One remaining challenge associated with drilling geothermal wells is the presence of hard rocks, such as granite, that slow down the process and wear down drill bits. In turn, this causes drilling time and expenses to increase.
To combat this, a team of researchers from the J. Mike Walker '66 Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University is developing Shockwave and Plasma Accelerated Rock Cracking (SPARC) drilling technology. By making the creation of wells more efficient, accessible and cost effective, their U.S. Department of Energy funded project will help make geothermal energy a more viable alternative to fossil fuels.
According to Dr. David Staack, associate professor, Sallie and Don Davis ’61 Career Development Professor, and College of Engineering director of laboratory instruction, the team’s SPARC technology will equip traditional drill bits with high voltage electrodes on the tip that emit a microscopic plasma discharge to shock the rock and crack it like a tiny explosion. Creating fractures and weakening the rock will allow the drill head, affixed with conventional diamond cutters, to have an easier time breaking through the material.
As Dr. Alan Palazzolo described, along with setting the stage for further development of geothermal energy, using electric plasma bursts to increase the rate of penetration will enable the drilling process to be streamlined and therefore be more cost competitive with nonrenewable resources.
