DRILLING

PURPOSE
Collection of geological material.
Samples of geologic materials are collected for three general
purposes:
Measurement of physical and hydraulic properties,
Measurement of chemical and biological properties, and
Identification of lithologic, geologic,mineralogical, and
gross physical properties.

GEOLOGIC MATERIAL COLLECTED AS

Cores

Cuttings

 A core is a cylindrical sample of unconsolidated or

consolidated geologic material obtained in situ by means of a
thick-wall, thin-wall, or rotating coring device.
Cuttings are defined here as small-sized fragments of
unconsolidated, partly consolidated, or consolidated geologic
materials that are transported to the surface by
A stream of air or other fluid used during drilling,
Bailing or grabbing from a drilling,
Sticking to drill bits or auger flights,
Return from auger flights (noncoring methods that use
pocket and spoon, window or door).

DRILLING METHODS

Selection of a drilling method partially is determined by

The type and quality of sample and the sampling device
needed to collect these materials.
Rock properties where drilling takes place.

DRILL BITS AND ROCK PROPERTIES

Hardness
Describes the ability of one mineral to scratch another.

Toughness
Describes the resistance to fracture that comes essentially
from the tensile strength of rock. Many drill bits are
designed to induce local tensile failure within Rock.

Abrasiveness
Describes the ability of rock fragments to wear away the
drill and polish its cutting edges.

ROCKS GROUPED BY SELECTED DRILLING

CHARACTERS
Igneous:
Abrasive: Rhyolite, welded tuffs, granite, pegmetite.
Less abrasive: Basalt, dolerite, gabbro.
Least abrasive: Weathered intrusive rocks.

Etamorphic:
Abrasive (and hard): Quartzite, hornfels, gneiss.
Quartzite usually the most difficult of common rocks to drill.
Less abrasive: Schist.
Least abrasive: Phyl ite, slate, marble

 Sedimentary:
Abrasive (and hard): flint, chert. Quartzite, sandstone,
quartz conglomerate.
Abrasive (less hard): Siltstone, siliceous limestone, many
sandstone.
Non abrasive (hard): Limestone, shale.
Non abrasive (least hard): Mudstone, marl, coal, oolitic
limestone.

DRILL BITS
The hardness of mineral
constituents, the toughness
of the rock, its abrasiveness
should be considered while
choosing drill bits.

Conventional cone bits

Conventional cone bits

VARIOUS BIT DESIGNS Placement and spacing of studs

depends on rock properties.

SITE CHARACTERISTICS AFFECTING DRILLING

Structure
Broken rock is more difficult to drill than its intact
equivalent
Energy wasted at each discontinuity.
Joints filled with soft material can be source of delay.
Deviation in penetration.

TYPES OF DRILLING
Percussion drilling
Cable tool
Hammer drill
Air Percussion
Rotary drilling
Three rotary drilling methods are widely used, each depending on
the type of information required and/or the rock types being
drilled.
Air rotary
Mud rotary
Diamond core drilling

CABLE TOOL DRILLING

The objectives of this technology are to limit public and
worker exposure to hazards, obtain representative geologic
samples, and minimize the amount of secondary waste
generated.

PERCUSSION DRILLING
In percussive drilling a chisel-shaped bit is repeatedly struck
against the rock so as to form a hole. It pulverizes the rock to a
fine debris which can be flushed from the hole by drilling fluid.

AIR-PERCUSSION DRILLING

This method is used for penetrating hard rock types to a

depth of around 300m.Rather than a rotating bit, a hammer bit is
forced through the rock by compressed air. As in air-rotary
drilling, rock chips are brought to the surface by the returning air.

ROTARY DRILLING
In rotary drilling the ground is either cut or crushed by tough
blades or points which are rotated against the rock under load.

DIAMOND
COREcore
DRILL
BIT
Diamond studded
cutter.
The diamond bit is used in conjunction with a core barrel for
cutting a core out of the rock. The bit is hollow so that as it
cuts into the rock, a core of rock is cut which passes through
the bit and into the core barrel.

AUGUR DRILLING

Solid stem.

Hollow stem

AIR-ROTARY DRILLING
This is a quick and economical method of producing a
sample. Compressed air is forced down the drill pipe and, as it
returns to the surface, it carries with it rock chips made by the
rotating bit. This method is used in soft rock materials to about
25m deep, or to drill through the top layer of decomposed rock
and soil to get a fresh rock sample from the bedrock below.

Mud-rotary drilling
This method is used for drilling through soft rocks, sand
and clay layers especially in the search for coal, oil or gas. A
special mix of clay and water is forced down the drill hole
turning a rotary bit, with rock chips returning in the "mud" slurry.
This method is used for holes up to 3km deep and can be done
from ships or offshore platforms especially in the search for oil
and/or gas. A person who collects the chips and identifies the
rock type and other information is known as a "mud-logger".

DIAMOND CORE DRILLING

This method involves a pipe encrusted in industrial
diamonds being used to drill through rock layers, with a "core" of
rock being left in the centre of the pipe. This core is recovered
and gives information not only about the rock types, but also
about the relationships between the rock layers in detail.

DIAMOND CORE DRILLING

Thank
you