Subsurface Access & Sampling
Instrument-embedded Drill Strings
Honeybee has developed several drilling systems that employ sensors embedded within the drill strings themselves to accomplish engineering and science goals. Some of these sensors are used to collect engineering data such as torque, pressure, or temperature, which is of value to the automated drill controller. The data gathered by these sensors may also have scientific value as well — to characterize the mechanical properties of a target rock, for example. Other embedded sensors are part of integrated scientific instruments, and allow scientific data to be gathered without removing the drill from the hole.
Honeybee’s drill string designs have incorporated a range of scientific instruments, including an infrared spectrometer, a neutron spectrometer, and remote sample preparation for topside analysis by a mass spectrometer.
