Planetary Drilling Workshopand the Ritland Crater tour

28-29 August 2011, Stavanger, Norway

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Content:Introduction to the Document 7

The Ritland Tour 8

Introduction to the Workshop 10

The Programme 12

The Participants 13

The Drilling & Well Presentations 14

Planetary Drilling Tasks Presented 12

Application of Hydrocarbon Exploration Techniques 19

Way Forward 21

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“The journey into space and back to Earth again is a journey of both mental and technological development.”

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Introduction to this documentSpace & Energy is a network of technology companies, knowledge and research institutions focusing on the parallel challenges and oppor-tunities within the space and energy sectors.

We believe the intersection and interaction between these two large industries will reveal a vast potential for competence and technology transfer that will generate new solutions and new busi-ness opportunities.

This document describes the Planetary Drilling Workshop that we arranged during the Space Week in August 2011 in Stavanger. It is not a scientific paper; it is more for inspiration and energy for further work in this exciting field.

The Space & Energy teamStavanger, january 2012

www.spaceandenergy.no  

SuPPoRTED by :

We took the trip: The team on the edge of the crater. Read more on:www.ritlandcrater.org/Ritland.html

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The craTer was filled by sediments in cambrian times and covered by thrust nappes of the caledonian orogen in the Silurian–Devonian. Several succeeding events of uplift, erosion, and finally the Pleistocene glaciations, disclosed this well-preserved structure. The erosion has exposed brecciated rocks of the original crater floor overlain by a thin layer of melt-bearing rocks and post-impact crater-filling breccias, sandstones, and shales. Quartz grains with planar defor-mation features occur frequently within the melt-bearing unit, confirming the impact origin of the structure. The good exposures of infilling sediments have allowed a detailed reconstruction of the original crater morphology and its infill-ing history based on geological field mapping.

Rocks ejected from the crater form a marker bed within the lower-middle cambrian shale section. This is evidence that the impact was in a shallow sea setting, where the crystalline basement was covered by 10-20 m of sediments. large parts of the crater rim are pre-served and exposed to the east and north of the Ritland structure, and there are continuous exposed sections from the crater floor, through the walls, rim and ejecta.

In the location shown in the photo there is a good view of most of the remnants of the crater structure, the infilling cambri-an shale and sandstone as well as the overlying crystalline thrust nappes. Rocks belonging to the rim can be seen in the distance. The field trip also included the central parts of the structure where we studied the melt rocks, as well as sedi-mentary breccia and conglomerate formed by erosion from the crater wall following the impact.

The Ritland TourThe Ritland structure is a newly discovered impact structure, which is located in the municipality of Hjelmeland, near Stavanger, Norway. The Planetary Drilling workshop participants spent a whole day in the crater with the expert guidance from geologist and discoverer of the crater Fridtjof Riis.

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from The  inTroducTory presentation of brage W. johansen, Space & Energy’s

chairman:

Today we are going to discuss drilling in the extremes of the

Earth and the close bodies in the solar system. What do we

hope to gain by this meeting? We think that earthly advances in

drilling can be modified and used in space in the future. We think that the

extreme conditions and limits of the equipment in space will inspire earthly drillers to think even more radically in development for earthly purposes. The journey into space and back to earth again is a journey of both mental and technological development.

There is probably nowhere in the world, apart from here in Norway, where you find so many advanced drilling & well technologies. That is because we have been solving challenges offshore in extreme conditions and requiring strong safety measures for over thirty years.

The North Sea is a living laboratory of new inventions. Now these technological advances can be developed into use for space purposes and earthly green geo-thermal energy.

I will also spend a minute on a philo-sophical approach to this meeting; we are gathered here geographically on Earth, in Europe, in Stavanger, but we are also “here” on top of a climbing debt and financial crisis, we are “here” on top of 7 billion people on our small planet, we are “here” on top of a climate change curve and heating of the planet, and we are here on the peak of the oil age where hydrocarbon resources are ever more important but harder to get and more costly to buy. Why do I point out these things? The Nobel laureate in Economy from 2008, Dr. Paul Krugman, recently said to cNN that the best thing obama could do was to fake an alien invasion such that creativity and productivity could be turned into innovations instead of being world champions in budget cutting. We have another similar idea for obama: any country needs resources to

grow, so why don’t you conquer space. Parallel to the chinese expansion.

