High Voltage Electric Pulse Drilling: A Study of Variables through Simulation and Experimental Tests

With the deepening of drilling depth, the difficulty of drilling engineering increases gradually due to the complex geological conditions. The traditional mechanical drilling method shows the problems of high energy consumption, low efficiency, long cycle and high cost. Because of the characteristics of rock, the high abrasiveness of rock causes great wear to the bit, which becomes an important factor affecting the drilling rate. High voltage electric pulse (Abbreviated as HVEP later in this paper) drilling technology is a new technology developed in the past several decades. The technology uses plasma channel, water jet or shock wave generated by high voltage electric pulse discharge to break rock. It has the characteristics of environmental protection, directional breaking, easy control of rock breaking process and fast speed in the face of complex hard rock. In this paper, the mechanism and technology of rock breaking by high voltage electric pulse method in deep drilling are studied, and the functional test is carried out.