Virtual Drilling Research Articles

Parameter optimization based on deepwater drilling system simulation: A pre-salt exploration well in Brazil

The vibration of downhole drilling tools is the primary factor that limits the ROP of deep-water salt drilling. Pre-drilling modeling is an essential method for analyzing the dynamic characteristics of the drilling system. Currently, there is limited research on coupling models between the single riser model and drill string model in deepwater drilling dynamics, which hampers offshore drilling dynamics development. In this study, we integrated the dynamic riser model with the flexible drillstring dynamic model, optimized the system's boundary conditions through experiments, and established an advanced full-scale deepwater drilling system. Through virtual drilling simulation analysis and energy flow calculations of the drilling process, we investigated the movement trajectory of the drillstring system at different positions and its correlation with downhole vibration in deepwater drilling. Finally, we performed parameter optimization on Brazil exploration well salt formation. The results indicate that the rotational speed significantly influences the vibration intensity and motion state of both the drill string and downhole drilling tool. Moreover, the kinetic energy and strain energy of BHA effectively reflect the motion state of the downhole drilling tool. When drilling salt and salt intercalation in the Brazil exploration well, the WOB was controlled within 200 kN and 180 kN, and the rotational speed was controlled within 180 rpm and 140 rpm, respectively. This ensured optimal stability and minimized vibrations within the drill string system. The virtual simulation work based on deepwater drilling systems can provide guidance for designing and planning actual drilling operations, as well as proposing reasonable drilling parameters to enhance stability and ROP in the drilling process.

Study of a high-precision complex 3D geological modelling method based on a fine KNN and kriging coupling algorithm: a case study for Jiangsu, China

A high-precision, complex, three-dimensional (3D) geological model can directly express the attributes of stratum thickness, geological structure, lithology and spatial form, which can provide a reliable basis for the development and utilization of underground space and planning decisions. However, it is difficult to perform accurate modelling due to the lack of basic data. As such, this paper proposes coupling a machine learning algorithm (K-nearest neighbour (KNN)) with the kriging algorithm to construct the topological relationship between the Delaunay triangle and the Thiessen polygon in order to perform the simulation and prediction of virtual drilling. Based on KNN, support vector machine (SVM) and neural network algorithms as well as the virtual borehole encryption data, data standardization processing and analysis are carried out. Through model verification, algorithm optimization is realized, and the optimal modelling method is explored. The results show that the fine KNN algorithm improved by Bayesian optimization can effectively improve the modelling accuracy through 0.1-m encryption, standardization processing and 5-fold cross-validation. Stratum modelling combined with the fine KNN and kriging algorithms can obtain a more accurate modelling without adding virtual boreholes. The improved levels of upper and lower hybrid modelling with an appropriate number of profile boreholes can also effectively optimize model accuracy. Both modelling accuracy and efficiency can be significantly improved by using Delaunay triangles and Thiessen polygons with virtual boreholes. Stratum modelling can effectively express the geological pinch-out in areas with adequate degrees of stratification, and hybrid modelling performs well in irregular geological bodies such as karsts and lenses.

Static and Dynamic Navigation - “The Future Stars”

Over the last few decades technological advancements have led to a significant impact over dentistry and the field of endodontics is no exception to it. It has covered a long way from apex locators and microscopes to digital radiography and intraoral scanners and finally navigation. “Guided Dentistry” term is used explicitly for navigation in dentistry. In the 19th century, navigation in the medical sciences first appeared and it was used to perform stereotactic surgery on the human brain. It was first used in dentistry in the year 2000 to facilitate the placement of dental implants. Navigation in endodontics is based on the concept of minimally invasive endodontics. Guided endodontics can also be called as “Targeted endodontic treatment”. Compared to standard treatment methods, guided endodontics can produce more predictable treatment results. Guided navigation in endodontics is of two types-Static and Dynamic. In Static Guided Endodontics (SGE) the CBCT scan is merged with optical scan to design a virtual drill path using a planning software following which a template is fabricated using 3-D printing. In Dynamic Navigation System (DNS), the virtual drill path is converted into a real time drill path using navigation software. Keywords: [Guided Endodontics, minimally invasive dentistry, Navigation, Static guided endodontics, Dynamic guided endodontics.]

