Technology background

The most common deviation tools for directional drilling are steerable down-hole motor assemblies (so-called positive-displacement motors) and rotary steerable systems. Another common approach is use of Whipstock (wedge) to sidetrack out of the wellbore or correct its path. Downside for most directional drills is the need for a full-face drill bit, thus not being able to take core samples, leaving the project without potentially important geological information for smaller or larger sections of the bore hole.

To overcome this problem a coring type of directional drills has emerged, drills that can take full length core just like a conventional core barrel. This technology is known as Directional Core Drilling (DCD). On top of the fact that DCD technology can provide continuous core, the drill produce less cuttings, use less water (equal to conventional drilling), no special rods or pumps needed and it provides good penetration even in very hard rock formations.