Bits ‘n Pieces – The Driller’s Blog

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.

We’re taking some time during this holiday season to chat with Rod McCoremick, our resident blogger, about how he came to be a diamond driller. Leveraging his more than 20 years in the industry, Rod is an old-hand who has been writing about the challenges of the industry, and providing tips, advice and general information we think would be of interest to the diamond drilling community.

In order to accomplish our corporate goal of improving drilling performance, our engineering team develops new core bits that address particular drilling challenges. Rock abrasiveness is a common challenge faced by many diamond drillers. Abrasiveness can wear down bits prematurely, regardless of the hardness of the ground.

When the geologist has given you a specific target to reach with your bore hole, many of them will make specific requests that a hole proceed in a very straight direction for a certain number of meters. A lot will be riding on your ability to get there without your bore hole deviating. Most diamond drillers know that preventing bore hole deviation is a lot easier than having to correct once it’s gone off the trajectory. One way to avoid the risk of deviation is to stabilize your core barrel before you start drilling and you do this by changing some of the equipment you usually use.

Diamond drilling is all about productivity. Drillers and the companies they work for are all interested in finding ways to increase productivity. Sometimes, one major issue will have a negative impact on drilling productivity, and fixing it is all it takes. Sometimes, productivity is improved by tweaking a bunch of little things. If you adjust several things, the results can make a big difference. So this blog looks at x tips for increasing your productivity.

Our water treatment system Eddy has been doing well at drilling sites across the globe, including Mexico, and Northern Quebec. I’ve written about some of the successes we have had in helping customers go green and reduce water consumption. I love seeing how one product can be used successfully in different applications, and this is the case with Eddy, as new uses for water treatment are coming out.

Over the course of the time I’ve been writing this blog, I have written about acronyms in the diamond drilling world as well as terms and jargon that drillers should know. As time goes on, more and more young drillers are joining the industry. I often get requests about learning more about diamond drilling and knowing the terminology is part of that. This blog includes a list of additional terms that newcomers may not know but should know.

In our last blog, we talked about the importance of having a continuous flow of water in diamond drilling, so that the borehole is lubricated, the core bit is cooled and the drill cuttings are flushed from the hole.

In diamond drilling, the continuous flow of water is essential so you can extend the life of the core bit, lubricate the bore hole and flush drill cuttings. Mining and drilling companies alike choose positive displacement pumps as the pressure pumps used on drill rigs. Positive displacement pumps will produce the same flow at a given speed regardless of discharge pressure, providing continuous flow or in other words, they just keep on pumping.