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Introduction To Exploration Drilling Methods.

Exploration Methods

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19 views27 pages

Introduction To Exploration Drilling Methods.

Exploration Methods

Uploaded by

tshepo hlakudi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Introduction To Exploration Drilling Methods

 Drilling is the culmination of the mineral exploration process whereby


the third dimension of a prospect the subsurface geometry is defined.
 Drilling provides most of the information for the final evaluation of a
prospect and will determine whether a prospect is mineable or not.

 Geochemical analysis of drill samples provides the basis for


determining the average grade of the ore deposit.
 Careful logging of the drill samples helps delineate the geometry and
calculate the volume of ore, and provides important structural details.
 The two principle types of drilling methods are:
-Diamond Core Drilling
-Percussion Drilling (Reverse Circulation Drilling)
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling


-Diamond core involves cutting out cylindrical core of the rock
that is being drilled into.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling


-A diamond drill bit is mounted at the end of a hollow drill rod
which is rotated and receives pressure from the drilling
machine.
-The diamond drill bit is rotated slowly with gentle pressure
while being lubricated with water to prevent overheating.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


-As the drilling proceeds more rods are added to the line.
-The core is periodically recovered by lifting and unscrewing
the line of rods.

-The recovery of drill core enables details of geology, ground


conditions and mineralogy to be obtained that are not possible
with any other method.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


-Surface drilling: Large drilling machines are diesel powered.
Petrol engines (machines) are used for smaller machines.

-Underground drilling: Electric or air motors are used for


underground drilling
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)

1.1 The functions of the driller during drilling operations


-To evaluate the conditions of the drilling below.
-He will adjust the rotation speed, pressure and water
circulation for the different rock types and drilling
conditions.
-The driller must perform these functions in order to avoid
problems such as the bit getting stuck or overheating.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)

The functions of the driller during drilling operation


-Highly fractured rocks in addition to the risk of a stuck drill
bit, allow fluids to escape, leading to overheating.
-The problem is minimized by injecting drilling mud into the
drill hole to plug the fractures and prevent escape of the fluids.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Standard/Conventional Drilling
In conventional drilling the rods have to be removed from the
hole each time it is necessary to recover the core from the core
barrel.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Wireline drilling
In wireline drilling the core can be removed from the hole
without withdrawing the rods.
This is achieved by a special core tube which slots into the
core barrel and can be withdrawn by a device known as an
overshot.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Wireline drilling
The overshot is lowered down the inside of the rods on a cable
and locks on to the core tube.
The action of the overshot locking onto the core tube causes
latches which hold the core tube in the core-barrel to be
withdrawn thus freeing the core tube so that it can be hoisted
to the surface.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Wireline drilling
After the core has been removed from the core tube it is
replaced in the core-barrel simply by dropping it down the rods.
If the hole is shallow or inclined upwards the core tube is
pushed into position by pumping drilling down the rods.
Once the core tube comes into contact with the core barrel, it
automatically locks into place.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Advantages of wireline drilling
Less time spent handling the drilling rods.
Increased coring bit life without diamond loss.
High core recovery.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Advantages of wireline drilling
Caving is reduced as rods remain in the hole longer thus
minimizing hole wall damage.
Rods are internally and externally flush-jointed and therefore
can be used as casing at a later stage.
 Types of Drilling Methods

1. Diamond Core Drilling (Cont.)


Two main types of Diamond Core Drilling
-Disadvantages of wireline drilling
The wireline system is much more expensive and delicate than
conventional equipment.

The wireline system is more delicate, complicated, require


intensive training and very skilled personnel.
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling

-Percussion drilling is fundamentally different from diamond


core drilling, both in terms of equipment and sampling.
-One major difference is that percussion drilling creates small
rock chips instead of solid core.
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling
Percussion rock chips
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)


-Other major differences are in the rate of penetration and cost
per foot.
Percussion drilling is much faster than diamond core drilling,
and also much less expensive.
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)

-Percussion drilling requires much larger equipment, including


a high capacity air compressor.
-The compressor forces air down the outer space of a double
wall pipe.

-The air circulates back up through the inner pipe carrying the

rock chips, which are recovered at the surface.


 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)

Air circulation
percussion

drilling
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)


-Percussion drill bits
Hammer drill bit
One type is called a “hammer bit”, named for the way it rapidly
pounds and pulverizes the rock interface.
This type of bit works well in dry drilling conditions (i.e above
the water table) and in rock formations which are dense and
hard.
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)


-Percussion drill bits
Hammer drill bit
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)


-Percussion drill bits
Tricone Drill Bit
-A “tricone bit”, has three revolving cone-shaped grinders,
which rotate together like the differential gears in a car
transmission.
-Tricone bits are slower drilling in hard formations, but are
very effective in soft formations and in wet drilling
conditions.
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)


-Percussion drill bits
Tricone Drill Bit
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)

-The drill bit will fracture and grind the rock away through
rotative and percussive action(Hammering action).
-The drilling is stopped at regular intervals (maybe 1m, 2m etc
depending on the interval required for logging and sample
purposes)

-The mud, powder and rock chips are blown or pump back to
the surface with the aid of compressed air or water under high
pressure..
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)

-The rock chips, fine powder and mud for each interval is
collected on surface and either put in heaps or plastic bags
which are marked with a number indicating the depth from
which it comes from.
 Types of Drilling Methods

2. Percussion Drilling (Cont.)

Heaps and plastic bag of rock chips

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