Coring Magazine - Issue 9

LEADERS IN GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

Issue 9 //

Topic of the Issue //

February 2019

Wedges

ISSN 2367-847X www.coringmagazine.com

Explorat ion

21 Questions // Luc Paquet – Former President and Denis Landry – Executive VP and GM at Fordia

Product Review // Epiroc's DiscovOre and Arrow 3S

In Focus // OGK Group – A Leader in the Russian Drilling Market

More Inside // Similarities Between Magnetic and North-finding Survey Tools

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/EDITORIAL

Dear Readers Exactly nine years ago I went to a new drilling job in Brazil. Upon my arrival in Belo Horizonte, I was picked up and after an hour’s drive, we reached a remote, inn-type hotel, located close to the drill site, near a mine. I was very happy to find that the place where I was staying was amazing. It was decorated beautifully and surrounded by gardens and a forest full of birds chirping. You could see the owners’ love and care in every single stone. I spent a month there and became close friends with the owner, Mr. Marcio Mascarenhas, and his son Paulo, who were gracious hosts. It turned out that Marcio was a highly successful businessman, being the founder and owner of one of the biggest English schools in Brazil, which had more than 150 branches in the country: a large-scale business. During the weekends the place was full, used as a retreat from the pressures of life by people from big cities like Belo, Rio and São Paulo. It attracted a lot of artists, actors and businessmen. During the week though, I was usually the only guest.

Marcio’s private house was next to the inn and he would often join me for meals, or invite me to join his family for supper. He would even personally get into the kitchen and cook for me from time to time (a salutary lesson in modesty). I always enjoyed his company and have remembered our long and inspiring conversations, which I believe we both appreciated very much. In fact, I have learned a great deal of wisdom from Marcio and I can honestly say that I spent some of the best days of my life in that place, because of its charm and energy.

That place was near Brumadinho. Yes – the same Brumandinho that has been on the news since yesterday (25 January 2019). For those who don’t know, one of the residue dams of the Córrego de Feijão mine, run by Vale, collapsed. The resultant flood carried 60 million tonnes of mud and wiped out everything in its path, leaving behind hundreds of casualties and ruining thousands of hectares of land. Mario’s hotel (pousada), which had been built with such care, will have been destroyed, as it was only one mile away from the mine’s administrative buildings. Marcio and his wife Cleosane, one of their sons, Marcinho, and their guests and staff (approximately 35 people in total), without the slightest idea of what was coming, will have all perished.

This disaster is a stark reminder to all of us that mining is not always safe. One way or another, accidents happen. All of us in the industry know what the risks are and work hard to mitigate them, but it’s unfair when innocent civilians suffer and mother earth is polluted. This industry gives, but it also takes!

Rest in peace to my friends and to all the victims of this unfortunate tragedy, and we give our deepest condolences to their families.

GRIGOR TOPEV Founder / Managing Editor CORING MAGAZINE

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

3

Table of Contents /NEWS & EVENTS

5

The latest in the industry

LEADERS IN GEOLOGICAL EXPLORATION

/21 QUESTIONS

8 Exclusive interview – Grigor Topev in conversation with Luc Paquet,

Former President and Denis Landry, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Fordia /IN FOCUS

12 ‘OGK Group: Coring is our core business’ – OGK Group, the largest company in the Russian independent services market presents its history, operations, equipment capabilities, and more

Issue 9 //

Topic of the Issue //

February 2019

Wedges

ISSN 2367-847X www.coringmagazine.com

Exploration

21 Questions // Luc Paquet – Former President and Denis Landry – Executive VP and GM at Fordia

Product Review // Epiroc's DiscovOre and Arrow 3S

In Focus // OGK Group – A Leader in the Russian Drilling Market

More Inside // Similarities Between Magnetic and North-finding Survey Tools

Diamond

Dr i l l i ng

/PRODUCT REVIEW

Coring Magazine February 2019

18 ‘DiscovOre and Arrow 3S: Leading-edge design streamlines function and brings greater safety’ – Artur Makos, Product Manager, Exploration Products at Epiroc discusses how design improvement can increase safety, productivity and efficiency

Cover photo OGK Group Issue 9 ISSN 2367-847X

/TOPIC OF THE ISSUE: WEDGES

Not for resale.

Free subscriptions at: www.coringmagazine.com/subscribe

24 ‘Priority Drilling’s Zero-trip Wedge’ – Michael McCarthy, Managing Director at Priority Drilling Ltd reveals the benefits of their Zero-trip Wedge – a major innovation in health and safety, as well as a significant time- and cost-saving product for any exploration company or drilling contractor

38 ‘Similarities between magnetic and north-finding survey tools’ –

Duncan McLeod and Dag Billger, Inertial Sensing One AB, discuss borehole surveying tools and their accuracy

Coring Magazine is an international quarterly title serving the exploration core drilling industry.

Published in print and digital formats, Coring has a rapidly growing readership that includes diamond drilling contractors, drilling manufacturers and suppliers, service companies, mineral exploration companies and departments, geologists, and many others involved in exploration core drilling.

Launched in late 2015, Coring aims to provide a fresh perspective on the sector by sourcing authentic, informed and quality commentary direct from those working in the field. With regular interviews, insightful company profiles, detailed product reviews, field-practice tips and illustrated case studies of the world’s most unique diamond drilling and mineral exploration projects, Coring provides a new platform for learning about the industry’s exciting developments.

/DRILLING HYDRAULICS

Publisher Coring Media

30 ‘Wedging in diamond drilling’ – Laurie Cyr, independent drilling specialist discusses the procedure for installing a Hall-Rowe wedge /CASE STUDY 34 ‘Innovative reduced-angle RC drilling: Foraco completes a challenging program’ –

Peter Jacobs, Senior Vice President at Foraco Australia gives an account of the company's operations in the Pilbara region /SURVEY TOOLS

42 ‘Drilling rigs hydraulics: Fundamentals (Part 3)’ – Peter Kuusimaa, an experienced freelance specialist, gives an in-depth view of the different kinds of rotation hydraulics systems and their components /MINERAL EXPLORATION 47 ‘Hiding in plain sight: The birth of a potential new mining district in the Abitibi’ – Patrick Lengyel, Exploration Manager – Canada, Chalice Gold Mines Ltd presents the company's approach to greenfield mineral exploration at its East Cadillac Gold Project in Quebec /CATALOG

51 Diamond drilling services

53 Drilling equipment & accessories

56 Survey equipment

57 Miscellaneous

4

Managing Editor Grigor Topev Editor Simone Hutchinson Marketing, Communications and Administration Martina Samarova Graphic Design Cog Graphics Printed by Dedrax Printing House Contact Us Coring Media Ltd. 119B D. Petkov Str., Sofia 1309, Bulgaria Phone + 359 889 53 26 53 Email editorial@coringmagazine.com Website coringmagazine.com Coring Magazine #9

/NEWS & EVENTS

The Latest in the Industry

January, 2019

Explomin’s 18th anniversary

November, 2018

Seequent and IMDEX to deliver real-time 3D visualization for minerals drilling projects Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Explomin celebrated its 18th anniversary on January 16, 2019 with an anniversary breakfast.

The celebration was held at the company’s headquarters in Lima, Peru, and was attended by 95 people. The company honored eight co-workers, who have been working at the company for more than 15 years, for their exceptional work performance.

During the event the CEO shared the company’s plans and goals for the upcoming years.

Explomin was founded in 2001 in Peru with a growth vision based on a close relationship with its clients, and a clear understanding of their needs.

The company started operations with DDH diamond drilling – underground and surface, later expanding into reverse

circulation drilling, followed by creating a new division for water well drilling. Today Explomin has a wide range of services to offer to the exploration and mining industry, and a modern fleet of 65 drill rigs. Its innovative spirit has driven the company’s introduction of new technologies to Latin America, such as directional drilling and rod handling systems. Explomin has a strong corporate culture based on innovation, operational excellence, and safety. Proud that its 1250+ employees practice that vision with remarkable commitment, Explomin credits its people with being the energy behind the business’s growth and making it a world-class company.

Visit: www.explomin.com

Seequent, a developer of revolutionary visual data science software, and IMDEX, a global leader in real-time subsurface intelligence solutions, have announced an ongoing partnership to deliver a real-time 3D visualization solution for the mining and exploration industry to dramatically improve the speed and accuracy of decisionmaking for drilling projects.

They are collaborating to integrate IMDEXHUB-IQ™, which provides access to subsurface data, and Central, Seequent’s centralised model-management solution for the visualization, tracking and management of an

organization’s geological data. The integration will allow live 3D data collected in the field and synced to IMDEXHUB-IQ™ to be linked in real-time to the same project in Central, enabling 3D visualization of downhole survey and structural geology data.

This mining industry-first enables drillhole progress to be reviewed in Central’s 3D Browser alongside the planned programme and current geological interpretation, giving geologists confidence in decision-making and ensuring issues are identified and managed as they arise.

Read more on: www.imdexlimited.com 5

/NEWS & EVENTS

The Latest in the Industry

December, 2018

Boart Longyear LF™ 160 drilling rig debuts in Africa

November, 2018

Devico become proud majority owners of Downhole Surveys 6

Boart Longyear has introduced its LF™ 160 surface coring drill rig and FL262 Freedom™ Loader to the African market. After being launched in late 2016, this rig and loader combination is already being successfully used in North and South America, Australia, and Turkey.

The FL262 Freedom Loader is an innovative rod-loading system that requires no intervention from the driller’s assistant to trip and align rods or connect to the top drive head. When combined with a surface coring drill rig like Boart Longyear’s LF 160, even more productivity and safety advantages are gained from the mechanized systems.

The operator can monitor the wireline spooling from a control

panel, avoiding tangling of wire rope typically experienced while lowering the overshot.

The LF160 rig and Freedom Loader combination offers more control and oversight which means less interruption and a more efficient operation.

The loader’s hands-free rod handling and remote controls allow the driller’s assistant to work outside the equipment area. This greatly reduces the risk of hand and back injuries from handling rods. The loader can cycle 6-meter rods in the same amount of time as a manual cycle, meaning enhanced safety is achieved without compromising productivity.

Read more on: www.boartlongyear.com

Recently Devico became proud majority owners of Downhole Surveys, the Perth-based business, further solidifying a long-running relationship and commitment to deliver innovations in directional drill hole surveying to Australia and across the world. Downhole Surveys are the exclusive distributors in Australia of Devico’s downhole surveying tools, which makes for a nice parallel, since the two businesses came into shape around the same time.

For founder and CEO Mike Ayris, the idea of forming a directional surveying business first came

about in 1989 when he was working as a draftsman on a WA mine site and began testing the theory that all vertical drill holes are drilled straight. Just as Viktor Tokle was inventing solutions for what was a time-consuming process in steerable coring, Ayris sought to prove that all drill holes do in fact deviate and consequently, Downhole Surveys was born.

Read more on: www.devico.com In the picture: Mike Ayris, CEO & Founder of Downhole Surveys lia with Erlend Olsø, CEO of Devico AS at the DHS Aust office in Perth, Western Australia Coring Magazine #9

/21 QUESTIONS

Exclusive interview with

questions

Luc Paquet Former President at Fordia

Denis Landry Executive Vice President and General Manager at Fordia

8

Luc Paquet & Denis Landry Luc Paquet is an alumnus of Concordia University, Montreal, where he studied from 1976 to 1979 and gained a degree in Communications. Luc took his first steps in entrepreneurship by running his own business as a beekeeper. Afterward, he worked for a number of companies where he gained insights into management practices. In 1986 he took charge of the family-owned business – Fordia, along with his brother Alain Paquet.

