Resonant Sonic Drilling

Description

ResonantSonicª Drilling is an innovative tool used to drill wells that are primarily used for sampling. The ResonantSonic Drilling rig uses a combination of mechanically generated vibrations and limited rotary power to penetrate the soil. The drill head, which is attached to the drill pipe, consists of two counter-rotating, out-of-balance rollers that cause the drill pipe to vibrate. Resonance occurs when the frequency of the vibrations equals to the natural frequency of the drill pipe. The resonance and weight of the drill pipe along with the downward thrust of the drill head permits easier penetration of the formation, without adding drilling muds or lubricating fluids.

To obtain samples, one of two methods is used. In the first method, a wire-line is attached to a barrel that rests upon an open-face bit. After drilling has proceeded far enough that the inner barrel is filled, the wire pulls up the barrel without pulling the drill pipe out of the hole. In the second method, the inner-core barrel is attached to a small steel inner rod that is removed for core retrieval. The drill pipe that remains in the ground maintains borehole integrity.

Limitations and Concerns

Heating samples containing volatile chemical contaminants is of concern. Because this technology does not use fluids to cool the pipe and the formation, it can generate temperatures up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit. This may volatilize VOCs, affecting the integrity of the sample and posing worker safety issues.

This method may compact subsurface materials, thus restricting the natural flow of groundwater and soil vapor. This would limit the accuracy of monitoring wells drilled with this method.

The effectiveness of the system varies with the soil medium being drilled.

Applicability

ResonantSonic drilling has been used to sample geologic formations ranging from unconsolidated gravel-rich material to sandstone/shale sequences to clay-rich glacial till. Continuous samples have been obtained at depths as great as 550 feet.

Technology Development Status

This technique was developed in the early 1980Õs. Field demonstrations of the ResonantSonic drilling technology were conducted at the DOE Hanford Site and at Sandia National Laboratory from 1991 through 1994. The State of California teamed with DOE on some demonstrations. The technology now is commercially available.

Web Links

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/10109181-7jt82E/native/

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/197854-vN44jw/webviewable/

http://www.osti.gov/bridge/servlets/purl/174672-ozReYL/webviewable/