revolutionary new technology sets drilling standards

With a reputation for being the fastest drill in town, sonic rigs are boring their way through Europe, Asia, North America, South America, Africa and the United Kingdom. So how did

sonic drilling technology become so popular and, perhaps more interestingly, who invented this rig anyway? The short answer to the first question is, quite simply, that it’s the right tool for the job and, in many cases, it’s the only tool for the job. The second question, however, deserves a slightly longer answer.

The history of sonic drilling technology is actually a story about the efforts of many but it is Ray Roussy, president of Sonic Drill Corporation and Sonic Drilling Ltd, who can clearly lay claim to the prize of improving the technology to the point that he could patent his improvements and commercialize a sonic drill that is both reliable and field tested. As a former engineer at Hawker-Siddeley, Roussy made the life-altering decision to pick up the torch of sonic drill research and development when the British aircraft company experienced a downturn in the 1980’s and dropped the sonic project.

 

Today, after 30 years of field testing and development, Roussy has not only patented his super-performing drill but he has succeeded in commercializing a rig that bores 3-5 times faster (depending on soil conditions) without using any drilling mud and is able to provide continuous core samples to depths of more than 300 ft. (100 meters).  As a result of these amazing attributes, sonic drilling can be employed in many applications including geo-technical and geothermal projects, environmental investigations and mineral exploration.

Sonic Drill Corporation’s patented sonic drill head works by sending high frequency resonant vibrations down the drill string to the drill bit, while the operator controls these frequencies to suit the specific conditions of the soil/rock geology.  Resonance magnifies the amplitude of the drill bit, which fluidizes the soil particles at the bit face, allowing for fast and easy penetration through most geological formations.  An internal air spring isolates these vibrational forces from the rest of the drill rig.  By providing the necessary rotational and vibrational forces, the sonic rig is able to core and case holes in any overburden material, drilling where most other rigs can't.

 

It's amazing technology that keeps converting skeptics into believers – a fact that Roussy believes will revolutionize the drilling world, one hole at a time.