Investigation of Virtual Bimrocks to Estimate 3D Volumetric Block Proportions from 1D Boring Measurements

Serious deficiencies in ground characterization, analysis and design at engineering works can occur when working with bimrocks (block-in-matrix rocks) and bimsoils (block-in-matrix soils). Since the 1990s, serious technical problems at engineering works performed in bimrocks/bimsoils spurred practical research, which revealed that the behavior of these geomaterials is directly related to the volumetric block proportions (VBPs). However, the way that VBPs can be confidently and correctly estimated remains an ongoing critical issue that still frustrates designers, contractors and owners. Stereological techniques can be applied to overcome this challenge by inferring 3D block contents from in situ 1D and 2D measurements, but the estimates have often been demonstrated to be erroneous. This paper presents findings from a computer-aided reinvestigation, revalidation and extension of Medley’s work of 1997 and subsequent researchers to provide approachable yet statistically robust methods to limit the uncertainty associated with estimates of 3D VBPs generated from 1D boring/scanline measurements. To this aim, a specialized Matlab code was created and virtual drilling programs were performed through 3D computer-generated bimrock models. Supported by extensive statistical-based investigations, a design chart is provided that updates and extends Medley’s 1999 chart relating uncertainty in estimates of VBP as a function of total boring/scanline lengths.

Virtual Reality-Supported Drilling Strategy In Teaching English Vocabulary To Young Learners

This present research intent to discover the implementation of Virtual Reality (VR) media in supporting drilling strategy to teach English vocabulary to young learners modeled by a current teacher who is taking Independent Learning-Campus Merdeka (Merdeka Belajar-Kampus Merdeka or MBKM) as the participant of this study. She is holding a responsibility to teach English lesson to a school partnership. The school that is in partnership is Trikarya Public Elementary School of Cipanas district. This research collected the data through observation on teaching praxis using VR media. As the data were collected, the writer analyzed them. There were six steps in analyzing the data; (1) preparing the data to be analyzed, (2) reading or viewing all data, (3) coding the data, (4) generalizing the code, (5) creating tables based on the data code, and (6) interpret the data code. Over the observation the writers found a new procedure on implementing VR media in teaching English vocabulary to elementary students. There are three stages in this procedure that is called PMP. PMP stands for Pre-Activity, Main Activity, and Post-Activity. Furthermore, there are four activities in the main stage; Watch, Collect, Sharing, and Practice and hereafter is called WCSP. The last finding uncovers that the teacher is using drilling as the teaching strategy to activate the students.

Efficacy of Transosseous Tunnel Placement for Triple Endobutton Plate in Acromioclavicular Joint Reconstruction: A Three-Dimensional Printing Guide Design Technology.

ObjectiveExplore an accurate transosseous tunnel drilling method based on three‐dimensional (3D) printing technology for acromioclavicular joint reconstruction (ACD), design a guide design, and evaluate its accuracy.MethodsUsing Mimics software to reconstruct 100 cases of acromioclavicular joint computed tomography (CT) data. In design 2, the non‐collinear tunnel is superimposed on the 3D model, and a virtual drilling is performed between the clavicle and the coracoid using a triple inner gusset. Then, in the Geomagic Studio software model, an elliptical plane is calculated and extracted as a guide design for precise drilling. Then put the design and the 3D shoulder model together for 3D printing. Ten lengths were measured, and the effects of the virtual model, the actual model, and the guide rail design were compared.ResultsWe successfully compared 10 parameters of 3D virtual model and actual model. There was no significant difference between actual and virtual bone tunnels in 10 measurements (P > 0.05).ConclusionsThe accuracy of ACD combined with 3D printing guidance design technology in the transosseous tunnel of adult shoulder is reliable.

