Energy transition, mechanical response and rock fragmentation in percussion drilling: A review

Abstract

Depleting shallow resources and the growing climate crisis have increased demand for deep resource development and surface waste storage. This necessitates advancements in drilling engineering to address the high costs associated with low drilling rates, particularly in deep hard rock formations. Percussion drilling has emerged as a preferred method for its efficiency in hard rocks. This study reviews the historical development of percussion drilling and discusses existing experimental testing methods, emphasizing the challenges related to automation and data collection. This review article quantifies energy transfer, distribution, and transition during the multiphase interactions in the percussion drilling process. Key factors affecting the mechanical response of the bit-rock interaction during percussion drilling are explored. Finally, the review discusses how these factors influence rock fragmentation performance and damage characteristics. Despite extensive research, key gaps persist in understanding rock failure under high-temperature and in-situ pressure conditions. This review highlights current research gaps and proposes future directions, including the need for comprehensive experimental studies, the development of advanced modeling techniques, and the consideration of deep high-temperature and high-pressure conditions. Addressing these gaps can significantly enhance drilling efficiency and contribute to more sustainable resource extraction strategies. Additionally, the insights and conclusions from this study are not exclusive to drilling engineering but can also provide references for mining, underground space construction, and tunnel excavation fields.