DOE ISSUES CALL FOR DEEP DRILLING INNOVATIONS

Feb. 6, 1995
The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking industry research and development projects under its National Advanced Drilling and Excavation Technologies program. The program's goal is to develop technology that eventually will halve the cost of drilling deep wells. The program will support industry research on component subsystems, such as cuttings removal techniques, that will be integrated into complete drilling systems.

The U.S. Department of Energy is seeking industry research and development projects under its National Advanced Drilling and Excavation Technologies program.

The program's goal is to develop technology that eventually will halve the cost of drilling deep wells.

The program will support industry research on component subsystems, such as cuttings removal techniques, that will be integrated into complete drilling systems.

DOE said the most important technical target, as recommended by a National Academy of Sciences study, will be "smart drilling systems" capable of sensing downhole conditions so adjustments can be made at once.

DOE seeks proposals in four areas of drilling research: bit sensing and evaluation, formation properties sensing and evaluation, bit positioning and steering, and borehole stabilization.

It said current state of the art downhole technology supports measurement of some drilling parameters at the bit/rock interface.

"Innovative approaches are being sought to expand these downhole measurements to either sense bit wear or measure drilling mud properties. Downhole sensors should be compatible with conventional or advanced techniques for transmitting data to the surface."

Proposals are being sought to improve downhole measurement of formation properties near and ahead of the bit.

At least one of the following must be addressed: fracture detection away from the bit based on electromagnetic, acoustic, or other methods; advanced formation evaluation based on sensor measurements; or high resolution imaging capabilities.

The department said development of a smart drilling system will require advancements in current positioning and steering systems,

Projects are being sought for development of new sensing systems capable of determining bit position in three dimensional space within an accuracy of 1 ft and/or determining bit direction and the resultant forces to optimize steering.

Anticipated awards will be short term contracts for feasibility studies, valued at a maximum of $75,000, with possible 2 year follow-on support of as much as $750,000. Closing date for proposals is Mar. 1.

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