LaserSense, Inc.
Vision
LSI desires to be the exclusive global provider of a unique, proprietary capability
that will be used to optimize the productivity of well drilling equipment by providing
more accurate and complete information regarding the performance of drill heads
used in shale gas and crude drilling operations
JOHN M. ZARROLI
CO-FOUNDER
JOHN.ZARROLI@LaserSenseInc.com
230 NORTH MONROE STREET
M E D I A , PA 1 9 0 6 3
w w w. L a s e r S e n s e I n c . c o m
Phone: (240) 252-0444
Mission
The mission of LaserSense is to provide well drilling companies with an advanced,
state-of-the-art system, based on accurate measurement of acoustic emissions
(AE), for monitoring wear of the drill head while also providing real-time data
regarding drill head effectiveness and rock formation composition
Introduction
Problem: Drilling rigs need to operate efficiently:
 They are in short supply in some places
 Changing / replacing the drill head is expensive and
time-consuming
 Drill head wear reduces productivity of rig operation
 Better optimization of drill utilization reduces time-onsite for the drill rig
Also…
Problem: Variations in underground rock formations affect
drill rig performance
 Is the underground formation changing? How is this
affecting drill head performance and wear?
 Can we improve how we map underground fractures?
Currently, well drilling rigs use a variety of sensor systems (ie
pressure, torque) to monitor the drilling process
The Problem:
How Can Well Drillers Optimize the Drilling Process?
Can Acoustic Emissions (AE) Testing help to
optimize the drilling process?
In 1999, Xiaoqing Sun, in a paper titled “A study of
acoustic emission in drilling applications”,
presented at the The 37th U.S. Symposium on
Rock Mechanics, asserted that AE features can
be “… used to identify drilling situations such as
the extent of bit wear, impending bit failure
(damaged bearings) or formation changes.”
Also…
A paper titled “Acoustic emission analysis for rock-bit interactions in
impregnated diamond core drilling”, in the June 2014 edition of “International
Journal of Rock Mechanics and Mining Sciences” asserted that…
“Strong relations between drilling operational parameters and AE were
established” and “AE monitoring can improve the drilling performance
in deep explorations.”
The Problem:
How Can Well Drillers Optimize the Drilling Process?
Is AE Testing a viable method for monitoring the drilling
process?
As far back as 1992, in a paper titled “Acoustic –
Emission Monitoring During Hydraulic Fracturing”,
Lisa Stewart & B.R. Cassell asserted that “Acoustic
emissions have been used with varying degrees
of success to map hydraulic fractures in
sedimentary formations.”
But they also stressed that “the high attenuation of
seismic waves in sedimentary rock imposes
limitations in the instrumentation and acquisition
configurations that can listen to fractures.”
What does all this mean?
AE can be a powerful tool for providing real-time information regarding drill
head wear and performance - but current AE tools and techniques may lack
the robustness and sensitivity to be successful in this application.
Technical Overview:
What is “Acoustic Emissions” (AE)?
AE refers to the generation of transient elastic waves produced by a sudden
redistribution of stress in a material. These stresses can be generated by
mechanical loading, including the type of events that a drill head experiences as
it cuts through rock formations deep underground.
What causes AE?
AE starts with stress. There are several different types of mechanical stress:
• Tensile, compressive, bending, shear, torsion
Why does this matter to us?
In response to this stress, the material changes in shape. This change in shape
can be elastic (not permanent) or plastic (permanent). We are more concerned
with plastic deformation, especially when it is caused by crack development,
fracturing etc. This cracking or fracturing process (whether it is the drill bit itself
or the surrounding rock that is fracturing) is what we attempt to measure.
A Solution:
RLI (Robust Laser Interferometer) for Measuring AE
RLI offers the potential to become a powerful new
tool for monitoring the drilling process based on
the concept of Acoustic Emissions Testing
What is RLI?
An advanced, proprietary device, based on laser
interferometry, that measures vibration and AE.
How is it different from competitive technologies?
RLI relies on light whereas competitive systems rely on
electro-mechanical sensors and RLI is much more
sensitive that other AE measurement systems.
Why is this important?
RLI will enable AE Testing to be applied more efficiently
and cost-effectively, for optimizing the well drilling
process, in a manner that is not currently possible
with other AE measurement devices.
RLI is more much more sensitive than other AE measurement systems this is important for noisy, real-world situations
A Solution:
Why is RLI Better for Measuring AE (Compared to Current
Conventional Methods)?
Superior Performance
 Bandwidth: 0 Hz to 524,000 Hz
 Dynamic Range: 180+ dB
 Improved “sensitivity”, better resolution
Higher Resolution Measurements / Better Sensitivity
 More accurate failure prediction
 Fewer “false alarms” (false alarms take equipment
out of service when its not necessary)
 Broader scope of conditions detected
Ease of Use
 Minimal installation & calibration of sensors; quick
set-up; simple, user-friendly interface
 Substantially reduced need for ‘a priori’ information
– no need to select the correct sensor
RLI enables AE Testing to be applied in “noisy”, real-world settings
Commercialization Plan Summary
(Completed Over 18 months)
1.
Demonstrate Feasibility of RLI for Use in Well Drilling Applications
2.
Proceed with Signal Analysis and Modeling of Drilling Process
3.
Complete System Prototype for Use on Drill Rigs
4.
Refine “Marketing & Sales Plan”
5.
Complete Manufacturing Plan
6.
Launch the New System for Well Drilling Applications:
Initial estimate for service sales - $3,500 - $4,500 per day
Initial estimate for hardware sales - $60,000 - $80,000
7.
Pursue follow-on applications…
Underground rock formation analysis, Metal-cutting / drilling etc.
$25,000 Shale Gas funds would be used for Steps #1 and #2 above
Management Team
John Zarroli: CEO / Director, Business Development / Co-Founder
 Extensive small business start-up, sales & field technical
experience, related to predictive maintenance, NDT & ReliabilityCentered Maintenance
 B.S., Industrial & Management Systems Engineering, Penn State
University
Joseph Karpov: VP, Manufacturing & Engineering
 Previously served as VP, Manufacturing, for a sensor manufacturer
 Joe will spearhead preparation & implementation of Manufacturing
Plan.
 B.S., Mineral Economics, Penn State University
Jeremy Leahman: Consultant / Board of Advisors
 Extensive high level management & field experience related to
industrial & predictive maintenance and well drilling lubricants
 MBA, Darden School of Business, University of Virginia
Non-Contact is a key driver of benefit
Conclusion
 RLI is a proprietary technology that can be tailored for a variety of
applications related to condition monitoring and non-destructive
evaluation of machines and structures
 LaserSense, Inc. intends to tailor the technology to optimize the
well-drilling process, by providing real-time information regarding the
condition of the drill head and the surrounding rock formations
 RLI is substantially more sensitive and robust in noisy, real-world
applications that would typically overwhelm competing sensors used
to measure acoustic emissions
 There will be a number of follow-on applications of this well-drilling
optimization device, which substantially increases the profit potential
of this venture
 Future versions of the device will be considerably smaller and lighter
 LaserSense will sell services (initially) and hardware (later) based
on the RLI technology