So with these grand perspectives I open this workshop.

During the day we will have presenta-tions from several innovative drilling technologies; innovative companies in Norway and TNo from Netherlands. Then we will hear from our Italian friends Thales Alenia Space on their perspec-tives; and then Dr. Pascal lee from Mars Institute/ NASA / SETI will challenge us with drilling scenarios both on Moon, Asteroids, Mars and Arctic Earth.

The collaboration between Energy and Space is not science fiction or action movies with bruce Willis. one sober example: IRIS, formerly known as Roga-landsforskning, tested the harpoons and drilling gear for the Rosetta mission that lands on the 67P / churyumov-Gerasi-menko’ (‘c-G’) comet in 2014. I really hope for more such collaboration between the Energy and Space sectors, and again wish you welcome to this workshop.

Introduction to Planetary Drilling Workshop

The Planetary Drilling workshop was held in Stavanger, 29 August 2011, as part of the Space Week in Stavanger. We especially invited companies and persons that could contribute to a fruitful start of this expansive topic between the Space sector and Energy sector.

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Program of the workshop08:30   Registration and coffee

09:00   welcome and introduction brage W. johansen, IRIS / Space & Energy chairman

Planetary exploration and drilling Pascal lee. MI, NASA, SETI.

mars & asteroids Thales Alenia Space (TAS), Gian claudio cassisa & Enrico Gaia

11:00 The new generation drilling

•  automation Kenneth Mikalsen, Seabed Rig

•  simplicity and flexibility Torvald Sande, Georigg

•  long distance ola Vestavik, Reelwell

•  rig less exploration Erling A Woods, badger Explorer

•  drilling autonomy Eric cayeux, IRIS

•  extreme sensors Richard braal, TNo

14:00 Brainwork: 4 groups , facilitated by SlIP

We have some creative tasks for you to really make you Think outside the box . . . and the Planet as well. We hope that the tasks will exercise your brain muscle and when solving extreme tasks, it will also make you think differently back on Earth.  • “asteroid protection” / brage

•  “moon exploration” / Pascal

•  “mining on mars” / Pascal

16:30 Summary and way forward

17:00 End of workshop

brage W. johansen IRIS Pascal lee MI/NASA/SETIGiordani Francesco Thales Alenia Spacebjørn ottar Elseth Norw Space centerEric cayeux IRISØystein lund bø IRISMartin Sigmundstad Iparkbirger Haraldseid Greater StavangerKatrine Vetlesen Space & Energychristopher Hoftun uiSTorvald Sande GeoriggAre lund SintefSigmund Stokka IRISRichard braal TNoKjell Magne Stangeland NoVola Vestavik ReelwellErling A Woods badger ExplorerTor Stein Ølberg SintefMari K. Kallåk Norwegian Space centerGianclaudio cassisa Thales Alenia Space

Enrico Gaia Thales Alenia SpaceKjell Markmann badger ExplorerSteinar Strøm StatoilMarianne Vinje Tantillo Norway Space centerKent Häll Aker SolutionsRoald Valen SeabedRigSvein Søyland SeabedRigNina Østhus GeoriggSvein olav Simonsen Dnboddbjørn Kvammen HalliburtonWim lekens GdFsuezoddbjørn Skjæveland ullrigg/IRISRichard loland Kongsberg DevotekAndy court TNobenoit Daireaux IRISManoo Eibpoosh Imego InstituteKenneth Malmström Imego InstituteMose Gebreselassie uiSFritjof Riis oljedirektoratetjens olav Hetland SlIP

Participants

Links to the main presenterswww.thalesaleniaspace.com Mars & Asteroids, Thales Alenia Space (TAS), Gian claudio cassisa & Enrico Gaia

www.seabedrig.com Automation, Kenneth Mikalsen, Seabed Rig

www.georigg.no Simplicity and flexibility, Torvald Sande, Georigg

www.reelwell.no  long distance, ola Vestavik, Reelwell

www.badger.no  Rig less exploration, Erling A. Woods, badger Explorer

www.iris.no and www.sekal.no Drilling autonomy, Eric cayeux, IRIS

www.tno.nl  Extreme sensors, Richard braal, TNo

THE WoRKSHoP WAS SPoNSoRED by :

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Asteroid

BackgroundAsteroids can be a threat to Earth if they are on a colliding path. However, they are a commercial mineral and metal resource too, and an important stepping-stone for future expansion in space.

frameworkclose to zero gravity, - 100° c, communication lag, onboard power plant.