Virtual Fire Evacuation Drills through a Web-Based Serious Game

Evacuation capacity is very important in building fire. In order to improve the safety evacuation capacity of occupants, a web-based serious game for virtual fire evacuation drills is proposed. As a prototype of the serious game, a stand-alone system for virtual drill had been developed. On this basis, the system framework of the serious game is first designed for web-based training, including the database, front and back ends. Secondly, an optimization solution including fire scenes and web codes is designed for smooth rendering performance. Lastly, a solution is designed to visualize the evacuation paths of numerous trainees, which can be used to reveal the evacuation rules, and an evaluation model of evacuation performance is created considering the features of evacuation paths and fire hazards, to provide comprehensive feedback for trainees. Thus, a convenient and accessible web-based serious game was developed. More than 100 people participated in the online virtual evacuation drill of a dormitory building fire. Through the drills, the average evacuation time of the trainees decreases from 79.77 s to 54.32 s, and the safety scores of the trainees improve from 74.71 to 81.21. Therefore, the evacuation abilities of trainees gradually improve, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the drill. Consequently, virtual fire drills using a web-based serious game can play an important role in improving the evacuation ability.

Efficient well placement optimization under uncertainty using a virtual drilling procedure

An Automatic Well Planner (AWP) is used to efficiently adjust pre-determined well paths to honor near-well properties and increase overall production. AWP replicates modern geosteering decision-making where adjustments to pre-programmed well paths are driven by continuous integration of data obtained from logging-while-drilling and look-ahead technology. In this work, AWP is combined into a robust optimization scheme to develop trajectories that follow reservoir properties in a more realistic manner compared to common well representations for optimization purposes. Core AWP operation relies on an artificial neural network coupled with a geology-based feedback mechanism. Specifically, for each well path candidate obtained from an outer-loop optimization procedure, AWP customizes trajectories according to the particular geological near-well properties of each realization in an ensemble of models. While well placement searches typically rely on linear well path representations, AWP develops customized trajectories by moving sequentially from heel to the toe. Analog to realistic drilling operations, AWP determines subsequent trajectory points by efficiently processing neighboring geological information. Studies are performed using the Olympus ensemble. AWP and the two derivative-free algorithms used in this work, Asynchronous Parallel Pattern Search (APPS) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), are implemented using NTNU’s open-source optimization framework FieldOpt. Results show that, with both APPS and PSO, the AWP solutions outperform the solutions obtained with a straight-line parameterization in all the three tested well placement optimization scenarios, which varied from the simplest scenario with a sole producer in a single-realization environment to a scenario with the full ensemble and multiple producers.

A three-dimensional modeling method of overburden separated layer of TIN-DEM integrated model

In order to realize the three-dimensional visualization of overlying strata separation after coal seam mining, this paper proposes a three-dimensional modeling method of overburden separated layer of TIN-DEM integrated model. First of all, the original drilling data are combined with the Kriging interpolation algorithm to generate virtual drilling. And a TIN model is established before mining. Then, UDEC is used to simulate a working surface in two dimensions. And a DEM model of overburden separated layer is established. By correcting the pre-mining model, the stratum model (TIN-DEM) containing the overburden separated layer is established. Finally, instance verification is carried out through real data of a certain mine.

Guided removal of a fractured fiber post and immediate restoration with a digitally prefabricated titanium post-and-core and zirconia crown: A clinical report

A completely digital workflow is described for the immediate restoration of a fractured fiber post with a digitally prefabricated definitive restoration using 3-dimensionally printed guides. The geometric morphology and axis of the root canal were digitally determined by using cone beam computed tomography to localize the 3-dimensional position of the fractured fiber post. A virtual drill modeled on the shape of the fractured post was fabricated and customized for removal of the post by using a guide to facilitate the intraoral transfer of the drilling procedure. A titanium post-and-core and crown had been virtually predesigned and fabricated before the procedure, and 2 digital guides were designed for their placement. All guides were 3-dimensionally printed. By following this workflow, the removal of the fractured fiber post and immediate definitive restoration were completed in 1 visit, facilitating a more efficient, predictable, and straightforward treatment.

Development and optimization of immersive virtual drilling equipment teaching environment

In view of the phenomenon of scene jumps, slow model refresh speed and fixed visual direction during virtual roaming, in the virtual drilling equipment teaching platform developed based on Unity 3D, the Cardinal spline curve interpolation algorithm is used to optimize the roaming path and improve the smoothness of the roaming. It uses rendering optimization algorithm to improve the fluency of the scene and adjusts the visual angle of observation through orientation change technology algorithm for design and optimization. The results show that the optimized drilling equipment teaching platform improves the comfort of roaming learning, the scene loading speed is increased by 28.73%, and the visual orientation is more convenient to observe the experimental objects. On the whole, it provides students with a comfortable and realistic teaching environment.

