Bits ‘n Pieces – The Driller’s Blog

Our technical team in Northern Ontario had an interesting request a while ago during an onsite visit. The mining company they were visiting was a longtime customer with multiple mines. The mine was one of the largest in the world and a large player in the area. With a lot business already done, and an excellent relationship developed over 25 years, the customer would often consult with us when it came to anything to do with coring challenges. During this particular visit, they asked if we could come up with a procedure and the necessary tooling to be able to get core using unconventional drill rigs such as a jumbo drill or a bolter.

It has been a while since we did a blog on matrix troubleshooting where we examine the different wear patterns on a bit crown. By looking at the wear profile, you can get clues as to why your core bit may be underperforming. There are many variables that can cause a really good core bit to underperform. It can be a change in ground conditions, drilling parameter or simply a lack of experience.

In an earlier blog, I described an onsite visit and how it led to special sized diamond tools being built. This week I want to continue talking about some of the reasons our technical team may go on an onsite visit.

I often remind our readers that our technical team does onsite visits, but I’ve had a few questions about what they can do while on an onsite visit. There are many types of onsite visits. Sometimes, the team will address a particular problem like poor bit life, or poor water return. Sometimes they will instruct a drilling team how to use a new product, put on a mud school or do core barrel or diamond tool training. Sometimes, a customer simply has a good relationship with a member of the technical team, respects his opinion and may bring him in to pick his brain. I am going to start writing about some actual onsite visits starting with this one in Colorado.

Drilling parameters are really important when it comes to drillers achieving great drilling performance and long bit life. They help guide a driller avoid burning bits or damaging other drilling equipment. Diamond drillers have learned that there is a relationship between the drilling parameters and all others factors in drilling, such as the diameter of the equipment of you’re using, rock hardness or ground variability.

No one starts out as a diamond driller. Like many other industries, in mineral exploration, there is an apprentice-like job: the helper or the offsider, depending on where you are working. A drill rig is a powerful machine and no one is going to let an inexperienced employee take control of it without making sure they know what they are doing.

I don’t always talk about upcoming tradeshows but the PDAC is a big one and this year’s will be different for us. For those who may not know, the PDAC is the largest tradeshow for the mineral exploration and mining industry and is expected to attract more than 20,000 attendees. It is taking place in Toronto from March 3-6, 2019

As in any industry, new employees have a lot to learn about their new jobs and responsibilities. In the drilling industry however, there are safety issues that newcomers must also be aware of and learn about in order to be safe and avoid accidents. With proper training and supervision, most accidents can be prevented.

In a previous blog, we discussed some of the issues you encounter when drilling in soft rock. This time, we’ll look at the opposite end of the spectrum: hard rock. Hard rock is defined as being over 6 on the Mohs scale of hardness. Common types of hard rock included kimberlite, granite, chert, quartz and silicified rock.

Drilling in soft rock is not always a walk in the park. Oftentimes, we associate hard rock as the type of ground that is most difficult to drill in. This is true, and we will address those issues in an upcoming blog. However, soft rock as its own set of challenges. Let’s look at soft rock and how you can avoid problems and be more productive.