Bits ‘n Pieces – The Driller’s Blog

All work and no play is no fun for anyone, including diamond drillers. With warm weather arriving (at least in the norther hemisphere), I thought we’d look at activities that drillers who like the outdoors might enjoy and geocaching is gaining popularity.

In this blog, our last installment on handling core bits, we look at problems that can happen at the bottom of the bore hole when you’re adding or changing a new core bit. I always say that choosing the right core bit and bit configuration is one of the most important decisions you have to make to ensure you get the best drilling performance. You also need to make sure you handle them properly so that they get to the drill the ground they were chosen for.

Last week we looked at how experienced diamond drillers can get the best performance and longest life from their drilling equipment by avoiding common pitfalls in handling core bits. Often, core bits get damaged before they’re even used. You take the time to choose the right bit and the best configuration, so you want to get the longest bit life possible. Last week we looked at some problems that can happen above ground – this week we’ll examine common problems that happen all the way down, when you’re adding or changing a new core bit.

Experienced diamond drillers are always looking to get the best drilling performance and longest life from their drilling equipment. Sometimes core bits get damaged before they’re even used. After careful deliberation over choosing the right bit and the best core bit configuration, no one wants to ruin a bit before you start drilling. Let’s look at some problems that can happen above ground when you’re adding or changing a new core bit.

Drill rods are a hugely important part of your drilling equipment and how you take care of your drill rods can have a major impact on your drilling performance. The regular use of drilling lubricants and thread compound is imperative for breaking in and maintaining a healthy drill string and helps avoid many problems. Here are a few reasons you need to use thread compounds and lubricants, and the purpose of each.

With the warm weather approaching, it will soon be the time to fire up the BBQ and start cooking outdoors. There’s nothing like manning the fire with a beer in on hand and a spatula in the other, cooking a beloved favourite like hamburgers. There is also something about roasting raw meat over a flame, with the scent wafting up your nose that just can’t be beat.

It’s been a while since we’ve done a blog on matrix troubleshooting. Core bits play an integral role in getting great drilling performance and many things can cause a bit to underperform. One of the best ways to determine what is off is to examine the wear profile of your bit crown and change drilling parameters if necessary. Today, we’ll look at burnt core bits, some of the causes and some of the solutions.

I’m often going on about how choosing the equipment for the type of ground you will be drilling in is the first step to success and good drilling performance. Choosing the right drilling fluid additive to match the ground you will be drilling in beforehand, will make a world of difference. This is certainly the case in ground with clay or shale. Swelling clay can have disastrous results on your drilling operation.

Losing equipment in a bore hole and having to go retrieve it is called fishing and no diamond driller wants go fishing. The equipment has become stuck, lost, or broken off but either way it is obstructing the bore hole.

Many earlier blogs have been written on drilling fluid additives and how they can bring great benefits to a drilling operation. Benefits like longer life for your core bits, less torque, reduced rust, less wear and tear, better core recovery, improved drilling performance and more. But before you can reap all these benefits, you need to know how to mix them properly. There are four simple tools that you should have in your toolbox that will help ensure the best drilling mud.