Micro-Thermonuclear Plasma Tunneling by Rock Melting

Standard drilling has limits as at some depth the pressures and temperatures force the drilled opening tight when the drill is lifted.This paper proposes a reliable and rapid method of penetration of rock masses by melting all or part of the rock face and penetrate therein, cool the resulting glassy tube to be a stabilized liner. The methods proposed to heat the tip of the melting element include heat generated by a micro-thermonuclear reaction. High rates of advance are sustainable because only heat and cooling water must be advanced to the tunnel head. The equipment is simple and without need for unduly high pressure lithofracturing, and the equipment may be regularly removed and switched out to avoid time and personnel-intensive breakdowns in place. This method can achieve depths heretofore unreachable to access deep gas, oil, or to create an airtight and waterproof shaft for geothermic energy.