| Title | Fast Hole Making while Steering with Directional Steel Shot Drilling: Technology Overview and Field Performance |
|---|---|
| Authors | J.J.Blangé, A.Reinicke |
| Year | 2026 |
| Conference | World Geothermal Congress |
| Keywords | |
| Abstract | In recent years, the start-up Canopus developed the Directional Steel Shot Drilling (DSSD) technology. DSSD is a unique combination of the latest Polycrystalline Diamond Compact (PDC) bit technology and steel shot erosion. The hybrid PDC-steel shot erosion technology is found to drill faster than a PDC bit on its own while the reduced mechanical forces improve bit longevity and reduce drilling assembly vibrations. Furthermore, the downhole steering sub of DSSD controls the erosion of each hole bottom section thereby creating an effective directional action and turning DSSD effectively into a Rotary Steerable System. The only energy source for the steering sub is a commercial down hole battery and steering does not impact the rate of penetration. The paper describes the DSSD concept, its components, and operational features like the real-time drilling performance optimization, the steel shot circulation control system, and the high directional accuracy of the steering sub. Next, actual DSSD performance at full scale drill test facilities and in field pilots are presented. Target rock types include sandstone, limestone, and granite. The first field application of DSSD concerned the successful construction of two closed loop borehole heat exchangers including drilling unstable sandy clay as well as chert. Case studies on the impact of DSSD-enabled geothermal structures show an up to tenfold heat production per bore hole heat exchanger and a threefold heat production per DSSD-multilateral doublet. The paper concludes with the field pilot preparations of a high temperature version of DSSD for deep and ultra deep drilling. |