87
Ultra-Hard,
Nanostructured Silicon Carbide for Deep-Hole Drilling--Hyper-Therm
High-Temperature Composites, Inc., 18411 Gothard Street, Unit B, Huntington
Beach, CA 92648-1235; 714-375-4085, www.htcomposites.com
Dr.
Robert J. Shinavski, Principal Investigator,
Mr.
Wayne S. Steffier, Business Official,
DOE
Grant No. DE-FG02-03ER83675
Amount:
$99,982
The
cost for deep-well, hard rock drilling is highly dependent on the number of
drill trips down the hole necessitated by bit wear, bit failure, or required
maintenance. These factors are
particularly critical for drilling hard rock at significant depths, where
drilling costs increase exponentially with the depth of the hole. At
these depths, the bits tend to wear faster in the geological formations and at
the higher hole temperatures typically encountered.
This project will develop nanostructured SiC as a lower cost alternative
to polycrystalline diamond compact drill bit materials for deep-well energy
extraction. The nanostructuring, or
extreme grain refinement, of silicon carbide is expected to provide significant
increases in hardness, strength, and toughness.
In Phase I, nanostructured SiC materials will be produced and its
hardness, mechanical, and tribological properties will be measured to provide an
indication of the wear resistance of the material.
The variant of the nanostructured SiC that possesses the most attractive
properties will be tested in hard rock drilling, utilizing conditions
commensurate with normal field practices. The
results will be compared with polycrystalline diamond compacts.
Commercial Applications and Other
Benefits
as described by awardee:
Improvement
in penetration rates and bit life, offered by the nanostructured silicon carbide
drill bits for hard rock drilling, should significantly reduce the number of
drill trips, the drilling time, and manpower requirements, and improve site
safety, at a cost less than polycrystalline diamond compacts.