He was a President of the company for 33 years.

Luc is an accomplished entrepreneur and a true visionary, who has contributed to the successful development of Fordia. He is a member of the Canadian Diamond Drilling Association (CDDA), the Diamond Core Drilling Manufacturing Association (DCDMA), and other business and community organizations.

Denis Landry graduated from the University of Quebec at Chicoutimi in 1980 and holds a degree in Geological Engineering. In 1986 he received an MBA degree from the School of Management Sciences (ESG UQAM) in Montreal, Quebec. He has worked in the fields of IT, Sales and Marketing, and Drilling. His previous experience in the drilling industry includes planning and managing drilling campaigns, mechanical analyses, and more, at Quebec Cartier Mining. Denis has been working with Fordia for almost 12 years. Back in 2007 he was offered the position of Executive Vice President and General Manager, which combined his mineral exploration and business management skills. Presently he manages all the activities of the company and has a major role in its governance.

Denis is a Member and Secretary of the Advisory Committee.

Coring Magazine #9

Following the acquisition of Fordia by Epiroc, Luc Paquet, Former President of Fordia, will be leaving the mineral exploration industry, which has been a part of his life for so many years. Denis Landry, Executive Vice President and General Manager at Fordia, will continue his role and will oversee the next phase of Fordia’s evolution.

In the following interview with Luc and Denis, we discuss the past, present and future of Fordia, now a part of the Epiroc team.

Questions with Luc Paquet

GT: What is the secret to becoming an accomplished entrepreneur?

GT: What do you like doing in your free time?

LP: To become an accomplished entrepreneur, you need to have a vision. Very early on, my brother and I wanted Fordia to become the world leader in diamond tools. It took some time, but we managed. The accomplished entrepreneur needs to surround himself with people who have expertise in different aspects of business. We were very blessed at Fordia to be surrounded with first-class people who were instrumental to growing the company.

LP: In my free time, I like to do beekeeping.

I returned to my first love. I like art and gardening and have thematic gardens that include sculptures from around the world.

Also, I support several social-artistic and humanitarian causes. I am privileged and feel a need to give something back.

Grigor Topev: How did you get started in the drilling business?

GT: What would be your advice to someone who wants to run a business of their own?

Luc Paquet: I started in the business in 1981.

I was a beekeeper at the time and needed a job. I worked for Fordia, the company my father had founded in 1977. Beekeeping taught me a lot of lessons in management and in life.

LP: The advice I would give is to be persistent.

Perseverance pays. Also, be ready to take risks – you have to. And only risk what you can afford to lose. Finally, you need a good spouse or partner to support you and offer sound advice.

GT: Are you considering any new business endeavours after Fordia’s acquisition?

LP: I will invest in start-ups. I already have a portfolio of investments. I will now have more time to support them. I have a network, talent, financial resources and the desire to help others. But I am not looking for a fulltime business.

GT: Why was Fordia created and under what circumstances?

LP: My father set up a company called Prodia in 1977, which was a distributor. The Fordia brand was created in 1979 when he bought the assets of another company called

Luc Paquet speaking to Fordia employees Faster. Deeper. Safer.

9

/21 QUESTIONS

Produits Diamantés Pilon. This company was liquidated, giving my father the opportunity to become a manufacturer. It was quite a bold move. Rapidly, the company evolved from surface-set bits to impregnated bits, which was one of the revolutions in our industry.

GT: When did you join the company and what were your reasons?

LP: I joined the company in 1981. Beekeeping was not feeding my family. I worked as the right hand to my father, who was the man ‘leading the orchestra’ at that time.

GT: Fordia has come a long way from being a small family-run business and is now a global company. What are some of the biggest challenges you have faced over the years?

LP: I like to think that a company is like a person. You go through different stages and crises in your life. If you get through them, you become stronger and wiser. The different

crises Fordia went through – technology changes, market collapses, problems with quality, international expansion, banking problems, manpower problems, union affiliation, growth problems, and personal health problems – made Fordia a stronger and better company.

GT: What factors influenced your decision to sell Fordia to Epiroc? Was it a tough decision?

LP: Alain and I were coming to the end of our time with Fordia. We wanted a partner that would keep the name, the employees, the products, the network, and the factories. The result is better than our wildest dreams. The two companies share the same values and Fordia will be the operational center. Epiroc recognizes the strength of the brand and the agility that goes with it.

GT: What developments do you think there will be in the design and function of impregnated drill bits?

LP: I think drill bits will continue to improve performance. But the next generation will have sensors to optimize drilling parameters.

GT: Why does the diamond drilling industry produce such a limited number of inventions today?

LP: It’s a very conservative industry. One that is slow to adopt new products but constantly seeks to improve performance. In the last 30 years, drilling performance has increased five times and prices have decreased three times.

If the car industry had followed the same path, you would be able to buy a Mercedes for $999.

Slow but constant changes are brought on by drillers and manufacturers because of the tremendous pressure on prices that occurs in response to the cyclic nature of the industry.

GT: What do you think the diamond drilling industry will look like in the future?

LP: The diamond drilling industry will be automated, more ecologically friendly, able to go to greater depths, and will have more women on board. It is women who will save men and humanity.

Questions with Denis Landry Grigor Topev: Did you have drilling experience before starting at Fordia, and, why did you decide to join that company?

Denis Landry: I graduated in Geological Engineering in 1980. My first job with Quebec Cartier Mining was to plan and manage drilling campaigns that would both identify the extent of iron deposits and at the same time carry out mechanical analyses of the rock and the stability of the embankments.

In 2007, Fordia offered me a position as General Manager that perfectly combined my knowledge in the field of mineral exploration and mining and my experience in business management.

GT: What has been your favourite memory so far?

From left to right: Alain Paquet, Luc Paquet, Arunkumar Govindarajan (President – RDT Epiroc) and Denis Landry 10

DL: Over time, Fordia has stood out, winning several awards. The most prestigious of these was in 2012, the Quebec Grand Prix in Quality, followed in 2013 by the Canadian Award for Excellence.

Coring Magazine #9

GT: How many employees does Fordia have today?

DL: As part of the Epiroc team of 13,000+ employees, we are proud to say that Fordia has 245 employees worldwide, with 179 of those working in Canada, 163 of which are in the head office in Montreal.

GT: In terms of sales revenue, what are Fordia’s top five countries?

DL: Our recent records indicate that Canada, Australia, USA, Chile, and Peru are the countries that provide the highest sales revenues.

GT: Can you give us a rough idea of the number of drill bits that Fordia has manufactured since it was founded?

DL: According to our calculations, we estimate that Fordia has produced approximately two million bits.

GT: Apart from diamond tools, what are Fordia’s next best-selling products?

DL: Fordia has developed a magic triangle: technical support, drilling fluids, and diamond tools. This combination enables us to find winning solutions for our customers.

We are the only company in the industry offering this service globally, once again helping our customers improve their drilling performance.

GT: Fordia’s mechanical core-orientation device was very intriguing. Why is it no longer on the market?

DL: I think we didn’t have the information technology expertise to develop the next generation of core orientation.

impregnation in the market. Extended crowns are the answer to ever-deeper holes.

Also well known is our water treatment system EDDY, which is an ecological solution for the industry.

GT: Are you working on any new developments?

DL: Yes, we have a strong portfolio coming out in 2019. New crown matrices, new core barrels – a zero-trip wedge. Of course, with the integration of Epiroc and Fordia we will increase our portfolio and have access to two excellent R&D teams and two exceptional Supply Chain teams.

GT: What will Fordia look like and how will it subsequently develop after the acquisition?

DL: The integration of Fordia and Epiroc will allow us to combine the respective strengths of both companies in order to better serve our customers in the field of exploration drilling. More products, more points of sale, acceleration in innovation, and the same great customer service our drillers have come to appreciate.

GT: Would you keep the brand (the company and product names)?

DL: Fordia has great brand equity – it is known worldwide and represents quality.

We believe that this is one of the reasons that Epiroc was attracted to us. The goal is to keep the Fordia brand alive and well. Having said that, all brands evolve and as we start the process of consolidation with Epiroc, we expect some changes to our product lines.

GT: What are Fordia’s most recognized patents?

GT: How will the acquisition impact your clients and should they expect any particular changes?

DL: Our most recognized patent is the Vulcan that enables us to manufacture extended crowns up to 40 mm in height – the highest

DL: Customer satisfaction has always been at the forefront of all we do, so it goes without saying that delivering an improved customer

experience is a shared goal. Fordia will continue to offer solutions that are dedicated to improving drilling performance.

GT: What will happen with Fordia’s branches and reps around the world?

DL: One of our priorities is to listen to our customers in each region to guide us in determining the structure for their area and ensure that any changes we make are best suited to their needs.

GT: How can your clients be sure that the quality of the products will remain the same?

DL: Customers can count on our commitment to quality. Quality assurance has always been a priority and will continue to be so as we move through this next stage of Fordia’s life.

GT: According to Epiroc, ‘the acquisition has been strategically important as it will increase their focus on the exploration segment’. From your point of view, what does the future hold for Epiroc?

DL: I believe Epiroc can expect to attain leadership in the mineral exploration industry. This acquisition will empower their teams and allow them to leverage the Fordia brand, its reputation for quality products and outstanding service, as well as its existing network and people.

GT: In what direction would you like to see diamond drilling evolving?

DL: I would like to see diamond drilling continue to embrace innovation. We at Fordia have always focused on this, as has Epiroc, and our commitment will continue.

Technology has revolutionized many other industries and I think it can do the same for diamond drilling. This year at the upcoming PDAC we have dedicated an entire booth to innovation. C

NEW

If you have a question for Luc Paquet or Denis Landry, email us at editorial@coringmagazine.com and we will publish the answer in ‘Post-21 Questions’ in our next issue.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

11

OGK Group

Coring is our core business

by OGK Group

12

Coring Magazine #9

/IN FOCUS: OGK GROUP

Background Russian service company OGK Group was established in 2012 following the merger of the leading domestic enterprises in exploration drilling. At that time, the company had 20 employees and two drilling rigs. At first, OGK organized and performed drilling operations in the solid minerals sector, and consistently developed this activity by investing in technical modernization and adhering to highquality standards.

A careful approach to the business through strict observance of project terms, clear organization of works, and high productivity reflected OGK’s principles and impressed its customers. This led to the company being asked to carry out other work in addition to drilling. New divisions were formed to provide further services for mining companies and today there are four aspects to the business: drilling, blasting operations, mining working, and transportation of rock mass. But drilling is still a core business for the Group.

In the Russian independent services market OGK is the largest company. Revenues totaled USD 77 million at the end of 2018. The company operates in Russia and the Republic of Armenia and employs over 1500 people.

Drilling is our specialization The Group has specialized in drilling for seven years and has completed more than 50 projects for large mining companies at all stages of operation in the solid minerals sector. In 2018, OGK reached an important

milestone in its activities, having performed more than 500 000 linear meters of core drilling across surface and underground mine workings, and more than 1.6 million linear meters of blast hole drilling. The average growth of OGK’s core drilling volumes per year is 15 – 20 %.

Equipment capabilities OGK achieves productivity growth year on year owing to its wide range of equipment.

The company’s fleet includes 90 units of drilling rigs – the largest among Russian

Drilling works in the Far North of Russia Faster. Deeper. Safer.

