Millimeter-Wave Directed Energy Deep Boreholes

{"The analytic basis of high temperature, full bore directed energy opening in rock is presented including energy requirements, rates of penetration, high temperature physics replacement of drilling mud, and diameter control. Millimeter-waves are ideally suited for long distance, high power guided transmission into typical borehole dimensions, but deep high pressure induced absorption will ultimately determine depth limits. The feasibility of this technology is established in the laboratory with granite and basalt specimens heated to temperatures in the 2500 - 3000 degree C range using a low power 10 kW, 28 GHz gyrotron. A possible application to an Enhanced Geothermal System (EGS) is described using an engineered heat exchanger (EHE) with a potential useful lifetime of 100 years.","PSFC REPORT PSFC/JA-17-8This work was supported by DOE Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy, MIT Energy Initiative, Impact Technologies LLC, and interaction with the MIT Rock Mechanics Laboratory."}

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Imported on November 17, 2025
Last update November 17, 2025
Keywords
  • basalt
  • rate of penetration
  • crystalline rock
  • Physics
  • drilling mud
  • deep drilling
  • borehole
  • EGS
  • gyrotrons
  • millimeter waves
  • 7. Clean energy
  • directed energy
  • geothermal
  • heat transfer reservoir
  • Enhanced Geothermal System
  • granite
Author Paul Woskov
Repository Name OpenAIRE
Language English
Publication Year 2018-01-01