Asteroid: 500 m diameter, 35% rock, 25% metal, 40% ice/carbon.

Success criteria: Minimal weight of equipment, minimal energy consumption, fail safe.

The Task

• NucleAr SceNArio– Drill down 20 meters and place a nuclear bomb 3,5 m x 0,5 m (diameter).

• MASS driver SceNArio– Drill much longer, process material and eject the material out in space, thus creating a force and emptying the asteroid.

>>

The Planetary Drilling ChallengesThe tasks below were presented to provoke creative brainwork. The challenges are, even in the simplicity presented here, real challenges that not long into the future could be commercial and necessary scenarios. And finally, to repeat the introductionto the workshop, studying the extreme challenges of space operations could develop solutions for our earthly world as well.

“Mars is the ultimate goal in mankind’s next step into local Space.”

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Depth (m) Upper Mantle

Lower Crust

Megaregolith

GroundIce?

Near Side

Far Side

GroundIce?

SkylightRegolith

Lava Tube

MooN SubSuRFAcE STRucTuRE (PAScAl lEE 2011)

MarsBackgroundMars is the ultimate goal in mankind’s next step into local Space. using both the Moon and asteroids as resources and stepping stones, Mars is the planet that is most similar to Earth and con-clusively has the most hope for permanent human settlement.

Mars is also the closest place in our solar system where we can hope to observe other lifeforms, ancient or living, in the water layers which are most likely found in the Martian geology.

framework• 38% earth gravity• weak atmosphere, low pressure, 95% co2

• 25 hr rotation, 668 sols (1,83 earth years)• 800 x uV radiation of Earth• too long communication-time to Earth, robots must be automated and autonomous

The Tasks• GrouNd ice Drill through regolith to Ice: 0 to 1 km (Permafrost drilling to ground ice table).

• liquid H2o Drill through regolith to liquid H2o: 0 to 2 km. Sense organisms. (Astrobiology).

• HeAt ANoMAly Drill through regolith to Heat: 0 to 5-10 km (Astrobiology. Volcanic Region Advantage?).

• ice cAp Drill through ice to rock: 0 to 2 km

MARS AS SEEN FRoM PHoENIx

MoonBackgroundThe lunar surface contains many sources for future value: titanium-rich minerals; helium3 for potential fusion processes and many more. However, what human settlement and/or future bases on the Moon need for both fuel and survival is water.

Another highly interesting feature of the Moon is the “lunar Skylights” which are holes in the Moon surface apparently revealing potentially vast caves and tunnels. These are especially interesting for a number of reasons; historic geology is one, future shelter and habitat sealing is another.

framework

The lunar Polar ice • Permanently-shadowed craters• Permanent Solar Power Nearby• continuous communications to Earth• No Atmosphere and No confining Pressure• Ice concentration: 10-100 ppm by weight• Ice Depth: <1 m +

The Tasks• Drilling for exploitation of lunar Polar Ice scenario• Exploration technology (kind-of-drilling) in “lunar Skylight” magma tubes.

luNAR SKylIGHT

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Depth (m)

Ground Ice

Liquid H 2O

Liqu

id H

2O?

Ground Ice

Volcano

Canyon

PolarCap

PolarCap

HeatAnomaly

MARS SubSuRFAcE STRucTuRE (PAScAl lEE 2011)

the reelWell Drlling MethoD: A long reach application for drilling in challenging conditions. Image shows the technology behind the Reelwell Drilling Method and its unique hole cleaning feature. www.reelwell.com

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Below is an overview of data acquisi-tion methodology commonly applied in the oil and gas industry with a short description and maybe some lesser known attributes/recent technology develop-ments. This might provide inspiration or direct application in for example rovers or in a full scale extra terrestrial borehole.

near  surface  maPPing  Technology for lava TuBe & ice deTecTion:1. GRouND PENETRATING RADAR GPR• has been making great progress with resolution at depth (up to 50-100 m). Interesting feature is that liquid absorbs the signal and ice would do the opposite, leading to deeper penetration. Very good for detecting cavities.• mobile and tried and tested in arctic en-vironment, can be towed in contact with soil or carried.