13

/IN FOCUS: OGK GROUP

Organization of production from scratch in undeveloped Nezhdaninskoye gold deposit. independent drilling companies. We rely on new, up-to-date equipment from the world’s leading manufacturers in this field (Atlas Copco, Boart Longyear, Sandvik). The average age of our equipment is not more than five years. Annual investments in expansion and modernization of the fleet averaged USD 4 – 5 million.

The scope of OGK’s equipment includes drilling rigs with various specifications. In particular, it has machines which are capable of core drilling to a depth of 2000 m (Atlas Copco U8), working with diameters of NQ, HQ, PQ; as well as drilling rigs for exploratory drilling in hard rock (Atlas Copco FlexiROC D60 and D65).

We have some equipment that other exploration and mining companies do not possess. For example, self-propelled smallsized machines for underground core drilling: the drilling rig ESD 9, which was improved

by OGK’s own technical developments. Due to its small size, the rig halves the cost of 14

the construction of drilling chambers for subsoil users increasing productivity, as well as reducing the time required to move the rigs from place to place (dismantling of the machine, loading and transportation operations). Over the past few years, OGK has successfully used these machines at industrial sites for the mining company Nornickel.

Competence Today, mineral resource exploration mining in the world’s toughest terrains poses too great a challenge for the inexperienced. OGK has developed its capabilities over the course of working on a great number of projects sited in difficult locations. Most of OGK’s open exploration facilities are concentrated in

the Far East of Russia – a region where 70 % of the territory is occupied by taiga forests, dense river networks and poorly developed road infrastructure and 50 % of the territory is also in the Far North. Drilling is performed in permafrost, all year round, including at extremely low temperatures in winter (up to -60°C). Drilling in such conditions is hard.

And correspondingly, unfortunately, the cost of work increases. But a careful approach taken by the production team and technical specialists at OGK in the preparation of all projects – proper selection of drilling equipment and drilling fluid composition – allows us to make a competitive offer while still strictly adhering to compliance, guidelines and regulations.

Being a well-established organization of production from scratch in undeveloped exploration areas allows the company to get new projects up and running quickly, as well as to perform drilling year-round.

Coring Magazine #9

Exploration of one of the largest gold deposits in Russia In the winter of 2015, the company began drilling works at a large gold deposit at Nezhda in the Far North of Russia. The deposit is located in a remote area with sharp mountainous terrain. In just two months, equipment from neighboring regions was mobilized by a winter road; access roads and open drilling sites were prepared, and social infrastructure was built – an inhabited area where a comfortable temperature indoors is maintained despite severe, minus outdoor temperatures (up to -65°C).

At the undeveloped Prognoz field, which is also located in a remote area in the Far North, OGK has been drilling more than 45 000 linear meters per year. Transport connections with the site and delivery of drilling equipment, drilling tools, and goods and materials are only possible using a winter road. However, well-developed logistics allows our drilling crews to perform drilling works regularly throughout the year.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Underground exploration drilling In addition to projects in underdeveloped Northern territories, where subsoil users have to go for solid minerals, subsoil users have developed underground projects in co-operation with the highly qualified team at OGK. In 2018, more than 90 % of underground exploration drilling carried out by independent Russian drilling companies was performed by OGK. In 2018, 327 915 linear meters were drilled by the Group in underground mining using the core drilling method (58.5 % of the Group’s total core drilling volume for the year).

The Group’s experience in underground drilling is in demand from large Russian gold mining enterprises, which are just starting the underground development of deposits in the Amur region, and not only there. Our production team is involved with

Petropavlovsk for underground core drilling at their Pioneer site. Since 2017 OGK has acted as a contractor for Nordgold at the Berezitovy gold mine.

For OGK Group’s production team, drilling is not just a job. We perceive the appointed tasks as a space for professional creativity. In 2018, the company completed a technologically complex project. At a depth of more than 1000 m, our underground 15

/IN FOCUS: OGK GROUP

crews drilled geotechnical rising wells with an inclination angle to horizon of up to 87 degrees and extracted oriented core of heavily fractured rock with undamaged structure. The project was carried out at the large underground mines Oktyabrsky and Taimyrsky in the Krasnoyarsk region. The OGK production team developed a technical solution and started drilling. The project was successfully completed within four months, with 2000 linear meters of oriented drilling having been performed.

Labor safety When working at hazardous underground facilities, OGK carefully monitors safety. An occupational health and safety management program is followed by all subsidiaries.

The system implements risk controls and management standards and is regularly improved upon on the basis of results provided by Russian and international analytics. Each year, OGK organizes training and certification for employee safety, and provides work clothes and individual protection equipment according to industry standards and regulations, as well as guidance materials for injury prevention at production sites. Compliance with safety regulations is carefully monitored by our internal services within the framework of monthly on-site inspections, as well as by the services of customer companies.

Drilling works at Prognoz field

The future As a result of its work, OGK Group has developed a reputation as a reliable partner.

The company has taken leading positions in the Russian drilling market in terms of technical equipment and production volumes. The Group is approaching its next stage of development and wishes to expand its co-operation with foreign companies and is ready to offer its resources and experience. C

For more info: Contact: info@ogkgroup.ru or visit: www.en.ogkgroup.ru Core drilling in Yakutia 16

Coring Magazine #9

CONTINUOUS GYRO SURVEY TECHNOLOGY isGyro – SlimGyro – TwinGyro Reduce rig downtime High speed

SURVEYING MADE FAST AND EASY Inertial Sensing One Hörnåkersvägen 6A SE-183 65 Täby - Sweden Ph.+46 (0)708 98 04 59 dag@inertialsensing.com www.inertialsensing.com Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Solid experience Reliable products Excellent support 17

/PRODUCT REVIEW

DiscovOre and Arrow 3S

Leading-edge design streamlines function and brings greater safety

by Artur Makos, Product Manager, Exploration Products, Epiroc

The design of the traditional wireline core drilling system has remained largely unchanged since its introduction to the exploration industry. Over the years, a number of safety issues associated with the traditional wireline coring system 18

have been addressed by manufacturers. Most of the focus has been on mitigating the risk of injury related to failures of the roll pin and the spearhead.

Failures of the roll pin and spearhead are not limited to worn or damaged tools but have occurred even with new tooling. They include loss or failure of the roll pin, failure of the lifting dogs and failure of the spearhead to

connect. Methods used by manufacturers to address these weaknesses have primarily involved incorporating twist-lock overshot locks into the traditional assembly design, as well as the use of retaining lanyards.

Both of these strategies, however, rely on the wireline coring driller’s conscious, correct and consistent use of the safety feature. Yet, it is the driller’s choice whether they will or will not use the safety feature. That these safety devices result in increased cycle time by adding an additional manual step presents production-focused drillers with an incentive Coring Magazine #9

B-, N-, H- and P-size DiscovOre head assemblies to forego their use. The protections that these features offer can also become compromised through driller error during careless moments induced by fatigue or distraction. In actual practice then, the safety features are either not always implemented by wireline coring drillers or are not utilized correctly 100 % of the time.

Furthermore, these devices are themselves subject to failure. The twist-lock overshot lock’s small parts (ball and spring) and tight clearances can lead to jamming, since small stones, sand, old grease, ice or recycled water can get in-between the parts. Retaining lanyards can fail if there is a lack of regular or proper maintenance (which would result in parts being exposed to potential damage).

Epiroc DiscovOre New core barrel concept Safety & Productivity • • • • • • • • New DiscovOre core barrel Faster. Deeper. Safer.

•

No weak spear head No weak spring pins Increased lifespan for parts Leveraged latches – no jammed inner tubes Unique latch design – robust and easy to replace Reduced length – underground 10” (254 mm) shorter Quick conversion from underground to surface Robust spindle will resist bending during rough handling Loading tool for easy underground operation

When these features fail, they provide no additional measure of safety against a traditional assembly design’s risk of injury.

These inherent limitations have led manufacturers to focus their efforts on safety enhancements that do not rely on a driller’s conscious, consistent and correct practice, by incorporating the protections into the design of the wireline coring system itself.

The DiscovOre and Arrow 3S wireline core tooling concept shows how improvement of the common failure points in the traditional overshot and head assembly concept can increase safety by making it an intrinsic part of how the components connect. The design employs automatically locking lifting dogs.

It eliminates the roll pin altogether as well as failures associated with the traditional spearhead design, which the lanyard system was designed to protect against in other wireline coring systems.

Most importantly, the additional safety measure provided is automatic. It is not subject to human error or neglect. It reduces the driller’s hands-on interaction with the tooling. Furthermore, it does not add time to the coring cycle, thereby maintaining productivity, since its built-in safety is automatically engaged during connection, and is not an extra, manual step.

The biggest advantage of the Arrow 3S lies in its greater efficiency (specifically in terms of time), which is a direct result of its overshot design. The arrow-shaped body offers minimal water resistance and has a smaller cross-section area compared to other existing overshots. Drillers report that, going down the hole, the N system is approximately 15 – 20 % quicker, the H-size 25 – 35 %, and P-size 5 – 20 %.

Of course, the speed and efficiency of the wireline cable as it spools off of the winch drum will have a big effect on the drop speed.

Some drillers have reported that the Arrow 3S surface overshot would go down faster than the cable would allow when in ‘free spool’ mode, and most comment on how quickly the overshot drops.

Besides better safety and efficiency, there are many other benefits to consider when using the DiscovOre system: • A much more rigid head assembly due to larger and therefore stronger spindle diameters and threaded connections.

• Latches that are much larger and stronger than any other system in the industry, making them more resistant to breakage and general wear. In a surface configuration, the latches are free floating and do not require a ‘lock and load’ procedure. This also 19

/PRODUCT REVIEW

Old Sprearhead type core barrel – O-series/EX & others

New Overshot concept - Speed, Safety, Simplicity Standart overshot

Epiroc Arrow 3S •

Patented auto-lock design

•

One-handed operation for easy release

•

The pointed profile and deep body grooves will cut through the water for faster descent

•

Short, lightweight underground overshot

•

Designed to be centralized in the drill string for smoother, faster pump-in speeds

Reduced Arrow 3S area

•

20

allows them to wear evenly as well as last longer. The floating style, springloaded latch compensates for natural wear.

Latches that are better supported by the latch housing (it being more than six times the contact area). This stabilization reduces latch wear and allows for much improved driving support for the latch when rotating the drill string. Damage to the housing is also dramatically reduced.

• •

•

Water flowing through the head is unrestricted due to maximized porting up.

Overall, the rigid assembly functions much more smoothly in drilling mode, providing balance and low vibration, which improves core recovery.

Solid assembly pins are used, which have eliminated spring pins or split pins that were typically used to build head assemblies. This improvement not only makes the system more rigid and reliable but also reduces the need

•

for hammer and punch for removal or replacement of the pins. The pins are kept in the assembly by threaded bolts that can be easily unthreaded with a socket wrench, which lets the pins fall out (no punching needed at all). The hammer and punch technique is inefficient and can cause damage to the system, reducing its life and adversely affecting its function.

There is no pivot spearhead on the DiscovOre head, as the recovery ‘point’ is on the overshot. This eliminates Coring Magazine #9

PRIORITY DRILLING “WE PROBE THE GLOBE” MINERAL EXPLORATION DRILLING

· Directional Drilling · Gas Control in Gaseous Formations · Heli-Portable Drilling · Reverse Circulation (RC) · Remote Locations & Over Water Exploration · Grouting · Geotechnical Drilling · CBM Drilling · LDD Drilling

VISIT US AT BOOTH 6131N AT PDAC 2019 Priority Drilling, Killimor, Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, Ireland UK Tel: +44 (0)1916000483, Mob: +353 (0)87 258 0646 Email: info@priority.ie

/PRODUCT REVIEW

Loading tool part for underground drilling

P-size DiscovOre head and Arrow 3S overshot

concerns over weak or damaged spearheads malfunctioning down the hole making recovery impossible.