Drilling Force Characterization during Inconel 718 Drilling: A Comparative Study between Numerical and Analytical Approaches.

In drilling operations, cutting forces are one of the major machinability indicators that contribute significantly towards the deviations in workpiece form and surface tolerances. The ability to predict and model forces in such operations is also essential as the cutting forces play a key role in the induced vibrations and wear on the cutting tool. More specifically, Inconel 718—a nickel-based super alloy that is primarily used in the construction of jet engine turbines, nuclear reactors, submarines and steam power plants—is the workpiece material used in the work presented here. In this study, both mechanistic and finite element models were developed. The finite element model uses the power law that has the ability to incorporate strain hardening, strain rate sensitivity as well as thermal softening phenomena in the workpiece materials. The model was validated by comparing it against an analytical mechanistic model that considers the three drilling stages associated with the drilling operation on a workpiece containing a pilot hole. Both analytical and FE models were compared and the results were found to be in good agreement at different cutting speeds and feed rates. Comparing the average forces of stage II and stage III of the two approaches revealed a discrepancy of 11% and 7% at most. This study can be utilized in various virtual drilling scenarios to investigate the influence of different process and geometric parameters.

Virtual Surgical Planning Combined With Intraoperative Navigation in Mandibular Bilateral Sagittal Split Osteotomy for Accurate Placement of Patient Specific Implants.

The aim of the study is to evaluate clinical methods to obtain a significantly improved fitting of patient specific implants (PSI) in bilateral sagittal split osteotomies and to evaluate the use of electromagnetic navigation as a potential guide for condyle positioning. A prospective study using (1) a solid bite registration index during preoperative computed tomography, (2) critical planning with regard to the condylar rotation, (3) a piezoelectric saw throughout the mandibular osteotomy, and (4) intraoperative navigation to determine the position of the PSIs and the mandibular segments intraoperatively was performed. Ten patients were treated. Five underwent bilateral sagittal split osteotomies and 5 bimaxillary osteotomy. All of the PSIs fitted precisely onto the mandible and the screws into the predrilled screw holes. The predetermined occlusion was obtained. A precise fitting of the PSIs in the lower jaw seems to be possible to achieve with above-mentioned methods. The intraoperative navigation system gives a possibility to verify the surgical outcome during surgery but is not accurate enough to be used as a virtual drill guide alone.

Distance Control and Virtual Drilling Improves Anatomical Orientation During Anterior Petrosectomy.

BACKGROUNDA combined drill distance control and virtual drilling image guidance feedback method was developed.OBJECTIVETo investigate whether first-time usage of the proposed method, during anterior petrosectomy (AP), improves surgical orientation and surgical performance. The accuracy of virtual drilling and the clinical practicability of the method were also investigated.METHODSIn a simulated surgical setting using human cadavers, a trial was conducted with 5 expert skull base surgeons from 3 different hospitals. They performed 10 AP approaches, using either the feedback method or standard image guidance. Damage to critical structures was assessed. Operating time, drill cavity sizes, and proximity of postoperative drill cavities to the cochlea and the acoustic meatus, were measured. Questionnaires were obtained postoperatively. Errors in the virtual drill cavities as compared with actual postoperative cavities were calculated. In a clinical setup, the method was used during AP.RESULTSSurgeons rated their intraoperative orientation significantly better with the feedback method compared with standard image guidance. During the cadaver trial, the cochlea was harmed on 1 occasion in the control group, while surgeons drilled closer to the cochlea and meatus without injuring them in the group using feedback. Virtual drilling under- and overestimation errors were 2.2 ± 0.2 and −3.0 ± 0.6 mm on average. The method functioned properly during the clinical setup.CONCLUSIONThe proposed feedback method improves orientation and surgical performance in an experimental setting. Errors in virtual drilling reflect spatial errors of the image guidance system. The feedback method is clinically practicable during AP.

