Insight into drilling performance parameters for in-situ detection of lithological transition

In order to examine the rock dependence on drilling performance parameters, such as torque and rate of penetration (ROP), we conducted laboratory drilling experiments using mafic and ultramafic rocks from the Oman ophiolite and the Horoman Complex. Serpentinized peridotite shows approximately twice the ROP (dry conditions: 2.95 ~ 3.85, wet conditions: 8.25 ~ 10.3 × 10^-5 m/min) compared to that of peridotite and mafic samples (dry conditions: 4.75 ~ 6.90, wet conditions: 14.5 ~ 18.3 × 10^-5 m/min) under both dry and wet conditions. This result is likely due to the reduction in fracture strength associated with serpentinization. We compared the laboratory results of drilling parameters with in situ data obtained from IODP Expedition 360 drilling of gabbro and Expedition 399 drilling of serpentinized peridotite, using the equivalent strength method to normalize ROP to the given rotation rate and torque. The calculation results show that the normalized ROP for the serpentinized peridotite formation was systematically higher than that for the gabbro layer, which is in agreement with our experimental results. We propose that the in situ drilling performance parameters can be used to detect the lithological transitions, such as serpentinite.