Damaged or weakened spearhead pivot points present dangerous conditions during lifting and lowering, which could harm operators if such failures occur out of the hole.

The Arrow 3S overshot design features have addressed some of the underlying issues with ‘traditional’ designs, including: • The pivoting overshot design provides flexibility during the connection and disconnection of the inner tube assembly while out of the hole.

• A more robust design of the pivot point provides a stronger and more reliable connection, offering better safety and simplicity of function. Redundancy safety pins are still available for this design.

• Lifting dogs are protected to a greater degree and are less subject to wear during the lifting and lowering process (currently, life or wear as measured in meters drilled is reported to be three times longer than in the traditional overshot design).

The increased number of interchangeable components in both surface and underground assembly heads is welcomed, as is the resulting simplicity of converting the assembly head and overshot from surface to underground configurations. This improvement will particularly benefit drillers who drill in all directions underground and will help reduce inventory for spare parts.

Other related features include:

•

22

•

•

The underground head assembly is the same overall length as the surface system, eliminating the need for special adapter couplings.

Drive key design allows for more efficient and reliable underground function compared to traditional systems. We separated the function of the latch lock and head assembly rotation. The underground locking coupling has windows inside where the drive key fits to rotate the head assembly. Latches are not responsible for the rotation, but for locking the head assembly between the adapter and locking couplings.

New drive coupling design for transfer of rotation to upper head (incorporating the drive key mentioned above). There is no longer a tang for rotating the head assembly. The drive key and windows in the locking couplings are responsible for that, eliminating latches from that function.

Drive key and drive coupling The loading tool for underground use makes the ‘lock and load’ process a simple task (onehanded operation), provides safe handling and guarantees a proper installation of the tube assembly.

An improved propulsion seal system provides more efficient pump-in of both head and overshot assemblies. Two types of seal are used in the head assembly and overshot, working together to maintain the constant proper sealing of the space inside the rods (especially when variable wall rods are used).

Drive key and drive coupling The DiscovOre allows you to adjust the length of the inner tube based on the same principle as in older systems, only in DiscovOre the lower latch body threads into the spindle, instead of the spindle threading into the lower latch body, as required in older systems. The DiscovOre design allows for a larger diameter of the spindle, which is therefore stronger and less prone to bend.

Taking a holistic approach to rethinking the traditional wireline coring system, Epiroc has created a simpler, stronger and safer method that will benefit everyone. C

For more information www.epirocgroup.com Coring Magazine #9

Innovation

Drilling Solutions for a Better Future

Surface • Core Drilling • Heli-portable • Directional • Rotary • Sonic • Reverse Circulation • Energy • Dewatering • Water Wells • Drill & Blast Underground • Core Drilling • Percussive & Rotary • Reverse Circulation • Directional • Dewatering • Engineering Services • Mining Services

Global Reach. Local Experts. majordrilling.com

QUALITY•SAFETY•RESULTS

/TOPIC: WEDGES

Priority Drilling’s Zero-trip Wedge

by Michael McCarthy, Managing Director, Priority Drilling Ltd

Priority Drilling’s typical deep hole set-up, with an Epiroc CT20 drill rig, able to drill down to 2200 m N-size. This borehole has over 17 directional wedges in it, of which the last eight are Zero-trip Wedges.

Priority Drilling has developed a Zero-trip Directional Wedge (patent pending under International Patent Application No. PCT/ EP2018/077367), a major innovation in health and safety, as well as a significant time- and 24

cost-saving product for any exploration company or drilling contractor that uses directional steel wedges in diamond drilling operations.

Frustrated for years by the repetitive nature of setting directional wedges for our directional drilling operations, Michael Dineen, R&D Manager at Priority Drilling,

began to toy with the idea that there had to be a more efficient method of running in directional wedges. He envisaged a directional wedge that could be run into the borehole in front of the core barrel, with the dropping mechanism pulled out after setting on the wireline, eliminating the need for multiple tripping of rods.

Michael McCarthy, Managing Director at Priority Drilling, saw the clear benefit of a ‘Zero-trip Wedge’ and, together, the two Michaels immediately started work on developing the idea. It took two years to bring Coring Magazine #9

it from concept to field-proven technology.

Over the last 18 months the company has set approximately 80 Zero-trip Wedges with practically 100 % success, in application at depths between 650 m and 1650 m.

The wedge is designed to be installed from in front of the core barrel to any predetermined depth, without needing to pull the drill string when coring past the wedge.

The benefits of Zero-trip Wedges Environmental, health and safety The health and safety benefits are difficult to cost out. However, some observations we have made are: • slip and trip incidents have been reduced on-site as a direct result of having eliminated the repetitive risk associated with tripping rods; • manual handling injuries, e.g. back strain, finger pinches, etc., have been reduced; • we are using significantly less borehole additives to help maintain the integrity of the borehole; • the Zero-trip Wedge has eliminated the requirement to needlessly trip rods in and out four times, greatly reducing the risk of injury to drill crews.

Ease of use We can now install a directional wedge at almost any depth in a single shift allowing drillers do what they do best – drill. This is achieved simply by removing up to as many as four unnecessary rod trips in and out of the borehole to establish a new daughter borehole. No need to use cement to set the wedge.

The Zero-trip Wedge comes in two sections for ease of handling and shipping, and is currently available in both NQ and HQ sizes.

Accuracy The Zero-trip Wedge can be accurately set to within 1.5 degrees of vertical using conventional survey tools, such as the ReFlex Ez-Trac. Cave is always a problem when setting a standard wedge, falling between the timber plug and the wedge’s spade, potentially causing the wedge to be unstable in the borehole. This can result in an inaccurate setting of the wedge, as it Faster. Deeper. Safer.

might not get a proper bite in the timber plug, leaving it unstable for future daughter and granddaughter boreholes.

Time saving A minimum of four shifts can be saved in starting a new daughter or granddaughter borehole using the Zero-trip Wedge, with the time saved increasing with the depth, the deeper the wedge has to be set at.

Maintenance With significantly less multiple pulling of rods from depth there is correspondingly considerably less wear and tear on the drill rig, the in-hole equipment, and the integrity of the borehole itself, not to mention the drill crew.

A typical section of completed directionally drilled boreholes

Drillers' approval ‘The lads’ (drillers) reaction to the Zerotrip Wedge was stunning. We set a large number of directional wedges every year for our clients here at Priority. Once the first prototype was successfully installed on an active borehole the lads started ringing both Michael and I directly, demanding to use the Zero-trip Wedge on their sites’, Michael McCarthy recalls.

Case studies The following summary reports have been contributed by our colleague Edmond Ted Coffey, Exploration Geologist at BRG Ltd (more about Edmond is given in our acknowledgments at the end).

Case Study 1: First Zero-trip Wedge review Introduction Priority Drilling introduced the Zero-trip Wedge experimental design to the following project in mid-to-late 2017, with this review covering a full year of use in the January to December 2018 drilling campaign.

The project, exploring for base metals, is comprised of a wide variety of rock types.

The host rock is comprised of a mudbank facies limestone, overlain by a chert nodule rich, bedded micrite. The nodular micrite is interbedded with and gradually succeeded by variably altered, thinly bedded ash, tuffs and thickly bedded, granular to pebbly pyroclastic breccia. The pyroclastic sequence is succeeded by interdigitating lavas and pyroclastics.

NQ Zero-trip Wedge just prior to being run into an NQ borehole in front of the NQ Reaming Core Barrel to be set at a depth of 1280 m in a granddaughter borehole.

The dropping mechanism is removed on the NQ wireline overshot after setting the Zero-trip Wedge and before dropping in the inner tube to start coring past the wedge creating a new great-granddaughter borehole.

Priority Drilling conducts directional drilling operations in a depth range of 600 m to 1100 m, which requires an ability for wedging and directional drilling in all three lithologies.

25

/TOPIC: WEDGES

NQ Reaming Core Barrel attached to the NQ Zero-trip Wedge about to be run into hole

Performance In the 2018 drill program, 67 % of targets were drilled using directional methods, with the Zero-trip Wedge used on 92 % of these, and the traditional multi-trip method was used for the remainder. The multi-trip wedges were used in the same mother hole, due to the exceptionally poor ground conditions and some concern was expressed about using the ‘experimental’ wedge. However, these boreholes were lost and, ultimately, a Zero-trip Wedge was attempted and proved successful.

During use, the Zero-trip Wedge failed to anchor three times. This was typically found to be caused by ground conditions, such as cave or rubble from higher in the mother hole, and on each occasion a second attempt 26

proved successful. Overall the Zero-trip Wedge was shown to have a 100 % success rate.

Savings The advantages of the Zero-trip Wedge come down to time. Its installation took place in one shift, regardless of depth, while the wedge cut was also typically completed in Shift 1 for boreholes with a wedge depth of 600 m to 900 m. The average for 2018 with the Zero-trip was: one shift setting the wedge, six shifts directional drilling, one shift reaming, for a total of eight shifts. An average breakdown of the time on directional drilling with the multi-trip from historic mother holes was: 3.5 shifts setting wedge, 6.5 shifts directional drilling, one shift reaming, giving a total of 11 shifts.

NQ Reaming Core Barrel c/w Dropping Mechanism & the NQ Zero-trip Wedge

Over the 2018 period, directional drilling with the Zero-trip Wedge resulted in 75 shifts being saved when compared to the standard method.

Note: Where possible, only mother holes where both zero and multi-trip wedges were installed have been used for time-saving calculations.

Case Study 2: Use of the Zero-trip Wedge in the Boliden Tara Mines During the early to mid-1990s, ongoing exploration at the Tara zinc and lead mine near Navan, Co. Meath, then owned and operated by Outokumpu Oy, led to the discovery of the South-West Extension to Coring Magazine #9

NQ Reaming Core Barrel & NQ Zero-trip Wedge lifted into position

the Navan deposit. The steadily increasing depth of target, down to approximately 1000 m, led the drilling contractors Priority Drilling Ltd eventually to adopt directional drilling as the primary method of collaring new holes (see Walker, 2003).

In 2012, the now Boliden Tara Mines DAC, while interpreting recently acquired seismic data, identified a target some 3 km to the south of the Navan deposit (see Ashton et al., 2018). Initial drilling intersected 32.5 m @ >14 % (Zn+Pb), and subsequent drilling had by early 2017, revealed an inferred resource of 10.2 Mt grading 8.5 % Zn and 1.8 % Pb. Much of this new discovery, now called Tara Deep, lies below 1000 m depth and currently down to close on 2000 m.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

These depths necessitate the continued employment of directional drilling as the primary exploration technique, which, coupled with environmental awareness, helps maintain social licence in an area dominated by agriculture and small communities. Limited rig-moves and extended site occupancy are a direct result of the use of directional drilling technology, and reduce drilling costs to the company.

Since 2015, Priority Drilling Ltd has developed the Zero-trip Wedge to replace the existing conventional Hall-Rowe. The Exploration Section of Boliden Tara Mines DAC sees this as a direct improvement on existing technology. To explain, the substantial advantages that this new wedge offers arise from the fact that you

will no longer need to prepare the hole with a Van Ruth and wooden plug, and that you will have the capability to drill past the wedge. These two advances on previous technology allow a contractor to make vast economic improvements to the utility of the drill rig and they further bring a number of benefits to health and safety, the environment and costs for both the employer and the contractor.