Audiohaptic Feedback Enhances Motor Performance in a Low-Fidelity Simulated Drilling Task

When used in educational settings, simulations utilizing virtual reality (VR) technologies can reduce training costs while providing a safe and effective learning environment. Tasks can be easily modified to maximize learning objectives of different levels of trainees (e.g., novice, intermediate, expert), and can be repeated for the development of psychomotor skills. VR offers a multisensory experience, providing visual, auditory, and haptic sensations with varying levels of fidelity. While simulating visual and auditory stimuli is relatively easy and cost-effective, similar representations of haptic sensation still require further development. Evidence suggests that mixing high- and low-fidelity realistic sensations (e.g., audition and haptic) can improve the overall perception of realism, however, whether this also leads to improved performance has not been examined. The current study examined whether audiohaptic stimuli presented in a virtual drilling task can lead to improved motor performance and subjective realism, compared to auditory stimuli alone. Right-handed participants (n = 16) completed 100 drilling trials of each stimulus type. Performance measures indicated that participants overshot the target during auditory trials, and undershot the target during audiohaptic trials. Undershooting is thought to be indicative of improved performance, optimizing both time and energy requirements.

Virtual drill for indoor fire evacuations considering occupant physical collisions

Occupant physical collisions (OPCs) influence indoor fire evacuations. To enable occupants to respond to such collisions safely, a virtual drill method for indoor fire evacuations considering OPCs is proposed. First, a modeling solution using the building information modeling technology and a smoke visualization algorithm based on fire computational fluid dynamics simulations are designed, respectively, to create a reasonable and realistic indoor fire scene. Subsequently, an algorithm for the evacuation animation of non-player characters (NPCs) combining evacuation simulations and skeletal animations is designed to provide a dynamic scene of multi-occupant evacuations. Finally, a physical collision model between a trainee and NPCs is established based on a physics engine and the key parameters of this model are determined through real collision experiments of human subjects, so that the OPCs can be validly simulated. A case study of a virtual evacuation in a dormitory building demonstrates that the safest evacuation path differs significantly when OPCs are considered. The outcome of this study enables a trainee to experience OPCs in virtual multi-occupant evacuation drills and assists them to make safe evacuation decisions.

Force-feedback assisted and virtual fixtures based K-wire drilling simulation

One common method to fix fractures of the human hand after an accident is an osteosynthesis with Kirschner wires (K-wires) to stabilize the bone fragments. The insertion of K-wires is a delicate minimally invasive surgery, because surgeons operate almost without a sight. Since realistic training methods are time consuming, costly and insufficient, a virtual-reality (VR) based training system for the placement of K-wires was developed. As part of this, the current work deals with the real-time bone drilling simulation using a haptic force-feedback device.To simulate the drilling, we introduce a virtual fixture based force-feedback drilling approach. By decomposition of the drilling task into individual phases, each phase can be handled individually to perfectly control the drilling procedure. We report about the related finite state machine (FSM), describe the haptic feedback of each state and explain, how to avoid jerking of the haptic force-feedback during state transition.The usage of the virtual fixture approach results in a good haptic performance and a stable drilling behavior. This was confirmed by 26 expert surgeons, who evaluated the virtual drilling on the simulator and rated it as very realistic. To make the system even more convincing, we determined real drilling feed rates through experimental pig bone drilling and transferred them to our system. Due to a constant simulation thread we can guarantee a precise drilling motion.Virtual fixtures based force-feedback calculation is able to simulate force-feedback assisted bone drilling with high quality and, thus, will have a great potential in developing medical applications.

Guided Endodontics Modified for Treating Molars by Using an Intracoronal Guide Technique

The aim of this case report was to show the concept of guided endodontics in a maxillary first molar with limited interocclusal space. Guided endodontics involves merging cone-beam computed tomographic imaging and a surface scan of the tooth in order to create a guide to perform a drill path into the seemingly obliterated root canal. In the molar region, the interocclusal space is often too small to accommodate the guide, bur, and handpiece at once, and, therefore, a modified approach is presented. A 52-year-old man was referred because the dentist had failed to localize the distobuccal root canal of a maxillary molar (#3) associated with apical pathosis. After reopening and rubber dam placement, a glide path was established for both the palatal first mesiobuccal root canal and the second mesiobuccal using a size 10 hand file and coronal flaring. Further instrumentation to the working length was achieved by reciprocating file size 25. All 3 canals were temporarily filled with calcium hydroxide. For the distobuccal root canal, guided endodontics was chosen in order to avoid further impairment of the tooth because negotiation of the canal failed even with the use of the operating microscope. Following the merged data obtained from the cone-beam computed tomographic and surface scans, a translucent SICAT Optiguide (SICAT, Bonn, Germany) was constructed containing a sleeve representing the proper direction of a drill path in order to reach the distobuccal root canal. The access cavity was temporarily filled with a composite material made for light-curing. Before light curing, the Optiguide was replaced on the teeth, and a steel pin was pressed through the sleeve and the composite whereby the proper drill path direction was transferred into the composite. After polymerization and removal of the Optiguide and pin from the composite base sleeve, the guided drilling could be performed. This case report is the first on guided access preparation in a molar with pulp canal obliteration and limited interocclusal space. The demand for more interocclusal space was solved by transforming the virtual drill path into a composite-based intracoronal guide. The use of digital technology was essential.

