340 9.

Exploration Drilling 341

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9.1. GENERAL CONVENTIONAL WIRE LINE

The objective of exploration drilling is to gather information about the formations below DRILL ROD

ground surface. This data is used to locate ore bodies and determine the mineral content and
INNER TUBE
quantity in the subsurface layers. Methods used in exploration drilling include: RECOVERY HEAD
- Diamond coring SPRING LATCH
- Dual-tube reverse circulation drilling LANDING RING
- Cable tool drilling
INNER TUBE
- Hollow-stem auger drilling SWIVEL BEARINGS
- Rotary air and mud drilling

Cable-tool drilling, rotary air & mud drilling, and auger drilling methods were discussed earli-
er in chapter 8. The first two, samples were taken from the drilling cuttings. Auger drilling
provides a soil sample. Diamond coring and dual-tube reverse circulation drilling are methods
developed specially for exploration drilling.

CORE LIFTER
9.2. METHODS

DIAMOND CORE DRILLING CORE BIT

Diamond coring is a method that provides core samples. The name of the method refers to
the drill bit, which has small diamond inserts. These bits may also have tungsten carbide FIGURE 9.2.-1. Conventional and wire-line core barrels.

inserts or even rollers instead of diamonds. However, the method is still referred to as dia-
mond coring. Core drills perform best in consolidatedformations.

A hollow coring bit is attached to a core barrel that collects sample into an inner tube as
the bit penetrates the formation (FIGURE 9.2.-1.). The inner tube is swiveled so that it stays
stationary at all times. There are two ways to get the core sample out when the inner tube is
full. In conventional coring, the complete core barrel must be drawn up to the surface,
which means that all drill rods must be pulled out of the hole. This is very time consuming
since it must be done every time the inner tube is full. In wire-line coring, the inner tube is
lifted to the surface and lowered back to the barrel through the drill rods with a winch. This
methods saves time because the drill rods stay in the hole.
Diamond coring drills are small in size compared to rotary drills and are therefore well suited
for remote exploration sites. Some are small enough to be transported by helicopter to areas
without access roads. The rig consists of a high-speed rotation unit (over 1000 rpm), a feed
system, which provides smooth and consistent pressure on a bit, and a diesel engine that
powers the unit. Drill rod handling is manual because it uses shorter and lighter drill pipes
than rotary drilling. Coring drills are equipped with a water pump for flushing cuttings to the
surface between the hole wall and drill pipe.
CENTER SAMPLE RECOVERY (CSR) DRILLING
Center sample recovery drilling is a continuous sampling method that provides uncontaminat-
ed chip samples. This method is also known as reverse air or reverse dual-tube drilling
because it uses a double-wall drill pipe. The drilling fluid is usually compressed air, but
water, foam or bentonite mud can also be used.
Compressed air is forced between the inner and outer tube down to the bottom of the hole.
The air cleans the face of a bit and brings the sample cuttings through the center hole of
the inner tube up to the surface. Samples are then directed through side inlet swivel and
top-drive rotary head into the discharge cyclone. After the cyclone, the samples can be split
and collected as required (FIGURE 9.2.-2.).
The drill rig for CSR drilling is often a standard rotary machine equipped with a side inlet
swivel, cyclone and dual-tube drill pipes. Drilling can be performed with either a tricone bit
or DTH hammer depending on the formation. Standard bits and hammers can be used in the
drilling process, but tools designed especially for CSR drilling give better results. The normal
bit size used in CSR drilling is 5 1/8” to 5 1/2” (130 mm - 140 mm). The dual-tube drill pipe
diameter is only slightly smaller than the bit diameter (1/2” - 1”), so that cuttings can not
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R O C K E X C AVAT I O N H A N D B O O K

be flushed out between the hole wall and drill pipe. Additional tricone bit shrouds or ham-
mer sleeves are used to block the annulus. Table 9.2.-1. Comparison between diamond coring and CRS drilling in mineral exploration.

The superior drilling speed over core drilling has been one of CSR drilling’s key success fac- METHOD DIAMOND CORE CRS DRILLING
tors. CSR drilling provides samples approximately 10 times faster than coring. There are, DRILLING
however, cases where core drilling is considered the only alternative in sampling. The follow- SAMPLE - Core sample
ing table compares the benefits of both coring and dual-tube reverse circulation drilling: - Uncontaminated
or contaminated
- Provides complete
range of information
- Chip samples
- Uncontaminated
- No information on rock structure
and physical properties
FORMATION - Consolidated
formations
- All formation types
DRILLING FLUID - Water
- Compressed air
- Water, foam or bentonite mud
optional
DRILLING SPEED - Slow (intermittent
sampling)
- Fast (continuos sampling,
possibility to use DTH hammer)
COST - Low investment costs
- High drilling costs
due to slow speed and
expensive bits
- High investment costs
- Low drilling costs due to
fast speed and longer life of
drilling tools
TRANSPORTABILITY - Excellent, due to
OF EQUIPMENT size of equipment
- Good in developed areas
- Poor in remote areas

FIGURE 9.2.-2. Dual-tube reverse circulation drilling.