This can be highlighted by considering the time saved when the Kick-off Point for a daughter hole might be greater than 1300 m. Current practice in Tara Deep is to drill north-west orientated ‘strike’ sections with approximately 80 m to 100 m separation between intersections outwards to around 500 m from the mother hole.

27

/TOPIC: WEDGES

Orientation Mechanism This can theoretically yield 11 intersections per section over 1.1 km and three sections can be effectively drilled from one location, giving a notional 33 intersections.

Exploration of the Tara Deep deposit has reached a point where the majority of drill targets will be at depths greater than 1500 m, so the economic potential of Zerotrip Wedge technology is significant.

Company history Priority Drilling Limited is a private limited company, incorporated within the jurisdiction of Ireland. The company was originally set up in Canada by Irish immigrants who had emigrated to Canada in 1949 to seek work in the booming construction industry in North America. They got involved in the mineral

exploration and mining industry during the rush for Uranium in 1951 at Uranium City, Saskatchewan.

While in Uranium City they decided to set up a construction company (Priority Construction) so that they could also undertake construction works on mining sites in and around Uranium City. Following their success in Canada the original founders returned to Ireland in the 1960s and incorporated Priority Drilling Limited and Priority Construction Limited as Irish companies.

Priority Drilling has been involved in every major mine discovery in Ireland, having found the discovery holes in Tynagh Mines, Silver Mines, Gortdrum Mines, Tara Mines, and Galmoy Mines.

Priority Construction was originally involved in the development of the Tynagh mine site in the west of Ireland.

Throughout the 1970s Priority Construction’s main business activities involved the building of office blocks and housing estates. In the early 1980s the company started to confine its work to civil engineering projects encompassing: road overlays, pumping stations and site-enabling works. In the early 1990s through to 2019 the company began specializing in landfill

Workflow analysis based on a Kick-off Point (KoP) at 1000 meters Hall-Rowe Wedge

Zero-trip Wedge

STEPS TIME

STEPS TIME

Lower rod string to 1005 m and set

Lower rod string to 1005 m with

Van Ruth plug

5 hours

Zero-trip Wedge

Withdraw rod string and attach wooden plug

5 hours

Lower ‘camera’ on wire line and survey two single shots

2 hours

5 hours

Set wedge and prepare to drill past

1 hour

TOTAL TIME USING A ZERO-TRIP WEDGE

8 HOURS

Lower rod string to 1005 m and set wooden plug Withdraw rod string and attach conventional Hall-Rowe Wedge

5 hours

5 hours

Lower rod string to 1000 m to set conventional Hall-Rowe Wedge

5 hours

Summary

two single shots

2 hours

Time saved

Withdraw rod string and attach core barrel

5 hours

Savings on equipment plus wages costs

Lower ‘camera’ on wire line and survey

at the drill site

Rod string with core barrel lowered to 1000 m to drill past wedge (13 m)

5 hours

TOTAL TIME USING A HALL-ROWE WEDGE 37 HOURS 28

29 hours or 78.4 % over 30%

Further savings on fuel and maintenance costs are also made as a result of spending less time wedging.

Coring Magazine #9

North-West

South-East

Platformal Limestones

Sketch section of a typical drilling pattern employed on the Tara Deep deposit. Note that similar geometry is repeated 100 m either side of this section. The geology is simplified and the target infilled red, and is sitting at 1000 m to 1200 m depth.

construction, landfill remediation, road overlays, tailings pond construction and siteenabling works.

In 2006 Priority Geotechnical was set up to provide site investigation and laboratory services to the construction industry. All three Priority companies share common directors and management teams.

It was in 1995 that Priority Drilling tentatively started directional drilling using steel wedges and Navi-Motors.

At the time, surface drilling in Ireland was primarily based around the six summer months. Drilling depths had started to reach the 1000 m mark, but, given this country’s unique circumstances, where diamond drilling was a nine-to-five weekday summer job owing to land access concerns from farmers and planning requirements, it had become capital intensive and a unsustainable business. Directional drilling was a game changer and a breakthrough technology that allowed Priority to establish year-round drilling sites on brownfield areas around existing mines, allaying farmers’ fears of damaging the land during the wet winter months.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Priority Drilling currently operates 35 diamond drilling and multipurpose drill rigs, both surface and underground, specializing in directional drilling, Large Diameter Drilling (LDD), Coal Bed Gas Methane (CBM), as well as remote location drilling capabilities with heli-portable and man-portable drill rigs.

Priority Drilling has established a new division, Priority Directional Services, to assist mineral exploration and mining companies with their directional drilling programs. With over 25 years of experience in directional drilling we have the expertise to help or train other companies in directional drilling techniques.

Priority gratefully acknowledges: – Dr Mark Holdstock, formerly Chief Exploration Geologist at Tara Mines Ltd, who was largely responsible for encouraging Priority in 1995 (against our will) to start directional drilling.

– John Ashton, Chief Exploration Geologist at Tara Mines Ltd, and Dave Blaney Geologist & Managing Director of BRG Ltd, who both showed great restraint and patience by allowing us the time to develop the Zerotrip Wedge while we were working on their respective projects.

– Robert Blakeman, Senior Exploration Geologist at Tara Mines Ltd and Edmond Ted Coffey B.Sc. M.Sc. EurGeol PGeo, Exploration Geologist at BRG Ltd, with whom we work closely.

– And, especially Cecil Tuthill of Olimotion Ireland Ltd, whose engineering expertise was a cornerstone in the development and perfection of the Zero-trip Wedge. C

For more details www.prioritydrilling.ie or you can visit Priority Drilling at Booth 6131N at PDAC 2019

References J. H. Ashton, A. Beach, R. J. Blakeman, et al., 2018. ‘Discovery of the Tara Deep Zn-Pb mineralization at the Boliden Tara Mine, Navan, Ireland: Success with modern seismic surveys’, Metals, Minerals, and Society: Special Publication Number 21, Society of Economic Geologists, September 2018.

N. Walker, 2003. ‘Directional drilling in mineral exploration: An Irish case study’. geoDrilling International, March 2003.

29

/TOPIC: WEDGES

Wedging in diamond drilling

by Laurie Cyr, Independent Drilling Specialist

Setting a Hall-Rowe wedge, oriented with an acid test Way back, but not that far back, putting a wedge in a hole was a lot of work, especially if the wedge was to be installed oriented to the original hole. In today’s world, by utilizing a wedge like the ‘African Wedge’, which is adapted from the Hall-Rowe, the entire procedure can be accomplished in one trip of the rod string. It is worth knowing how things have come to be the way they are. I’ve blown the dust off some old records and produced the following article showing how things were done in times gone by. In the world of drilling, Diamond Core Drilling does not play a very big part, yet we do have a lot of research and development happening with both the major suppliers as well as a few visionaries working on the drills in the field.

Whoever Hall and Rowe were, we salute you!

30

Preparing the wedge hole Now, once it is determined that a wedge is to be placed in the hole, clear access is required to wherever the wedge will be set. The wedge needs to be set onto a firm surface, whether the bottom of the hole or on top of broken drill rods.

Normally, a hole plug will be installed where the bottom of the wedge will be. There are options available, such as the Van Ruth Plug, a hole plug which is pumped through the open rods to the desired spot, or the Bradley Plug, which is lowered on the end of the rod string and set by turning the rods at the desired spot. This plug is attached to the rods with a socket adapter connected with a shear pin.

If the wedge is to be set at the bottom of the hole, care should be taken to ensure there is not any loose cave material down there.

The single most critical thing is to measure, very accurately, exactly where the bottom of the hole is. Many a wedging operation has been foiled for this error.

Installing the Hall-Rowe wedge As soon as good hole conditions are achieved, we can initiate the installation of the wedge:

Step 1 With the hole plug in place, a 30” length of ash or linden wood is pushed down to sit on the hole plug. There is an obvious risk in pushing it down with the axe!

Step 2 The rod string is tripped and the axe is lowered. It is attached by brass pins to the bottom of the inclinometer, which has been loaded with a test tube half full of acid. At the bottom, the rod string is pushed into the wood block, shearing the brass pin. It will split open the wood plug. The wood fibers

will then swell, being exposed to the water in the hole, effectively ‘cementing’ the axe in the hole. We wait 20 minutes for the acid to etch a line in the test tube and then we pull the rods.

When the dropper is recovered, the test tube is carefully removed so the position inclination etched into the glass can be marked on the dropper. Marking coinciding dots on both the inclinometer body and the top of the test tube is best. The angle of the etched line in the tube shows the inclination of the hole, or tool face. As the test tube is recovered, a mark will be made on the inclinometer body that corresponds with the indicated bottom of the etch made on the test tube by the acid. That mark is used when aligning the actual wedge with the top face of the hole. The brass washers are used so that the tool face of the wedge will be aligned with that mark.

Today, the wedge is aligned with the aid of a downhole camera, BEFORE the wedge is pushed into the wood block, eliminating a lot of fretful measuring of brass washers, as well as another rod trip!

Step 3 The bottom of a directional Hall-Rowe wedge is threaded. A coupler with a tang on the bottom screws onto the threaded bottom of the wedge. Brass washers are placed between the wedge and the coupler, such that when the coupler is tightened, the wedge can be oriented to face the top of the hole, as indicated by the acid test. The brass washers will cause the wedge to tighten a bit sooner when the coupler is tightened, changing its orientation with each added washer. This procedure is usually done in the geologist’s presence.

Once the wedge face direction is set, by using the correct number of brass washers, the wedge can then be lowered into the hole.

The wedge dropper is attached to the top of the wedge using brass pins. The wedge is Coring Magazine #9

Hole wall Rod string New hole

Wedge dropper

Inclinometer

Sheared rivets

Acid test Wedge

Sheared rivets

Axe Test tube Showing etched line marking top of hole

Wood block

Hole plug Brass spacer Used to cause wedge face to align with top of hole The parts and stages of wedging lowered very carefully, being sure the bottom piece enters the slot in the top part of the axe.

The rod string is lowered exactly on top of the axe and gingerly rotated. The driller will feel it when the wedge drops into the slot at the top of the axe. The driller will then push on the rods to break the pins, setting the wedge in the hole. The rod string is retrieved to begin drilling past the wedge. Note that any rough handling can compromise the whole procedure.

Step 4 We need to drill past the wedge using either a bullnose/ball bit or, at least, use a wedge/ taper bit, or, a surface set multi-step bit.

A full-gauge bit will drill straight into the wedge, instead of drilling off the hole. For that reason, drilling must begin at a slow rate of advance, as well as at a lower rotation speed, 200 – 400 rpm, until the bit starts to run off the wedge. This part of the operation should be done without a reaming shell or a stabilized back end. A two, or five-foot Faster. Deeper. Safer.

standard drill rod is best, allowing easy flexing of the string while it bypasses the wedge. No core will be recovered if a ball bit is used, but it is the surest way to drill past the wedge.

Step 6

Step 5

Step 7

Once past the wedge by enough distance, the wedge bit can be retrieved and the short core barrel can be lowered. Care must be taken while passing the wedge for the first time with a reaming shell and core barrel backend.

Best practice is to use both a blank reaming shell (no diamonds) and a blank Locking Coupling (no carbides) until the full-gauge drill bit easily passes the wedge. The bit should be reamed up and down the wedge a few times.