Elements of virtual temporal bone surgery: Manipulandum format may be more important to surgeons than haptic device force capabilities.

BackgroundTemporal bone simulations are critiqued for poor drill‐bone interaction. This project appraises the import of increasing haptic device and manipulandum fidelity on the perceived realism of drilling a virtual temporal bone.Virtual surgical contact forces rely on haptic device fidelity and are transmitted through a manipulandum. With identical software, both device hardware and manipulandum may each contribute to realism. We compare the three degrees of freedom (DOF), 3N Geomagic Touch (3D Systems, SC) to a 6DOF, 5.5N HD2 (Quanser, ON) with the both standard (“HD2–Standard”) and in‐house customized otic drill manipulandum (“HD2–Modified”).MethodsSix otologic surgeons performed three virtual mastoidectomy surgeries on a temporal bone surgical simulator. The HD2 manipulandum was modified for attached otic drill with gravity compensation and requisite mechanical modifications. Surgeons, in random order, performed the dissection with the different hardware platforms.ResultsTwo‐tailed t‐tests demonstrate that for the acoustic properties of each simulation, the HD2–Modified manipulandum was favored (p ≤ 0.0004). For overall similarity of bone, both HD2–Standard (p ≤ 0.05) HD2–Modified (p ≤ 0.03)) were favored over the Geomagic; however they were not appreciably different when directly compared to each other. There was no preference for increasing haptic device fidelity in virtual drill bone interaction.In forced rank, users favored the HD2–Modified in osseus, vibrational and overall realism, as well as being preferred for education and preoperative rehearsal (p ≤ 0.0164).ConclusionIncreasing manipulandum realism was favored. However surprisingly, there was no preference for increased device fidelity, illustrating incremental stiffness had nominal impact. There may be a ceiling to drill bone interaction in virtual haptic simulation.Level of Evidence2b.

Benchmarking Distance Control and Virtual Drilling for Lateral Skull Base Surgery.

Novel audiovisual feedback methods were developed to improve image guidance during skull base surgery by providing audiovisual warnings when the drill tip enters a protective perimeter set at a distance around anatomic structures ("distance control") and visualizing bone drilling ("virtual drilling"). To benchmark the drill damage risk reduction provided by distance control, to quantify the accuracy of virtual drilling, and to investigate whether the proposed feedback methods are clinically feasible. In a simulated surgical scenario using human cadavers, 12 unexperienced users (medical students) drilled 12 mastoidectomies. Users were divided into a control group using standard image guidance and 3 groups using distance control with protective perimeters of 1, 2, or3 mm. Damage to critical structures (sigmoid sinus, semicircular canals, facial nerve) was assessed. Neurosurgeons performed another 6 mastoidectomy/trans-labyrinthine and retro-labyrinthine approaches. Virtual errors as compared with real postoperative drill cavities were calculated. In a clinical setting, 3 patients received lateral skull base surgery with the proposed feedback methods. Users drilling with distance control protective perimeters of 3 mm did not damage structures, whereas the groups using smaller protective perimeters and the control group injured structures. Virtual drilling maximum cavity underestimations and overestimations were 2.8 ± 0.1 and 3.3 ± 0.4 mm, respectively. Feedback methods functioned properly in the clinical setting. Distance control reduced the risks of drill damage proportional to the protective perimeter distance. Errors in virtual drilling reflect spatial errors of the image guidance system. These feedback methods are clinically feasible.