Water-jet Drill Instead of Fracking Saves Water

A new water-jet drill, developed by a Brisbane-based company, uses a small amount of water compared to traditional fracking and uses a radial (horizontal) drilling technique in existing holes.

Fracking uses large amounts of water, some sand and chemicals, and concern about the practice and its long-term effects have led some states and territories to place moratoria on fracking or ban it outright.

The Brisbane-based company developing the water drill is the Australian arm of V2H International. 

CEO Doug Henderson said recent trials in coal-bearing regions of Queensland had reinforced the ability of the water-jet drill to be accurate enough to ensure it was able to drill above or below aquifers with no damage.

He conceded that even if it could, it did not alleviate the concerns of many that gas released by the process could migrate into groundwater and aquifers. 

Image: Water-jet Drill 
Image source:  V2H - Jetting Technology Demonstration video printscreen

"All we can do is work to try to mitigate any potential for any damage, so we work with operators to give them some tools to increase the likelihood of recovering the resource without damaging anything", said Mr Henderson.

"And to be clear, the water-jet drill isn't going to fix every problem everywhere, that's for sure. It's a niche tool with certain applications in areas it works within."

Source: ABC 
Video source:  V2H International

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Taxonomy

• Oil & Gas
• Energy
• Fracking
• Drilling
• Energy
• Drilling Machinery