Reaming should begin BEFORE the string becomes stuck on the wedge. This WILL happen if the rod string is lowered too hastily the first time, or if you try to go too fast. The extra diameter lodges partway into the new hole and becomes permanently stuck. You MUST ream first.

An acid test should be done once you are completely past the wedge to measure the amount of deflection obtained. In very hard rock, this may be as little as ½ to ¾ of a degree, but it is possible to obtain as much as 21/2 degrees inclination in softer rock.

Should another wedge in the hole be desired, a minimum of 50 feet of drilling should occur between the top of the installed wedge and the bottom of the hole plug for the next wedge, to prevent breaking drill rods in the hole.

Once it is established that the core barrel and reaming shell pass the wedge easily, normal drilling can be resumed.

Step 8 Congratulations! You have successfully installed a wedge in your hole.

Happy Wedging.

31

/TOPIC: WEDGES

And some final comments The development of the Sperry Sun type of downhole camera simplified a lot of maneuvers in diamond drilling. Just taking an acid test used to involve a complete rod trip. It was said to be possible for a driller to set up his acid test in a grease pail to avoid tripping the rods, letting him keep drilling and earn a bigger bonus. Of course, this is just an unproven theory, but it might have actually happened!

Directional tools, like the axe and the inclinometer, are no longer used. That part of the wedging operation was eliminated with the advent of modern hole survey tools.

Some do forget how things came to be, hence the article.

The use of the Clapison Retrievable Wedge, described in Jeff Dagg’s article in an earlier edition, has largely been eliminated by the downhole motor tool, which also relies on the survey tools.

32

Tools like these found their origin in the oilfield, where the larger hole diameters made the development of a lot of tools much easier. Downsizing to fit into a diamond drill hole has been a challenge met only by some very clever men. Ballantyne Vass and a camp builder in Flin Flon named Neil were two of them. I had the privilege of working with them. The gears were always spinning!

Hopefully, there are more like them out there.

Installation of a regular steel wedge Note: For some reason, the ash wood wedge block for diamond drilling has been replaced quite often with a Jack Pine length of hole-size dowel. These make a very poor substitute. Ash wood is very straight grained, ensuring a straight cut, right down the block.

This allows the axe, or bottom of the wedge, to sink deep into the wood block. When the wood swells, the wedge will be held as if

it were set in cement. The Jack Pine block is usually filled with knots, and the grain is anything but straight. The axe has a habit of being set after pushing in a tiny little bit, having the brass pins on the wedge dropper shear too early. In these instances, the wedge may pop right out of the block, after drilling has recommenced. This usually results in losing the hole. If your wood block looks like that, use patience and cement the whole wedge in before you start to drill by it. C

About the author Laurie Cyr has been working in the core drilling industry for over 45 years and is occasionally given to writing about various aspects of the trade.

You can reach him at: lauriecyr@me.com

Coring Magazine #9

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33

/CASE STUDY

Innovative reducedangle RC drilling

Foraco completes a challenging program

by Peter Jacobs, Senior Vice President at Foraco Australia

The Pilbara region of Western Australia is blessed with some of the world’s most significant iron ore deposits. This vast expanse covers over 500,000 square kilometres, with a population of only 45,000 people, and 34

is known for its searing temperatures, spectacular scenery and rich red earth.

In addition to the enormous iron ore reserves, it also hosts world-class lithium, gold, and base metal mineral deposits.

These iron-rich formations are hosted in some of the most ancient rocks on earth, dating back over three billion years. The economic demonstrated resource of the Pilbara Iron Ore deposits is in excess of a staggering 24 billion tonnes. Three major miners (Rio Tinto, BHP and FMG) dominate production, with a combined output in excess of 730 million tonnes per annum (from over Coring Magazine #9

20 operational mines), which is shipped to mainly Asian steel mills (China, Japan, and South Korea).

FORACO Australia (and predecessor companies) has operated in the Pilbara since the early 2000s with Diamond Drilling, Reverse Circulation (RC), Water Well, Large Diameter Coring (8” conventional and 6” wireline), and instrument installation services, operating up to eight drill rigs Faster. Deeper. Safer.

across multiple mines. In 2016 the company introduced the first wireless remotecontrolled RC drill rig, with a full suite of Measurement While Drilling capability, to its Pilbara fleet: Rig 7, which was based on a KWL 700RC platform.

This rig is mounted on an 8 x 8 Mercedes carrier, and features an onboard 1350 cfm x 500 psi air package, 180 m of rod storage, mechanized and hands-free rod handling

and breakouts, rig-mounted cyclone and a PLC-controlled rotation cage that puts the rig hydraulics into a zero energy state when it is opened.

Getting the driller more than eight meters away from the rig, and off the operators platform, removes them from a very hostile environment, consisting of noise, heat, and vibration, as well as high-pressure air, hydraulics, and the potential to be struck by 35

/CASE STUDY

falling objects from the drill mast (should they become loose). One of the main concerns when designing the build was operator acceptance. Would the driller be comfortable more than eight meters from the machine, not being able to ‘feel’ the rig responding to his inputs? These reservations were put to rest after its first shift with the drilling team commenting, ‘the further I can get away from that noisy, hot, vibrating, grease spitting beast, the happier I am’. The rig has been a resounding success, and has now drilled over 110 000 m in three drill seasons.

In late 2017, one of the major iron ore miners approached FORACO about drilling shallow-angle drill holes to access previously

untested potential ore deposits in steep and rugged terrain. After a number of scope revisions, a cross-functional team including (Client) Geoscientists, Drill Crew, Operations, HSEC, Mechanical and Engineering support set about designing, risk assessing and planning the project.

Rig 7 was the ideal platform for the Reduced Angle Drilling (RAD) program, as the driller could maintain a clear line of site of all activities from more than eight meters away from the rig. In total over 1000 m was drilled in seven holes from a single drill pad (which took over 14 days to chisel out of the side of the hill).

The shallowest angle hole was -35 degrees, which terminated at 178 m, with the deepest being a -45 degree hole drilled to 261 m. The project was completed without incident, ahead of schedule, and under budget.

Deviation on the RAD holes was minimal and sample quality excellent.

Following the success of this project, other previously inaccessible areas are now being assessed for RAD operations. Being able to safely operate at such shallow angles also opens up the opportunity to drill and place instruments parallel to pit wall slopes to monitor movement and ground water pressures, providing potential early warning alerts to mine operators. C Visit: www.foraco.com

Foraco rig crew 36

Coring Magazine #9

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37

/SURVEY TOOLS

Similarities between magnetic and north-finding survey tools

by Duncan McLeod and Dag Billger, Inertial Sensing One AB

Borehole surveying is a fundamental part of drilling operations to establish where a hole has actually been drilled. To accomplish this a variety of systems have been developed over more than a century to perform borehole surveys, based on a wide range of physical measurement principles. The key question that is addressed by such tools is how to measure the direction or azimuth of the borehole. In addition to obtaining a survey data set, it is of equal importance to understand with what accuracy a given survey technology has produced the data.

One such class of tools is the well-known magnetic multishot survey system. Tools of this kind are usually cheaper, rugged, and 38

simple to use where natural magnetism of the ground or nearby equipment is low enough to not affect a survey. At the other end of the scale is a range of gyroscopic north-finding tools that have been around in the oil and gas industry for a long time but have gradually made more of an appearance in mining. These tools are among the most expensive; usually they are not magnetically sensitive (apart from those based on fiberoptic gyros).

Given that these two tool types determine the azimuth using different physical measurements, the Earth magnetic field versus the Earth rotation rate, how could there be any interesting similarity between them? It turns out that the physical principle behind the two tool types is actually mathematically identical, and in this article, we will show how the equations for the azimuth in both types of systems are fundamentally the same. From this it follows that some of the basic limitations of magnetic survey tools are also found in gyroscopic north-finding tools.

Introduction Calculating the borehole path co-ordinates requires three fundamental measurements at a series of points along the borehole. These points are typically called ‘stations’ and the required data at each station is:

1.

The measured depth along the borehole to the station. This is usually provided by a counter on the wireline, an optical encoder on the winch for continuous depth read-out, or simply a tally of the number of pipes tripped into or out of the hole.

2. The inclination or dip angle of the borehole at the station. This is the angle from vertical that the hole is pointing. This is usually measured using inclinometers that directly measure the direction of Earth gravity with respect to the survey tool.

3. The azimuth of the borehole at the station. This is the angle from north that the hole is pointing.

The measurement is typically done using various methods including magnetometers, north-finding gyroscopes and inertial measurement gyroscopes, among others.

With these three quantities measured, at a dense-enough series of stations along the borehole, it is possible to use algorithms, such as radius of curvature or minimum curvature (see Long & Mitchell, 1992 and Sawaryn & Thorogood, 2005, given in the References at the end), to calculate the north, east and elevation co-ordinates of the borehole stations. Minimum curvature is today considered to be the industry standard but more advanced methods are known.

Coring Magazine #9

It is the measurement of the azimuth that is usually the most challenging information to calculate in any borehole measurement system. Each type of system has its own unique benefits and drawbacks, where measuring azimuth is concerned.

This article is concerned with outlining the parallels in azimuth measurement between magnetic and gyroscopic north-finding tools.

Although it might seem that these systems are wildly different in their make-up and performance, they are in fact very similar in their basic measurement principle and limitations due to location and borehole direction.

Equations for survey station azimuth for the different types and configurations of magnetic multishot (AMag) and gyroscopic north-finding (ANF) survey tools.

Magnetic and true-north azimuth equations Broadly speaking there are two types of each system, depending on the number of sensor axes used. The more general type has three sensor axes, either magnetic or gyroscopic.

These are typically mounted in the tool so that one sensor measures on the long axis of the tool, the Z axis, while the other two are perpendicular to the Z axis and each other, creating the X and Y axes. Such a sensor arrangement measures the full threedimensional Earth magnetic field or Earth rotation rate vector. The second and simpler type uses only the X and Y axis sensors and assumes that the Z axis Earth magnetic field or Earth rotation rate is such that it completes what should be the total value at the survey location.

The second, simpler type originated in earlier days of surveying when sensors had higher power consumption, were larger in size and considerably more expensive and there was therefore an interest in limiting the number of sensors in an instrument.

So-called XY-axis tools work best within a limited angle from vertical, but historically this has been an acceptable trade off, since many of these survey technologies originate from oil- and gas-type applications.

The following equations are the most general way of calculating the azimuth for magnetic, AMag, and gyroscopic northfinding tools, ANF, with either XYZ or just XY sensor arrangements (see Williamson 1999 and Torkildsen et al., 2004): In simpler terms, the gyroscopic northfinding azimuth equations are the same as the magnetic EMS equations if we simply replace the Earth total magnetic field with the Earth’s rotation rate and replace the magnetic dip angle with the (negative) latitude of the measurement location.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

Table 1 – Correspondences between magnetic and gyroscopic north-finding parameters

The highside and inclination angles are obtained using inclinometers while the components of Earth magnetic field and Earth rotation rate axis are measured using magnetometers and gyros. There are variations of the formulas stated above, for instance in the case of near vertical boreholes where highside and azimuth are not well defined, one would instead look at the toolface angle. In addition, different manufacturers have different practical implementations of the azimuth formulas.

However, the equations shown here represent the fundamental information used in calculating the azimuth.

