How does sonic drilling work?

When the sonic drilling equipment has been laid out on site and prepared for use, the core barrel penetrates first with the sonic head attached to begin drilling into the subsurface material. Once you’ve reached the desired depth to retrieve a sample, the casing can then be inserted over the core barrel to capture the sample.

What is a sonic drilling rig?

A sonic drilling rig is unique in contrast to a standard rotary drill due to the sonic head at the helm of the rig. Within this sonic head are two rotating counterweights that produce a large amount of vibratory force, which becomes the resonance energy needed for the sonic drill to penetrate subsurface materials.

What is a sonic drill?

Sonic is an advanced form of drilling which employs the use of high-frequency, resonant energy generated inside the Sonic head to advance a core barrel or casing into subsurface formations. During drilling, the resonant energy is transferred down the drill string to the bit face at various Sonic frequencies.

How fast is sonic drilling?

Fast! Because sonic vibrations significantly reduce friction along the drill string, sonic drilling is 3-5 times faster (and sometimes more) compared to conventional drilling (depending on the soil). Drilling rates range up to 260 feet (80 m) or more per day.

What are sonic drilling steps?

Typical steps for sonic drilling include: Core Barrel Advancement – the core barrel is advanced using sonic frequencies. This step can typically be performed using no fluids, air, or mud.

How does a sonic head work?

A pneumatic isolation system inside the Sonic head prevents the resonant energy from transmitting to the drill rig and preferentially directs the energy down the drill string. The driller controls the resonant energy generated by the Sonic head’s oscillator to match the formation being encountered to achieve maximum drilling productivity.