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Back in 2005 I had witnessed a presentation on a rigless logging/drilling tool that would simply crush the rock in front of it and transport it into compressed material behind it. I found this a pretty interesting concept, but was weary about the fact one needed to compress crushed rock to be at least as dense as the rock it came from in order to keep the suystem moving. On paper it all looks great, but I wandered if the probe needed some initial extra volume that would slowly deplete as crushed rock takes up this space.

Anyways, I lost track of the developments around this system, but just stumbled across this article from 2008: the badger. Has anybody been involved in this project or does anybody know more about it's testing results and feasability? I would love to know more about this potentially revolutionary exploration tool!

thanks!

EPMan,
I just read through your question. In case you are still interested, you find the latest status on the company website www.bxpl.com . Looks like funding is in place to develop an updated tool that might take the company up to the first field trial. A bit concerning to me is that they start to mix in research on plasma drilling, which certainly is a much further shot into the future.

As to the cutting disposal: it's not going to happen exclusively in the drilled hole, but also in fractures. That begs the question how they will be able to ensure a seal against hydrocarbons and pressures leaking out.