2. MAGNETIc MAPPING:• Magnetic gradiometers work very well for near surface mapping. commonly used to detect buried pipes or cables.• Small mobile equipment should allow mapping of magma tubes as negative anomalies.

3. coNDucTIVITy/EM MAPPING:• Pretty mobile but rather large as it needs distance between coils (3.7 m), commonly used to map environmental

spills. Surprisingly detailed.• will detect cavities and should detect ice• would be ideal on a robotic moon buggy

4. RESISTIVITy/coNDucTIVITy MAPPING WITH ElEcTRoDESclassic prospecting developed by the Schlumberger brothers circa one hundred years ago.Two methods: sounding and mapping.Sounding increases distance between electrodes leading to increased depth of penetration providing vertical “1D” information. Mapping keeps distance constant. Mapping with short distance electrodes 2-10 m gives very detailed in-formation (used on archeological sites and often used forensically) and requires very little power. Sounding is good for constraining the model, but needs power. Technology has been recently (last 10 yrs.) applied offshore, both sounding (www.petromarker.com) and mapping (www.emgs.com). Resolution is rather low, but penetration up to 2-3 km. • Electrodes need planting and moving, method will detect cavities and most likely ice. Has much deeper penetration rate then other methods above.

5. lIDAR IMAGING (INSIDE SKylIGHTS?)cave exploration is always done step-wise, you tackle one obstacle at a time and return after every step.

landing/dropping a lIDAR tool in a sky-light would allow mapping the tunnel in 3D and combined with a radar, an IR camera you might even detect some ice. The collected data can be draped on a 3D model derived from the lIDAR. once you know how they are shaped, how the terrain is like you can think about enter-ing them with a rover/tractor. lIDAR is probably useful anyway for any outcrop outside earth. Here is an R&D project that developed some excellent solutions (org.uib.no/cipr/Project/VoG/safari.htm)

regional maPPing Techniques:1. GRAVITy• Satellite gravity mapping of planets and moons is only a matter of time considering the success of the earth missions and would benefit from calibra-tion on the ground. • Gravimeters are getting a lot better, easier and automated and can be used while doing other forms of mapping (we combine it with seismic offshore). • Gravimeters would not detect the tunnels, but would provide important geophysical information and helping with understanding the deeper structure of planets, base of basalt flows, faults . . .• Permanent installment on the moon would be very interesting for tidal meas-urements & checking Einstein.

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Application of hydrocarbon exploration techniquesWim Lekens, senior Geologist GDF Suez, participated in the workshop and inspired by this he produced a shortlist of applicable exploration technologies. With the kind permission we copy it here:

“The real act of discovery consists not in finding new lands but in seeing with new eyes.” Marcel Proust

© REElW

Ell.coM

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2. SEISMIc MAPPINGMainly 3 types: reflection, refraction & passive. Measuring p-wave and s-wave velocity should allow differentiation between icy sediments (many learnings here from studying natural gas hydrates).Refraction seismic requires longer dis-tance but are critical to constrain subsur-face velocities structure required to pro-cess reflection data especially with lack of well data (many subbasalt exploration learnings).

REFlEcTIoN SEISMIc FoR DETAIlED IMAGING oF SubSuRFAcE• Source: Vibroseis is probably most suited considering lack of atmosphere, other known options: explosives or hammer • Reciever: 3c (three component land re-ceiver placed by rover), cable dragged by rover or independent nodes dropped from orbit (www.fairfield.com)• Acquisition: can be done 2D, 3D or spiral/coiled depending on target and objective e.g. saltdomes (or circular fea-tures like craters) benefit from a circular grid approach. one can also undershoot a target (e.g. basalt fields or craters).• Processing: important to have onsite data processing capacity for Qc and pri-mary data processing similar to large 3D surveys. Seismic processing is a massive discipline, huge selection of options & opinions.• Interpretation: well calibration is key, even shallow boreholes help. Many new ways of using the wealth of information in seismic data (spectral decomposition, tomography, amplitude vs offset, refrac-tometry)

Passive seismic: this could be cool, micro-seismicity on the moon using expansion & shrinkage or tides, could small impacts be measured and used for refraction and imaging of the core/mantle similar to earthquakes on earth?

