The hydratherm hybrid drilling systems for cheaper heavy oil recovery

Nearly 20 years of research and field testing has resulted in the developme nt of Hydratherm (TM) 's hybrid drilling system, Which uses ultra-high pres sure (UHP) drilling fluid jets and/or a variable thermal spallation gas jet . The gas jet subjects the host rock to pulsed heat fluxes at temperatures ranging from 200 degrees C to 1,100 degrees C, producing thermal expansion and strength reduction of the rock-forming minerals. The UHP jets then quen ch, cut and erode the rock momentarily after heating. The combined mechanis ms enable ultra-fast rock penetration (20 - 50 m/hr in hard rock) by means of spallation, erosion, fracturing, chipping and cutting. This technology should bring about exciting developments in heavy oil recov ery, tar sand and oil shale exploitation, as well as having wider applicati ons in mining, tunnelling and geothermal energy recovery ("HDR heat mining" ).