Historically, the primary purpose of drilling is to locate and extract oil. And since the first successful retrieval of oil using a drill rig, this industry has evolved to become one of the booming business sectors globally.
From the most highly primitive method, the capabilities of drilling technology today are becoming significantly superior and advanced.
Advances in technology have greatly contributed to this considerable development in this industry.
The introduction of highly innovative and versatile drilling equipment like sonic drill has opened many opportunities and numerous applications across different industries.
Sonic technology has gained a lot of interest from drillers because of its advantages and applications in multiple industries.
This article is intended to discuss the different applications and advantages of sonic compared to other standard drilling methods.
But first, let me give you an overview of sonic technology and how it works.
What is Sonic Drilling?
Sonic drilling is a technique that combines or incorporates the use of high-frequency resonance to enable the drilling process. Sonic technology allows efficient penetration and core recovery in different subsurface conditions.
In this method, the operator of the drill rig selects a frequency based on the material being drilled and then activates the rig’s sonic component. After which, the rig sends vibrations to the drill head that causes a liquefying effect to the soil or the rock being encountered.
The high-frequency vibrations minimize the friction between the subsurface material and the tooling/core barrel being advanced, allowing efficient penetration and a high core recovery rate.
Advantages of Using a Sonic Drill
The sonic technology provides numerous advantages over other drilling methods.
- Provides a continuous sample with close to 100 percent recovery in all soil types.
- Faster than conventional drilling methods depending on site conditions.
- Reduces waste by up to 80%.
- Delivers superior information and a relatively undisturbed core sample of unparalleled quality and accuracy.
- User friendly and cost-effective.
- Provides operational safety and minimizes risks.
- Reduces the environmental impact.
Various Applications of Sonic Drilling
Today, sonic is considered one of the most up-and-coming methods in the drilling industry mainly because of its speed and ability to provide a continuous sample in any material.
Applications for this method include:
- Infrastructure
- Mining Exploration
- Construction and Development
- Environmental
Sonic technology is certainly not the answer for every project. And to determine if the sonic applies to a particular site, drill rig companies can inspect the site if it is a good candidate for this technique.
Summary
Sonic has multiple benefits compared to other drilling methods available in the market today. And with all these qualities and advantages that sonic provides, it is clear that this method holds the potential of achieving great results and is a significant advancement in drilling technology.