Borehole aPPlicaTions: coRING/SAMPlING:• Sidewall coring: drilling in the borehole wall either with rotary sidewall coring tool (MScT-multi sidewall coring tool) on wireline or percussion (explosives).• An auger is good for soft sediment sam-pling up to 1m and has been commonly kitted out ATVs for prospecting and pol-lution monitoring.• coring with coring bit, core catcher and sleeve – lot’s of good technology here one of the new highlights Rockstrong Swivel from Halliburton for really hard formation• coring through the bit. Not so common but ideal for scientific drilling and con-tinuous coring . long experience by www.iodp.org• Magnetic property measurements would ground truth magnetic measure-ments from satellites

uSEFul boREHolE ToolS:• lWD/MWD logging while drilling/measuring while drilling• Sonic tool like a dipole sonic measures Vp, Vs in multiple direction for anisotropy. Note Stoneley waves can used for perme-ability estimation• Resistivity tools would detect aquifers. • NMR tool would clearly identify hydrogen• Downhole torque measurement (NEW), useful to maximize bit life• Gamma ray standard tool good for identification of geological features• Neutron porosity tool• Image tools: resistivity gives highest resolution, but sonic & density tool can also provide borehole image. Very usefull for geologists• Survey tools (required if you want to know where you drill) • MDT modular dynamic tester allows measuring pressures and temperatures, takes fluid samples (liquid & gas) and analyzing fluid (basic info) – no direct application here, but the tool is very flex-ible and robust, allows sample bottles,

tolerates high temperatures (xPT tool Schlumberberger), uses a pad on a retract-able arm and can isolate the borehole with packers and pump to draw fluid out of the formation.• Imaging tools: imaging of the borehole can be done using resistivty, density & sonic tools. Resistivity (FMI) is the best and most detailed. Not quite sure how well it would perform without a fluid and an atmosphere.

All major service companies carry these tools, all use different lingo (Schlum- berger, Halliburton, bakerhughes). one very interesting publication is from a land well drilled in the basalts of the Faroe Islands as it gives a good feel of what is feasible without going overboard: www.geus.dk/publications/bull/nr9/

oTher:DRIll bITSThe right bit and drilling parameters (weight on bit & RPM) make a massive difference for any type of drilling/coring, especially when dealing with hard or abrasive rock (basalt). large selection and expertise. Main high tech vendors: DbS (Halliburton), Reed Hycolog, Smith (Schlumberger). our approach is to carry plenty of backups and different types to be ready for most situations. often two vendors are delivering bits for the same job, competing on who is best. Rock strength modeling helps the selection.

cPT – cone Penetration Test, classic geo-technical tool measures soil strength. often has a sleeve that measures shear resistance & can be equipped with geo-phones, conductivity/resistivity measure- ments, magnetometers, laser fluores-cence (e.g Wikipedia). A type of rover with ground anchoring capability with a hydraulic small cone penetration tool could be a quick and powerful addition for soft sediment exploration. No need for rotation should make the design easier.

sPace & energy The Space & Energy network will continue our work with technology transfer and creating meeting places for professionals from both Energy- and Space sector.

our 4th S & E seminar will be held during oNS 2012 (www.ons.no) around 27-31 August.

deeP drilling on marsWith the great support and initiative from Pascal lee / Mars Institute, and as an action from the Planetary Drilling Workshop, the petroleum technology student christopher Hoftun from university of Stavanger has started as intern with Mars Institute. In 2012 he will study and review the project “Deep drilling on Mars”. This will link the drilling & well competence in Norway with the Mars experts at NASA Ames / Mars Institute.

We are very happy this project is happening and Space & Energy / IRIS will work hard to meet Mars Institute / NASA ‘s effort to develop Planetary Drilling competence.

The haughTon craTer – The mars insTiTuTe wiTh nasaDevon Island in the Arctic region of canada is one of the places most like Mars in many ways. We hope that the project Deep drilling on Mars will start a process of performing experimental and scientific drilling in the crater. The strong limits of infrastructure, extreme conditions and the goal of zero local popllution could both benefit Mars’ and Arctic drilling technology of the future.

Way forward

NASA/ESA

ERD

© REElW

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extenDeD reach Drilling (erD): RDM enables drilling of well sections with challenging pressure conditions and drill-ing to targets beyond conventional reach.

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