COLDfire...
...Cryogenic
Mining
Oil & Gas Drilling Test
Program
A number of tests have been undertaken in the United States on rock drilling equipment. While the tests are incomplete in that they are still to be conducted in all mediums of ground makeup, the tests have given an excellent insight into the improvements effected by treatment with the COLDfire Cryogenic Thermal Cycling process.
Testing is currently being conducted in both land and offshore Oil and Gas mining in the United States, Desert Oil mining in the Middle East and Underground Gold mining in Australia.
The rock drilling bits tested and reflected in the initial results all have rotating sealed bearings with Tungsten Carbide bits and cutters embedded into the OD of the rotating heads. All the bearings are all of Timken design.
The Natural Gas Drilling bits are more basic in design and are used to hammer as well as turn as they are pushed into the ground. They are also designed with tungsten carbide buttons on the heads to improve their wearability.
Comparison Drilling Test Results
| Well | Bit Type | Drill Parameter | Total Ft Drilled | Drilling Time | Penetration Rate ft./hr. | COLDfire treated Y / N |
| D&M Smith #1 | Diamond Gauge | 1240' 3350' | 2110' | 14 hr 9 min | 149.12 | No (Control) |
| D&M Smith #2 | Diamond Gauge | 1215' 3500' | 2285' | 16 hrs 47 min | 135.15 | No (Control) |
| D&M Smith #3 | Carbide Tipped | 1285' 3630' | 2345' * | 15 hr 24 min | 152.27 | Yes |
Conclusion of Test Protocols
"With the second use of the treated drill to another 1610 feet on a second well that was started at 2000', below the profile depths of rock shale and sand formations so no direct comparison or conclusions of wear or penetration rate are valid to the tests. However, it is a significant factor that we drilled a total of 3955 feet between both wells with little deterioration in the exterior appearance of the bit (i.e. no buttons missing and in gauge).
Given the performance of the treated carbide bits bettering the performance of the diamond bits we would like to conduct further testing with a set of diamond bits".
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