We introduce Mr. Innovation - Ivan Kocis

Ladies and gentlemen, a short time ago, Mr. Ivan Kocis joined our group on Facebook. Very openly, it is appropriate to call him „Mr. Innovation“. Let us provide some basic facts about his career background.

This time, Mr. Ivan Kocis is the President and Chairman of the Advisory Board of GA Drilling a.s. - the innovative technology company developing the breakthrough system enabling efficient ultra deep drilling for accessing and utilizing the vast sources of geothermal energy anywhere in the world.

Ivan is the inventor of five registered patents on field of engineering and ICT. He is research veteran, with 35 years of experience in leading positions within the large organizations and successful start-ups.

He is a member of various executive and scientific EU technological platforms‘ bodies and since 1990 he has hold several posts in Slovak government administration, all linked to research and development.

In 1999 he became the founder and chairman of The Eurovalley Industrial and Technological Park in Slovakia, which focuses on renewable and geothermal energy. From 1992 to 2000, as the CEO of the INFOTRANS Company, he achieved a dominant position in the special government-security market in Slovakia.

Before 1989, he led the R&D of the robotics and automation technology at the Institute of Mechanics and Automation of the Slovak Academy of Sciences. In other words, he led the team composed of 400 researchers. From 1964 to 1996 he published more than 80 scientific reports linked to automation and ICT. Under his leadership and with his participation, his team developed the first ever 16-bit computer in former Eastern block.

He holds the M.Sc. from the Technical University in Bratislava, specialization mechanization and automation as well as the Ph.D. from the Slovak Academy of Sciences. Beside the mother tongue, he speaks fluent English, German and Russian.

From geothermal history: „Hot Dry Rock“ inspired also Mr. Nikola Tesla

Phenomenon of geothermal energy is not the discovery of our generation. At the very beginning of it, in 1852, Lord Kelvin focused his attention on natural heat as an enormous source of power at disposal for human being. On the other hand, knowledge on field of physics had been not enough developed in order to find ways how to exploit geothermal potential or potential of other sources of natural heat. Later, better understanding of thermo-dynamics came, so heat accumulated in Earth could had been started to be explored step by step.

„It is a well-known fact that the interior portions of the globe are very hot, the temperature rising, as observations show, with the approach to the center at the rate of approximately 1° C. for every hundred feet of depth,“ concluded Mr. Nikola Tesla in 1901 on the pages of Century Illustrated Magazine. His article, published at that time, was focused on thinking about various answers to issue of growing global energy demand. Among the solutions also the Sun's heat was mentioned (full article you will find on this link).

Thirty years later, in 1931, Mr. Nikola Tesla stated: „All that is necessary to open up unlimited resources of power throughout the world is to find some economic and speedy way of sinking deep shafts." This is quote from „Everyday Science and Mechanics“, in which he analyzed the possibility of using alternative sources of energy for producing electricity, beside the fossil fuels (full article you will find on this link). Once the shaft would had been filled by water, closed water loop could be established, thought Mr. Tesla. This could have been utilized for generating of steam, which would have been used in steam turbines, he assumed.

Well, in conclusion, developing “Hot Dry Rock” concept is not about „investing the wheel“, it has been known at least since the times of Nikola Tesla. On the other hand, for 80 years since that time geothermal energy technologies made some progress, but the technology enabling „economic and speedy way of sinking deep shaft“ (to depths of eight or more kilometers) is still waiting to be developed. It would mean a huge potential as well as a huge challenge.

Focused closely on „Hot Dry Rock“

All of you know that: Imagine you are on the beach during a sunny summer day. No clouds, no wind, just sun. Suddenly you decide to walk without shoes on your feet. Possible? Impossible because rocky road is too hot for your skin on feet. Actually, the rock can be good absorbent of enormous heat and it can deliver it quite quickly to all things in close contact with it.

Quality of rock is the same on Earth's surface as well as underground. This principle uses geothermal approach called „Hot Dry Rock“. If there are no natural hot water streams or natural hot water reservoirs, we can establish closed water loop and inject it down the well under high pressure. This water is warmed by „hot dry rock“ underground. In other words, in each area under the Earth's surface there is geological layer composed of rock. It is close to hot magma and it is of a very hot temperature. If we drill enough deep and make water to circulate through rock pores, after it is heated we can pump it above and use it as a source of energy in geothermal power plant. In order to bring rock permeability as close to ideal as possible, we can fracture this rock manually, through controlled detonation. Altogether, this process uses so called Enhanced Geothermal Systems.

