Application of a New Water-saving Drilling Technology for Dry Region

摘要

China is a water-lack country, and water shortage has become one of the major problems influencing normal drilling in dry regions. A large amount of water would be needed by using traditional drilling technology, and it works abnormally in badly aleak strata. Developing a water-saving drilling technology used in water deficient areas is an urgent task for drilling engineers. This paper introduces the working principle of and technical keys to a new water-saving drilling technology and its field applications in Shanxi province. This technology uses groundwater to realize bottom-hole drilling fluid local circulation and is mainly applicable for dry regions where there is no surface water; leakage occurs in upper strata and water exists in deeper strata. It comes into being water pressure pulse by a plunger pump and a special device without adding any large equipment, periodic water pressure change drives the plunger inside hole to do reciprocating movement for bottom-hole drilling fluid local circulation. Indoor and field tests indicate that it consumes a small amount of water, does not disturb strata, and can improve drilling efficiency and reduce drilling costs. With implementation of state geology investigation strategy, drilling work capacity increases greatly, and the new water-saving drilling technology will have both very high economical value and application prospective.