Part 3/8:
Drilling several kilometers deep—often exceeding 10 kilometers—is no simple task. As depth increases, so do temperature and pressure, complicating the drilling process. Gabriel Mayer, a scientist at EPFL, describes how the pressure on a drill bit can reach up to 25-30 MPa per kilometer, leading to unique problems. The deeper one drills, the more complicated the geology becomes, encountering numerous types of rock, fissures, and faults.
Furthermore, the tools and materials used must withstand unimaginable pressures and corrosive environments. Mayer illustrates this by comparing the mechanical behavior of rocks to that of chocolate at different temperatures, highlighting how rocks can transition from brittle to ductile states, which can significantly impact drilling processes.