Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

Drilling or rock penetration is a fundamental activity involved in a wide range of engineering activities, for example drilling wellbores for exploration and production of petroleum resources, diamond core drilling and blasthole drilling for the mineral industry, and drilling wells for environmental and geotechnical engineering applications. Recently, drilling is becoming a key component of environmental sustainability with increased activities for geothermal energy generation/storage, underground compressed air energy storage, and the development of large diameter drilling technology to replace higher cost and energy consuming conventional mining methods. Current drilling practices and ongoing research recognize that maximizing drilling efficiency depends on several key factors including optimizing drilling penetration mechanisms so that the drilling energy is predominantly consumed to fragment the rock; reducing bit/cutter wear or damage to extend bit life; efficiently clearing and transporting drill cuttings; mitigating unwanted drilling vibrations that can damage bits, drilling tools, drill strings and host rock; and having reliable rock formation properties and parameters (e.g. pore fluid pressures) of the formations being drilled. Modern drilling systems have many integrated sensors that record a range of drilling parameters in near real-time. In the past, the same types and quality of data could only be measured under laboratory drilling conditions but can now be acquired for drilling activities in many industry sectors. This provides the capability to better develop/calibrate drilling penetration models, optimize drilling practices and methodologies, invert for key formation parameters while drilling, and develop drilling tools and technologies to help achieve these goals. The scope of the proposed research is to investigate each of these key areas through combined laboratory, numerical and field activities, with overall objectives to enhance fundamental understanding of drilling penetration mechanisms, improve drilling practices, and develop novel drilling tools and technology. Progress and achievements in these areas will keep Canadian researchers, laboratories and companies at forefront of drilling engineering research and development. Highly Qualified Personnel will benefit through engagement in this leading edge and interdisciplinary research.