Borehole reinforcement based on polymer materials induced by liquid-gas phase transition in simulating lunar coring

Dingqiang Mo; Tao Liu; Zhiyu Zhao; Liangyu Zhu; Dongsheng Yang; Yifan Wu; Cheng Lan; Wenchuan Jiang; Heping Xie

International Journal of Mining Science and Technology (Mar 2025)

Borehole reinforcement based on polymer materials induced by liquid-gas phase transition in simulating lunar coring

Dingqiang Mo,
Tao Liu,
Zhiyu Zhao,
Liangyu Zhu,
Dongsheng Yang,
Yifan Wu,
Cheng Lan,
Wenchuan Jiang,
Heping Xie

Affiliations

Dingqiang Mo: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Geothermal Energy Exploitation and Utilization, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Tao Liu: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Geothermal Energy Exploitation and Utilization, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Corresponding authors.
Zhiyu Zhao: Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Geothermal Energy Exploitation and Utilization, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Liangyu Zhu: Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Dongsheng Yang: College of Polymer Science and Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Deep Engineering Science and Green Energy, Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Yifan Wu: Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Deep Engineering Science and Green Energy, Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Cheng Lan: Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Deep Engineering Science and Green Energy, Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Wenchuan Jiang: Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Deep Engineering Science and Green Energy, Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China
Heping Xie: State Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Disaster Dynamics and Control, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Deep Earth Sciences and Geothermal Energy Exploitation and Utilization, College of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Institute of New Energy and Low-Carbon Technology, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Construction and Healthy Operation and Maintenance of Deep Underground Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China; Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Deep Engineering Science and Green Energy, Institute of Deep Earth Sciences and Green Energy, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518060, China; Corresponding authors.

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 35, no. 3
pp. 383 – 398

Abstract

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Lunar core samples are the key materials for accurately assessing and developing lunar resources. However, the difficulty of maintaining borehole stability in the lunar coring process limits the depth of lunar coring. Here, a strategy of using a reinforcement fluid that undergoes a phase transition spontaneously in a vacuum environment to reinforce the borehole is proposed. Based on this strategy, a reinforcement liquid suitable for a wide temperature range and a high vacuum environment was developed. A feasibility study on reinforcing the borehole with the reinforcement liquid was carried out, and it is found that the cohesion of the simulated lunar soil can be increased from 2 to 800 kPa after using the reinforcement liquid. Further, a series of coring experiments are conducted using a self-developed high vacuum (vacuum degree of 5 Pa) and low-temperature (between −30 and 50 ℃) simulation platform. It is confirmed that the high-boiling-point reinforcement liquid pre-placed in the drill pipe can be released spontaneously during the drilling process and finally complete the reinforcement of the borehole. The reinforcement effect of the borehole is better when the solute concentration is between 0.15 and 0.25 g/mL.

Published in International Journal of Mining Science and Technology

ISSN: 2095-2686 (Print); 2589-062X (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Technology: Mining engineering. Metallurgy
Website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/international-journal-of-mining-science-and-technology/vol/27/issue/6

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