Project 4: Petrophysical Logging While Drilling (LWD)

Timing:

Phase 1:
1 January 2019 - 31 December 2021

Cash Funding:

$1,020,700

Project Participants:

Research Participants:

• Curtin University
• CSIRO
• University of South Australia

Industry Participants:

• Imdex
• MIRWA
• South 32

Project Summary:

In this project we will develop the capacity for real-time vectoring during drilling into a new generation of lightweight coil tubing (CT) drill rigs built for the minerals industry. New geophysical logging-while-drilling (LWD) sensors and real-time subsurface reconstruction algorithms will be designed to integrate within exploration or mining workflows. The research has two linked components; (i) development of new sensors for real-time multi-parameter LWD with a CT drill rig and (ii) automatic subsurface reconstruction for steering towards a target (geo-steering) based on geophysical sensing while drilling. This research will extend the reach and value of every meter drilled into a 3D search space ahead of and around the drill bit.

Phase 1 Objectives:

• Deliver a prototype real-time geophysical sensing system integrated within a minerals CT (coil tubing) drilling process.
• Design and test sensor systems compatible with the wireline telemetry in a minerals CT drill rig to display and continuously update some aspect of the subsurface. The phase 1 system will lead to multi-sensor tools, algorithms and code for input to trajectory control to be developed during phase 2 and 3.