There are more types of geothermal classification. One of them defines so called „hydrothermal“ and „petrothermal“ types of energy. „Hydro“ means that we drill and exploit presence of natural hot water. On the other hand,  „petro“ refers to drilling in order to establish closed water loop circulating through „hot dry rock“. Surely, in each area there are some natural underground water sources and at the same time, not all water injected down the well is able to be pumped back, so „petrothermal“ represents just ideal concept. In reality, all geothermal energy installations are combination between hydrothermal and petrothermal (based more or less on concrete type). But in general, „Hot Dry Rock“ is usually linked to „petrothermal“.

Well, this was just a brief explanation of what „Hot Dry Rock“ means. All is sketched on picture by civil engineer Mr. Geoff Sims on picture at the bottom. We also reccommend 10 minutes video explanation below:

PLASMABIT Movement and anchoring subsystem

We are finalizing the presentation of particular subsystems of PLASMABIT. In this article we are focused on synchronization of the drilling process with surface material supply channels. 

Autonomous movement and anchoring subsystem works in extreme conditions of high temperatures and high pressure with the following requirements:

• Anchoring system holding whole weight of the PLASMABIT rock disintegration system with no load on the cabling system       
• Movement system securing movement of the PLASMABIT rock disintegration system with the drilling process      
• Movement system securing synchronization with surface and cabling supply system       
• Computer controlled and synchronized with all drilling activities      
• Movement and anchoring system securing no load and twist on inner cabling of the PLASMABIT rock disintegration system

 

Fully computer-controlled tractor drilling system securing continual movement of the PLASMABIT rock disintegration system with the drilling process.

PLASMABIT Interface with surface subsystem

Last month, we started the series of articles describing the PLASMABIT - system for deep drilling in depths 6 kilometers (and deeper) in geothermal energy as well as hydrocarbon industry. Today we are focused on subsystem responsible for interface with surface.

This advanced cabling solution for energy and material supply for PLASMABIT rock disintegration system enabling real-time Logging-While-Drilling with on-line connection to downhole drilling activities. The subsystem is based on multi-channel cabling system for:

• Electrical power supply for PLASMABIT rock disintegration subsystem
• Electrical power supply for PLASMABIT Movement and anchoring subsystem
• Demineralized water supply for PLASMABIT rock disintegration system as a plasma media for thermal disintegration
• Water supply for downhole cooling processes
• Optical fiber and Power-Line-Communication (PLC) for real-time controlling, measuring, sensing, logging and system information gathering of the drilling process
• Carrier rope for cable strength, weight and elasticity support
• Advanced cable guarding and shielding techniques

Interface to coiled tubing solution enables simplification of whole drilling process and logistics. The next article will be dedicated to the Movement and anchoring system.

PLASMABIT Rock disintegration subsystem

As we wrote in August, PLASMABIT deep drilling system is composed of several subsystems. The one that stands in the core is the PLASMABIT Rock disintegration subsystem.  

Despite the classical drilling methods, this one uses non-contact drilling process based on innovative approach modified for extreme thermal, physical and pressure conditions. It is not the method based on physical contact between the rock and the drilling platform, but it exploits electric plasma arc. Due to this subsystem, PLASMABIT offers penetration rate comparable to the present-day systems. Rock disintegration sybsystem ensures:

• Destructive spatial plasma disc impact
• Full drilling diameter impact
• Enhanced disintegration force
• Computer control over impact and speed of disintegration
• Casing option possibility
• Enhanced electrode guarding principle
• Independent energy generators
• Working reliably for months
• Extremely resistant cooled electronics
• Emphasis on failure prevention

Different independent energy generators in the PLASMABIT system ensures energy for efficient rock disintegration process. The subsystem works continuously and reliably for months. Autonomous distributed controlling, monitoring and communication system with low complexity, but extremely resistant and redundant cooled electronics works in extreme harsh environment of 1000 bars and 400 °C (750 °F). All in all, PLASMABIT system, has the ability to drill economically regardless the depth - it means also in deep depths (3-10 km) suitable for Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS).

We present groundbreaking PLASMABIT system

To this time, we wrote just about geothermal energy in general and we also introduced ourselves. The time has come to start talking about Geothermal Anywhere‘s innovative drilling concept that could find the huge sense when it comes to geothermal energy, but at the same time, PLASMABIT™ could become the useful solution in hydrocarbon (oil and gas) drilling industry as well.

What is hidden beneath PLASMABIT system term? Proudly we say - this is our technology , this is our innovative approach to deep drilling, this is the end of exponential growth of drilling costs in depths 3 kilometers and deeper.

