Which drilling technique involves the use of high-pressure jets?

Water jet drilling is characterized by its use of high-pressure jets to create a controlled stream of water that can effectively penetrate the ground, particularly in soft to medium rock formations. This technique leverages the power of water at extremely high pressures to disaggregate materials, allowing for the removal of cuttings and enabling deeper penetration compared to other methods.

This method is especially useful in situations where traditional mechanical drilling would be less effective or would result in excessive wear on drill bits. By using high-pressure jets, water jet drilling can efficiently create boreholes with less environmental impact, as it relies on water rather than more invasive drilling fluids.

In contrast, other drilling techniques mentioned do not primarily utilize high-pressure jets in their processes. For instance, rotary drilling typically uses a rotating drill bit to grind down rock, directional drilling focuses on the angle of the borehole rather than the method of cutting, and reverse circulation drilling involves a different mechanism that uses air or fluid to carry cuttings back to the surface, rather than relying on high-pressure jets.