Modeling Laser-Spallation Rock Drilling

High-power lasers can weaken, spall, melt, and vaporize Earth materials, with thermal spallation being the most energy-efficient rock-removal mechanism. The most interesting focus of recent laser rock-drilling research is on developing a laser rock-spallation technique to drill large and deep holes in rocks. Laser spallation has a rock-removal rate higher than conventional rotary drilling and flame-jet spallation. Research also is focused on the use of laser rock spallation to make perforation channels with improved permeability of the perforated rocks.

View a Synopsis of SPE 95746.

This article, written by Assistant Technology Editor Karen Bybee, contains highlights of paper SPE 95746, "Modeling of Laser Spallation Drilling of Rocks for Gas- and Oilwell Drilling," by Z. Xu, SPE, Y. Yamashita, and C.B. Reed, Argonne Natl. Laboratory, prepared for the 2005 SPE Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition, Dallas, 9-12 October. The paper has not been peer reviewed.