Abstract
Most wildcat wells are drilled with conventional oil well rigs. To reducecost of non-productive holes there is an increasing trend toward slim holes forexploration. It is suggested that a step further in this direction may be useof diamond drills.
In remote areas where cost of transportation is high; when targets, forexample pinnacle reefs, are relatively small and hard to pinpoint; whencontinuous core is an asset, the diamond drill may make economic sense. Onceproductive targets are encountered, conventional rigs become practical.
The advantages, disadvantages, limitations, and possible further adaptationof this normally "hard rock" tool in a "soft rock" environment arediscussed.
Introduction
The purpose of this presentation is to suggest avenues where the diamonddrill might be useful in exploration for oil and natural gas. The diamond drillis primarily a "hard-rock" tool and the problems of a "soft rock" environmentare different from those normally encountered by hard rock drillers.Nevertheless, under certain geological and geographical conditions the diamonddrill offers advantages which can be of economic interest to those engaged inthe search for oil and gas. This is particularly the case for stratigraphictests in remote areas.
Exploration for petroleum and natural gas and exploration for metals isconducted along the same general lines though the details vary widely. Photointerpretation, geophysics, and geological investigations indicate targetareas. Testing of these targets ultimately requires the use of drills.
Wildcat wells are drilled with essentially the same drill rigs as areproduction wells. Due to the high cost of wildcatting, considerable effort hasbeen expended to effect economies. One approach has been toward slim holedrilling. Realizing fully the limitations, it is suggested that a further stepin this direction might be through use of the diamond drill. Diamond drillshave been used successfully for stratigraphic tests in some areas and withsavings in cost of as much as 50 percent. Features of diamond drills throughwhich economies may be affected, compared to rotary rigs, include lower capitalcost, smaller crews, and lighter overall and unit weights.
It may seem odd that diamond, a gemstone that represents the height of romanticism and status, is also so highly valued in many industries. But in fact the majority of the world's supply of natural diamonds is employed for industrial purposes and only about a quarter of all diamonds are used in fine jewelry.
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The chemical composition of diamond makes it the hardest material, natural or man-made, known to man. It is this invincibility the makes diamond so sought after for use in industrial drills and cutting saws. An additional advantage of using diamonds in drilling tools is that the life of a diamond drill bit is much longer than any other drill bit material. With regard to its use as an abrasive or use in semiconductors, diamond is invaluable because of its thermal stability.
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Diamond is commonly used in the petroleum and mining industries. Diamond drill bits and coring bits are used for oil well drilling and obtaining core samples. Diamond is also incorporated into circular saws that are used for cutting slabs of marble, granite, and other types of extremely hard stone from quarried blocks. Drill bits, saws and other diamond tools must be custom made in a variety of diameters and lengths to correspond to specific materials and different pressures called upon in the use of the tool.
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Another industrial use for diamonds is to harness their power as a semiconductor. Blue diamonds in particular have superior electrical conductivity. Electrical current travels through a semiconductor and this can be used to create microchips. Diamonds have superior electronic qualities at higher temperatures than other minerals. Diamonds can also be used as a heat sink for semiconductors. Microprocessors, power-handling semiconductors and other micro-electromechanical systems require a method to reduce their temperature and diamond is very efficient in transferring this heat.
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Additionally, diamond particles perform better than other abrasives for polishing a variety of stone surfaces. Polishing materials are generally referred to as abrasives and powder made from diamonds is often referred to as a super-abrasive. Diamond powder consists of block-like, jagged diamond particles that have irregular surfaces. These strong edges hold up well through the extreme temperatures generated by the friction during abrasive sanding and polishing. Diamond powder is available in different grades of mesh, in which the shape and sharp edges of the particles vary in compactness and size.
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