Summarized, PLASMABIT can be characterized by 6 denominators:

• 5-times cheaper than any of today‘s drilling methods,
• 4-times faster in comparison with the other drilling procedures,
• 3-times larger diameter at the bottom,
• 2-times deeper than common drilled well,
• 1 process for casing and drilling
• 0 tripping and drilling bit replacement 

PLASMABIT is a revolutionary innovative cost-effective system for drilling and casing-while-drilling system (ContiCase system add-on). This comprehensive system consisting of several complementary subsystems each solving a specific task during drilling process:

• PLASMABIT Rock disintegration system - Non-contact drilling process based on innovative approach modified for extreme thermal, physical and pressure conditions.
  

• PLASMABIT Interface with surface subsystem - Advanced cabling solution for energy and material supply for PLASMABIT rock disintegration system enabling real-time Measuring-While-Drilling with online connection to downhole drilling activities. 

• PLASMABIT Movement and anchoring subsystem - Autonomous movement and anchoring subsystem works in underground extreme conditions of high temperatures and high pressure securing synchronization of the drilling process with surface material supply channels.  

Regarding PLASMABIT, in order to learn more about it, we prepared the set of articles describing each of its components - one by one. Stay with us - we start in September.

GA Drilling Announces Technology Development and Strategic Investment Agreement with Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG

Bratislava, Slovakia – July 29, 2013 — GA Drilling, the innovative drilling technology development company, announced today that it has concluded a technology development and strategic investment agreement with Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG (SBO), the global market leader for high-precision components for the oil service industry. The partnership will allow GA Drilling (GA) to further develop its patented groundbreaking PLASMABIT technology to meet major challenges of the drilling industry.

"We are pleased to be partnering with SBO to accelerate development of our PLASMABIT technology," said Igor Kocis, CEO and founder of GA Drilling. "This solution has great potential to address critical performance, efficiency and economical parameters for current drilling applications. It is not only about increasing of the penetration rates to hard-rock, but to introduce the significant well cost reduction for almost any kind of drilling, improved well stability and the real-time data acquisition."

The new funds raised will be used to support GA’s growth plan, including 3rd generation of plasma disintegration device, new test-rig construction for drilling to deeper depths and to extend current partner network of GA. "Decision of SBO to collaborate with us is a strong validation of the achievements our team has accomplished to-date. We look forward to continuing to work closely with SBO to develop, manufacture and test new drilling solutions for our future customers. The involvement of SBO will advance our geographical presence in new areas like Americas and will bring us new opportunities in Joint Industry Projects we are running with drilling industry partners. Definitely, it will enable successful commercialization of PLASMABIT for the oil and gas, mining and geothermal industries,” concluded Igor Kocis.

About GA Drilling

GA Drilling is a technology company developing groundbreaking PLASMABIT technology based on high-energy electric plasma. The PLASMABIT technology enables to drill with a constant higher speed, without need to change a drilling bit on regular basis and with increased well stability. Therefore, the overall drilling and infrastructure costs, as well as drilling time are radically cut. This is a key factor in onshore, but even more in offshore. After 5 years of R&D in laboratories with 40-member team, GA has already demonstrated the drilling with test-site prototype, integrated with supporting technologies. PLASMABIT is enabling new effective oil and gas applications, mining productivity and completely new geothermal energy utilization. GA Drilling cooperates closely with oil and gas operators and concluded development contracts with listed Forbes2000 companies.

About Schoeller-Bleckmann Oilfield Equipment AG

SBO is the global market leader for high-precision components for the oil service industry. The business focus is on non-magnetic drillstring components for directional drilling. Additionally, the group manufactures drilling motors and drilling tools and offers to its customers full-scale repair and maintenance services. SBO activities cover both the development of specialty high-strength non-magnetic steels for the oilfield industry and metallurgical finishing and production of high-precision components.

The capacity to solve extremely complex tasks of processing materials makes SBO the perfect partner to further develop and implement challenging drilling technologies. SBO’s operative companies are present in all major centers of the oil drilling industry and are independently operating local units. Leadership in technology, quality and service counts among the declared corporate objectives, with customer benefit being both the target and the starting point of SBO’s activities.

Connect with GA Drilling:

Read the website: http://www.GADrilling.com/ 

Watch our videos: http://www.youtube.com/geothermalanywhere  

Visit on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Geothermania 

Media Contact:

Matus Gajdos

+421-2-20920100

info@gadrilling.com