Azimuth accuracy depends on drilling location The fact that this correspondence exists between two very different tools is not surprising. Both systems work by measuring the inclination and azimuth angles using two reference directions (vectors). For magnetic systems, it is the direction of the Earth’s gravity and the Earth’s magnetic field. For north-finding systems, it is the directions of the Earth’s gravity and the Earth’s rotation axis.

The best measurement will always be achieved when the two reference directions are perpendicular, since these are then completely independent and provide maximum information. Conversely, it is

impossible to compute the azimuth when the two reference directions are parallel, as these then provide the same reference direction and the calculation becomes meaningless.

For cases in-between, where the two reference directions become increasingly parallel, the survey system will lose accuracy accordingly.

A consequence of the fundamental mathematics is that a magnetic survey system will have reduced accuracy for borehole locations with high Earth magnetic dip angle (locations where the Earth’s magnetic field is closer to vertical). In the same way a gyroscopic north-finding tool will work best close to the equator but will lose accuracy with increasing latitude until it fails completely at the North or South poles.

Azimuth accuracy depends on borehole direction One other fact that becomes clear in comparing magnetic tools to gyroscopic north-finders is that the accuracy of the azimuth measurement also depends on the azimuth itself. No matter which type of sensors are being used, the method of using two reference directions to determine the current heading of an instrument is such that the best results are obtained when the instrument is directed close to north or south. When the instrument heading is directed east or west the azimuth calculation 39

/SURVEY TOOLS

is more sensitive to sensor errors. Simply put, both systems work best when measuring a borehole directed along a north or south direction, and the azimuth accuracy gets significantly worse as the borehole turns east or west.

This is in contrast to relative measurement systems, such as inertial gyroscopes or those measuring the bend of the tool as it conforms to the curvature of the borehole. These relative systems have an azimuth accuracy which is entirely independent of the borehole location and direction.

Error modeling In the oil and gas industry these factors, along with many other survey and instrument error sources, are taken into account using wellbore position error modeling as part of efforts to estimate the accuracy of surveys and to prevent well collisions. Tool manufacturers can create so-called IPM files that describe the performance of their tools and can be loaded into well-planning software. This system for instrument performance models follows a standard maintained by the International Steering Committee on Wellbore Survey Accuracy (www.iscwsa.net), which is a committee affiliated with the Society of Petroleum Engineers. When a borehole is planned or surveyed the results are loaded into the software and, given knowledge of what type of survey tool was used, the accuracy of the wellbore angles and co-ordinates can be estimated within statistical confidence limits (see Jamieson et al., 2012). It is important to underline that the ISCWSA provides a standard and method for error modeling, but it is the responsibility of each survey tool manufacturer to supply and verify performance models for their own instruments.

Examples of the directional effect are shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. To create these plots, standard error models for magnetic and gyroscopic instruments were applied to a large series of trajectories corresponding to a straight hole of length 1000 m with constant inclination and constant azimuth and surveyed with 3 m stations. The vertical axis represents a hole drilled toward north, while the horizontal axis is a hole drilled toward east. An increasing radius represents holes increasing from an inclination of 0° 40

Figure 1 – End-of-hole position error for a typical magnetic multishot survey tool, as meters / 1000 meters. The position error worsens as the borehole heads towards the east or west. The results for inclination towards south and west are the same as for towards north and east.

Figure 2 – End-of-hole position error for a typical gyroscopic north-finding survey tool, as meters / 1000 meters. The position error worsens as the borehole heads towards the east or west. The results for inclination towards south and west are the same as for towards north and east.

Coring Magazine #9

east or west borehole direction, where they are out-performed by a standard reference gyroscope.

It should also be pointed out that the model used for the gyro compass errors in Fig. 2 is based on the performance of a three-axis fiber-optic gyro from KVH. The corresponding errors for a common XY-axis gyroscopic north-finding survey tool are highly sensitive to inclination errors, and instruments based on such gyros will not work above an inclination limit.

Conclusion

Figure 3 – End-of-hole position error for a typical relative survey tool, as meters / 1000 meters. The position error is independent of borehole direction.

The results for inclination towards south and west are the same as for towards north and east.

(vertical) to 90° (horizontal). Each point in a plot represents the estimated end-of-hole position error in meters / 1000 meters.

The location for these examples has been chosen to correspond to Conroe, Texas, with a latitude of 30.36°. The Earth magnetic total field is 47 236 nT and the magnetic dip angle 59.27°. The figures have been calculated using

typical good-performance parameters for each tool type. The results represent a 95 % statistic confidence level in the end-of-hole errors.

As can be seen, the magnetic and gyroscopic north-finding tools perform best in north or south borehole directions, but show noticeably worse accuracy for an

Magnetic multishot and gyroscopic northfinding survey tools operate on two seemingly different measurement principles, the former measures the Earth’s magnetic field while the latter measure the Earth’s rotation rate.

However, physically and mathematically they are very similar in performance and accuracy when it comes to the effects of latitude or magnetic dip and borehole direction. In contrast, relative survey tools have a constant error behavior regardless of the direction of the borehole or location on Earth. All of these technologies have now existed for many years and have their benefits and drawbacks. In this article we have detailed how tool users should be aware that different technologies have different error behaviors depending on where, and in which direction, a borehole is drilled. C Visit: www.inertialsensing.com

References: R. C. Long and B. J. Mitchell, 'A new approach to directional survey interpretation and course correction by the sectional method', Journal of Energy Resources Technology, Vol. 114, June 1992.

S. J. Sawaryn and J. L. Thorogood, 'A compendium of directional calculations based on the minimum curvature method', SPE Drilling and Completion, March 2005.

Hugh S. Williamson, 'Accuracy prediction for directional MWD', Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE 56702, 1999.

Torgeir Torkildsen et al., 'Prediction of wellbore position accuracy when surveyed with gyroscopic tools', Society of Petroleum Engineers, SPE 90408, 2004.

Angus Jamieson et al., 'Introduction to wellbore positioning', (version 09.10.17), An ISCWSA Initiative, University of the Highlands and Islands, 2012. Available at: https://www.uhi.ac.uk/en/wellbore-positioning-download/.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

41

/DRILLING HYDRAULICS

part

Drilling rig hydraulics: Fundamentals

by Peter Kuusimaa, Freelance Specialist in Drilling Hydraulics

Previously, we talked about feed hydraulics in core drilling rigs. This issue we take a look at the different kinds of rotation hydraulics systems and their components.

A major part of the core drilling rig’s rotation system is the so-called top drive, which refers to where rotation energy is transmitted to the rod string. Rotation energy is transmitted hydraulically to the rotation head, which is at the top of the rod string, hence the name.

However, that is not the case with bigger water well or oil and gas rigs. In those rigs, so-called table drive / kelly bar systems are still widely used and, usually, their source of rotation energy is mechanically or electrically transmitted to the rod string.

The largest portion of the core drilling rig’s power is directed to rotation during drilling, thus it is important that rotation can be precisely controlled and that the system as well as its components are up to the task.

There are three important functions in rotation, which the driller will want to control while drilling. Rotation direction (CW vs.

CCW), rotation speed (rpm) and the limit of maximum rotation pressure (in other words, torque).

42

Fixed-displacement pump and fixed-rotation motor In the most basic system there is a fixeddisplacement pump and fixed-rotation motor, and three valves are needed: a directional

control valve (DCV) to control the direction of rotation, a flow-control valve to control rotation speed, and a pressure-relief valve (PRV), limiting the maximum pressure. Note that in certain systems the DCV can be used

Figure 1 – Hydraulic system with a fixed-displacement pump (number 1); directional control valve (number 2); pressure-relief valve (number 3); flow-control valve (number 4); and fixed-rotation motor (number 5).

Coring Magazine #9

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43

/DRILLING HYDRAULICS

pump/regulator combination, the torque limiter can be used to de-stroke the pump instead of to direct some of the oil to the tank. These kinds of systems are suitable for medium- or high-power rotation hydraulics.

However, the components are more expensive in comparison to the previous system and this system is more complicated.

Variable-displacement pump and variabledisplacement rotation motor

Figure 2 – Hydraulic system with a variable-displacement pump (number 1); closedcentre directional control valve (number 2); pressure-relief valve (number 3); pressure compensator (number 4); spool (number 5); and fixed-displacement hydraulic motor (number 6). Reprinted with permission from AMCA Hydraulic Controls. to control both the direction and the rotation speed, in which case the valve will be a pressure-compensated type.

No doubt this kind of system works, but it has some disadvantages. When the PRV is limiting the rotation torque by directing oil to the tank, all that energy is being converted to heat. Rotation speed (in other words, the oil-flow rate to the rotation motor) can be controlled either by the flow-control valve or by varying the rpm of the hydraulic pump.

If the flow-control valve is used, some of the energy will be converted to heat, since excess flow is directed to the tank by system pressure. If gear- or vane-type units are used in the system, the maximum pressure will normally be less than 3000 psi (or 210 bar).

These kinds of systems are suitable for lowor medium-power rotation hydraulics and are relatively cheap to construct and relatively simple to troubleshoot.

44

Variable-displacement pump and fixeddisplacement motor Our second example is a system that is widely used, not only in core drilling rigs, but also in shallow water well and oil and gas type rigs. It has a variable-displacement pump, closed-centre directional control valve, main pressure-relief valve, pressure compensator, spool (which can be controlled proportionally), and fixed-displacement hydraulic motor (see Figure 2).

In this type of system, pump 1 and valve 2 can be used for controlling: rotation direction, rotation speed (since the directional-control valve spool is proportionally controlled), and rotation torque. A benefit of this arrangement is that losses when controlling rotation speed and limiting torque, are lower than in the previous system. This is mainly because the variable pump can match the oil-flow rate to rotation-speed requirements. Also, when limiting rotation torque, if you use the correct

This third example is very similar to the second (see Fig. 2), with the main difference being a variable-displacement motor instead of a fixed-displacement one.

The variable-displacement motor system is widely used in core drilling rig hydraulics.

Most of the core drilling rigs I have seen use this kind of system. In comparison with the fixed-displacement motor system, the principal benefit is a wider range of rotation speed, owing to the ability to vary the motor displacement. In other words, if you want a higher rotation speed without changing the oil-flow rate, you can set the rotation motor to a smaller displacement. That makes the rig easier to adapt, for example, when changing the smaller diameter coring, which needs a higher rpm range. Another point, which is often overlooked, is how rotation motor displacement is affecting rotation torque. For instance, imagine that the first rotation pressure setting is 100 bar and the rotation motor is in full displacement.

Then, the driller increases the rotation speed by setting the rotation motor to half of its displacement. Now, the rotation pressure measures 200 bar and provides the same amount of torque as would 100 bar with full displacement. In other words, if the rig has a variable-displacement rotation motor, the rotation pressure can’t be directly converted to rotation torque, as in systems with a fixeddisplacement motor. Variable-displacement motor systems are suitable for medium- or high-power rotation hydraulics.

Closed-loop variabledisplacement pump and variable-displacement motor The fourth system, discussed below, is not that common, mainly due to costs and the fact that its pump is dedicated to one function alone. In all the previously described Coring Magazine #9

Figure 3 – Hydraulic system with a variable-displacement pump (number 1) ; closedcentre directional control valve (number 2); pressure-relief valve (number 3); pressure compensator (number 4); spool (number 5); and variable-displacement hydraulic motor. (number 6). Reprinted with permission from AMCA Hydraulic Controls. systems the components can be used to drive multiple functions. For instance, while controlling rotation the pump can drive something else as well, although, this might lead to significant energy loss as a result of different kinds of flow and pressure demands.

