedback control methods for optimization of sonic drilling performance.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.5. Infrastructure
Summary (20 words or less): Technical staff and instrumentation facilities to diagnose system and component failures and guide design modifications.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.6. Versatility
Summary (20 words or less): Applicable to a wide range of geologies and borehole requirements.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.7. System Compatibility
Summary (20 words or less): No known incompatibilities.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.8. Off-the-Shelf (procurement ease)
Summary (20 words or less): Resonant sonic drilling systems are commercially available from Water Development Corporation.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.3.9. Maintainability
Summary (20 words or less): Typically, about ten percent of the time must be spent on maintenance, or about four hours a week.
Further Description (unlimited length): Current mechanical failure rates should decrease (i.e., improve) with emerging analysis and redesign of components.
15.1.3.10. Safety Measures
Summary (20 words or less): As appropriate for typical drilling process, with special provisions for high noise levels and site-specific contamination issues.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.1.4. "Works" (functions as intended):
Summary (20 words or less): Despite current hardware and control issues, sonic drilling has been successful for continuous coring, monitor well construction, and horizontal drilling.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.2. Cost
15.2.1. Start-Up Cost
Summary (20 words or less): Probably around $500 K for the rig (this is only a guesstimate). Dependent on pricing set by manufacture (Water Development Corporation).
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.2.2. Operations and Maintenance Cost
Summary (20 words or less): Expected lower overall project costs compared to baseline technology.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.2.3. Life-cycle cost
Summary (20 words or less): Dependent on frequency and intensity of drilling application
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.3. Time
15.3.1. Years Until Available
Summary (20 words or less): This technology is currently available, with process improvements (e.g., feedback control and hardware redesign) expected within 2-3 years.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.3.2. Speed/Rate
Summary (20 words or less): Penetration rates are geology dependent; rates as high as one foot per second have been observed.
Further Description (unlimited length):
15.3.3. Years to Finish
Summary (20 words or less): It takes about two days to drill a single borehole.
Further Description (unlimited length): However, this is heavily dependent upon the parameters of the drill: whether or not the hole will be cased, whether it is vertical or horizontal, the desired size of the hole, depth and soil type.
16. Environmental Safety and Health
16.1. Worker Safety
16.1.1. Exposure to Hazardous Materials/Hazards
Summary (20 words or less): Hazards generally comparable to conventional drilling methods, with special provisions anticipated for high noise levels and site-specific contamination issues.
Further Description (unlimited length): Worksite monitoring and personal protective equipment (PPE) required, as appropriate, for mechanical, noise, and potential contaminant exposure hazards.
16.1.2. Physical Requirements
Summary (20 words or less): Standard construction requirements.
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.1.3. Number of People Required
Summary (20 words or less): Typically 3-5 people operate drilling equipment.
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.2. Public Health and Safety
16.2.1. Accidents
Summary (20 words or less): Standard risks associated with the use of heavy equipment and hydraulics.
Further Description (unlimited length): Prevented by establishment of authorized/limited-access exclusion zones to be maintained during setup and drilling process.
16.2.2. Routine Releases
Summary (20 words or less): None
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.2.3. Transportation
Summary (20 words or less): Risk levels typical of those associated with any mobile, truck-mounted heavy equipment.
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.3. Environmental Impacts
16.3.1. Ecological Impacts
Summary (20 words or less): Minimized or eliminated by absence of secondary waste stream.
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.3.2. Aesthetics
Summary (20 words or less): Temporary visual and audible disruptions during time frame of setup, drilling, and cleanup activities. Noise level probably slightly higher than the baseline.
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.3.3. Natural Resources
Summary (20 words or less): No anticipated impact.
Further Description (unlimited length):
16.3.4. Energy Demands
Summary (20 words or less): Approximately 50 gallons a day of diesel fuel.
Further Description (unlimited length):
17. Socio-Political Interests
17.1. Public Perception
17.1.1. Proponent Reputation
Summary (20 words or less): Sandia has a good reputation in sonic drilling, and other DOE agencies are aware that it is performing this work.
Further Description (unlimited length): Sandia is perceived as accomplishing new milestones, for instance by its drilling the first ever sonic slant hole at the Chemical Waste Landfill at Sandia.
17.1.2. Familiarity / Understandability
Summary (20 words or less): Sonic drilling has existed for over 30 years and should be easily comprehensible to anyone acquainted with well-drilling procedures.
Further Description (unlimited length):
17.2. Tribal Rights / Future Land Use
17.2.1. Capacity for Unrestricted Use (terrestrial, aquatic)
Summary (20 words or less): Not applicable.
Further Description (unlimited length):
17.3. Socio-Economic Interests
17.3.1. Economic Impacts
Summary (20 words or less): Employment opportunities for personnel to fabricate, maintain, and operate drilling equipment; logistical support of drilling crews by local businesses.
Further Description (unlimited length):
17.3.2. Labor Force Demands
Summary (20 words or less): Roughly several hundred man-hours per borehole.
Further Description (unlimited length):
18. Regulatory Objectives
18.1. Compatibility with Cleanup Milestones
Summary (20 words or less): Sonic drilling aids in the achievement of cleanup milestones by providing a means through which characterization activities can be done.
Further Description (unlimited length): The total number of U.S.-based sonic rigs (about 11) may be insufficient for meeting nationwide cleanup commitments.
18.2. Regulatory Infrastructure / Track Record
Summary (20 words or less): Existing infrastructure should be sufficient to verify personnel qualifications and site plans for drilling in contaminated areas.
Further Description (unlimited length): There are currently no sonic drilling-specific regulations that require anything more than standard drilling permits.
18.3. Regulatory Compliance
Summary (20 words or less): No anticipated problems meeting regulatory compliance.
Further Description (unlimited length):
19. Industrial Partnerships
19.1. Company Names:
Water Development Corporation
19.2. Rationale:
Water Development Corporation operates ten of the eleven known U.S.-based sonic drill heads and rigs.
19.3. Contract Mechanism:
Nondisclosure agreement between Sandia National Laboratories and Water Development Corporation. Currently working to get a CRADA.
19.4. Other Potential Companies:
None known.
19.5. International:
Several Canadian firms are active in the sonic drilling area.
20. Intellectual Property
20.1. Patent Ownership:
Resonant drilling technology U. S. patents, most notably those of the inventor (A. G. Bodine), are held by Water Development Corporation.
20.2. Other Owners:
None known.
20.3. Patent Number:
D. S. Drumheller, Analog Circuit for Controlling Acoustic Transducer Arrays", U. S. Patent No. 5,056,067.
D.S. Drumheller, "Acoustical Telemetry in a Drill String Using Inverse Distortion an Echo Suppression," U.S. Patent No. 5,128,901.
21. Cost Sharing:
22. Background on this technology (Where did the idea come from? Who else is doing similar work? What have the results been to date? What is the most significant competitor to this technology?):
Resonant sonic drilling technology has existed for over 30 years, originating most notably from the work of the inventor, A. G. Bodine. This technology has already been successfully applied to continuous coring, monitor well construction, and horizontal drilling activities.
23. Reference Documents:
D. S. Drumheller, "Acoustical Properties of Drill Strings", J. Acoustical Society of America, 85, 1989, 1048-1064.
D. S. Drumheller, "Extensional Stress Waves in One-Dimensional Elastic Waveguides", J. Acoustical Society of America, 92, 1992, 3389-3402.
Stearns, S.D. and R.A. David, Signal Processing Algorithms, Prentice Hall, 1988.
Wise, Jack L. "Development of Extended Dynamic Pressure-Shear Testing Methods," D.E. Grady and J.L. Wise, Dynamic Properties of Ceramic Materials, SNL Report SAND930610, 1993 (in press).