A closed-loop system is so called to describe how oil circulates in it: after returning from the motor, the oil is directed to the pump (hence, closed loop). In reality, this system is not as simple as depicted in Fig. 4, but the diagram gives us an idea of how closed-loop hydraulics work.

In a closed-loop system only a small amount of oil returns to the tank, via the flushing valves, and also any leaks that may be in the system. The returning oil, from the rotation motor, is sent straight to the pump (i.e., the motor return is connected directly to the hydraulic pump). The major benefit of this kind of system is that there is no need for valving, which controls the rotation direction, speed, and torque. All that can be done using the pump with a suitable regulator. Since Faster. Deeper. Safer.

there is no valving, there is less energy loss in the system and it does not generate that much heat. Purely from a theoretical point of view, the closed-loop system would be one of the best systems to utilize in a rotation circuit. However, as parts are more expensive, the system needs good filtration, the pump can drive only one actuator at a time, and the actuator has to return the same amount of oil as it takes from the hydraulic motor, it has limited usability. This kind of closedloop system is also known as a positivedisplacement control system, unlike other examples, which are referred to as resistive control systems.

There is no one correct system for rotation hydraulics. When deciding between the different types of hydraulic system, it is important to consider the whole hydraulics, and how they can be best utilized. In highpower rotation systems, hydraulic motors are replaced by electric motors. Time will tell us if that will be the case with smaller rigs as well. C

Figure 4 – Closed-loop variabledisplacement pump (number 1) and variable-displacement motor hydraulic system (number 2).

About the author Peter Kuusimaa is a Finnish mechanical engineer who has been working with and designing hydraulic or fluid power systems for drilling rigs for over 17 years and in different continents. He is currently based and works in Australia.

He has been part of many major drilling companies and nowadays he works as a consultant and a freelancer.

Peter has written a series of articles for Coring Magazine that have gone through drill rig hydraulics fundamentals, hydraulic pumps, motors, feed controls, valves and more.

You can find Peter at Comet-Tech Pty Lty, on www.comet-tech.com.au or at comet-tech@bigpond.com.

45

Mineral Exploration & Geology In this section The birth of a potential new mining district in the Abitibi

by Patrick Lengyel

46

Coring Magazine #9

/MINERAL EXPLORATION

Hiding in plain sight

The birth of a potential new mining district in the Abitibi

by Patrick Lengyel, Exploration Manager – Canada, Chalice Gold Mines Ltd.

Chalice Gold Mines Ltd (‘Chalice’) is among a small group of ambitious companies in the resurging gold exploration sector applying a comprehensive ‘consolidate and systematically explore’ approach to greenfield mineral exploration at its East Cadillac Gold Project in Quebec.

A forgotten area on the edge of greatness The East Cadillac Gold (‘ECG’) Project was consolidated through 14 separate acquisition / earn-in agreements and significant staking of vacant claims commencing in late 2016.

Today, the Project covers a 245 km2 area, encompassing 27 km of the Larder Lake – Cadillac Fault (‘LLCF’), the most prolifically endowed gold trend in the southern Abitibi, with >100 Moz of gold endowment.

The ECG Project is situated in ‘elephant country’ within the Val-d’Or district, amongst some of the world’s most significant gold mines. The large Project surrounds the historic high-grade Chimo gold mine (~0.4 Moz produced at ~5 g/t Au).

Gold districts along the LLCF have a rough periodicity of approximately 40 – 50 km, and given the ECG Project is located ~35 – 65 km east of the ~20 Moz Val d’Or gold district, Faster. Deeper. Safer.

this further enhances its prospectiveness.

Surprisingly, by comparison, the ECG Project area has only received a fraction of the exploration effort that Val d’Or has received over the past century.

Even though a significant number of large deposits in the Abitibi occur up to 5 km away from the LLCF, very little exploration work was completed outside of the main fault trend. Exploration in the 1980s focused along the LLCF only and very little work was completed in the 1990s and early 2000s due to highly fragmented ownership and adverse market conditions. Further focused exploration was completed from 2009 to 2011, but no comprehensive, modern exploration techniques have ever been applied to the area.

A new approach leads to new targets In 2017, Chalice initiated an extensive, ground-up, sampling and geophysics program on the western 16 km of LLCF strike. Field work included LiDAR, airborne magnetometer, VLF-EM and 200 m spaced 3D Induced Polarization geophysics, as well as reconnaissance to property-scale MMI soil, bark and rock chip geochemical sampling.

The 2017 results defined not only a series of surface geochemistry anomalies (gold and pathfinder element) along the LLCF, including several anomalies coincident with known deposits and showings, but also a large number of new, untested anomalies along strike, and to the north and south of the LLCF.

Drilling at Chalice Gold Mines’ East Cadillac Gold Project in Quebec, Canada 47

/MINERAL EXPLORATION

The East Cadillac Gold Project is on strike with several globally significant gold mines

District-scale drilling establishes the potential for large-scale gold systems In the space of one year, Chalice had identified several targets similar in scale to large regional deposits and similar in distribution to other mining districts in the Abitibi sub-province.

An extensive regional diamond drilling campaign was gainfully completed in the winter of 2017/2018. The regional reconnaissance program successfully tested over 23 targets with wide-spaced drilling, totaling approximately 28 800 m. Not only did the drilling down-plunge of key historic showings deliver new zones of mineralization (at Nordeau West and Simon West) but also entirely new mineralized zones were discovered at North Contact, Lac Rapides and Nordeau South. Better intersections included: • North Contact: 23.5 m @ 1.12 g/t Au, incl. 2.0 m @ 6.86 g/t Au and 1.0 m @ 5.71 g/t Au • Lac Rapides: 3.1 m @ 4.27 g/t Au within 20.8 m @ 0.74 g/t Au • Simon West: 11.9 m @ 3.2 g/t Au, incl.

1.6 m @ 18.5 g/t Au 48

Paving the way to discovery Encouraged by the conversion of a previously dormant area into a potential district-scale play, Chalice expanded its land position by an additional 11 km of strike to the east

through a new acquisition. The company also conducted a further comprehensive groundtargeting program during the summer of 2018. New large geochemical anomalies were defined north and south of the LLCF. The Legrand anomaly to the south of the LLCF

2018 soil sampling has identified the large Legrand and Anderson MMI soil anomalies – new large-scale targets for drilling in January 2019 Coring Magazine #9

PRIORITY DRILLING “WE PROBE THE GLOBE” MINING SERVICES

· UG Wireline Diamond Drilling to 1,250m+ · Deep Hole Exploration Drilling to 2,250m+ · Core Orientation · Directional Drilling · Mine Services Holes for Water, Power & Ventilation · De-Watering · De-Gassing · Grouting · Geotechnical Drilling · Vibrating Wire Piezometers (VWP) · Inclinometers · Water Monitoring Wells

VISIT US AT BOOTH 6131N AT PDAC 2019

/MINERAL EXPLORATION

is similar in geochemistry and scale to the 16 Moz Au Canadian Malartic gold deposit, approximately 70 km to the west.

The new Legrand (3.4 km x 1.3 km) and Anderson (2.3 km x 0.5 km) Targets cover a very large area and are untested by historic drilling, so the potential of a discovery is significant. Additional 3D-IP surveying is presently underway to refine and optimize drill-hole design over these new targets. This work will culminate in an 8100 m diamond drilling program, scheduled to commence in January 2019.

The 8100 m drilling program will be executed with two rigs, drilling through the optimal winter season. Chalice is eagerly awaiting the first assay results, and given its large cash balance, has the ability to transition to infill definition drilling immediately in the case of discovery – an exciting proposition for the company and its shareholders. C

Core logging and analysis by the Chalice team in early 2018

About the company Chalice Gold Mines (TSX: CXN | ASX: CHN) is a well-funded junior explorer with district-scale exploration projects across tier-1 mining jurisdictions in Canada and Australia.

Chalice’s key projects are the 100%-owned, >4500 km2 Pyramid Hill Gold Project located in the globally significant Bendigo gold district of Victoria, as well as the 70 to 100%-owned East Cadillac Gold Project in the equally significant Val-d'Or gold district of Quebec.

The company is in a unique and strong financial position, with approximately AUD$22 million in cash as of the end of November 2018, allowing Chalice to advance exploration projects quickly and at scale. The company has a proven track record of success, with prudent and well-timed asset sales generating net proceeds of c. AUD$107 million to date.

The author (Patrick Lengyel) has been with Chalice since 2015 and is an experienced geologist, consultant, and executive manager in the precious, base metal and industrial mineral exploration sector.

For further information, please visit www.chalicegold.com or email info@chalicegold.com

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Patrick Lengyel (author, far left) with some of the Chalice team on-site at the East Cadillac Gold Project in early 2018 Coring Magazine #9

/SERVICES & PRODUCTS CATALOG

Diamond Drilling Services Diamond Drilling Contractors (A-Z)

DRILLING IS OUR BUSINESS foraco.com info@foraco.com 33 0 4 96 15 13 60 33 0 4 96 15 13 61

For over 50 years, FORACO has provided mineral and water drilling services around the world. We operate in 22 countries with the best-in-class equipment and workforce.

Canada, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Africa, and more

99% HOLE COMPLETION. ZERO EXCUSES. With facilities across Canada and Western Europe, Hy-Tech has been delivering superior drilling services hy-techdrilling.com info@hy-techdrilling.com 1 250 847 9301

for over 25 years. When failure is not an option, we’re the company you turn to.

Canada, Portugal, Spain, USA

AADVARK DRILLING Phone 1-877-726-9340 info@aardvarkdrillinginc.com www.aardvarkdrillinginc.com Canada, United States, England

FALCON DRILLING Phone 001 250 564 7786 www.falcon-drilling.com Canada, United States, Mexico Burkina Faso, Mongolia

AGGRESSIVE DRILLING Phone (306) 975-1523 adrill@sasktel.net www.aggressivedrilling.com Canada

FIRST DRILLING Phone 1 (970) 249 3501 info.usa@firstdrilling.com www.firstdrilling.com United States, Australia

ALTON DRILLING Phone 0508 425 866 service@altondrilling.co.nz www.altondrilling.co.nz New Zealand

GEODRILL LTD Phone +44 1624 676 585 contact@geodrill-dh.com www.geodrill-gh.com Ghana

ASINNI DRILLING Phone 819 723-5070 info@asinii.ca www.asinii.ca Canada

GEOSOL Phone +55 (31) 2108-8000 geosol@geosol.com.br www.geosol.com.br Brazil

AUSDRILL Phone +61 8 9311 5666 info@ausdrill.com.au www.ausdrill.com.au Australia

GEOTEC Phone (511) 326 – 5494 geotec@geotec.com.pe www.geotec.com.pe Peru

BUNDOK DRILLING Phone (+63 46) 460 5310 info@bundokdrilling.com www.bundokdrilling.com Philippines

GRID DRILLING Phone 07 4157 8080 admin@griddrilling.com www.griddrilling.com Australia

CABO Phone (604)527-4201 info@cabo.ca www.cabo.ca Canada

GÜNZEL DRILLING CC Phone + 264 81 322 89 28 info@guenzeldrilling.com www.guenzeldrilling.com Namibia

CONTINENTAL DRILLING Phone +502 2382-5070 info@continentaldrilling.com www.continentaldrilling.com Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama

HARDROCK DIAMOND DRILLING jordan@hardrockdrilling.ca www.hardrockdrilling.ca Canada

DDH1 DRILLING Phone +61 08 9435 1700 admin@ddh1.com.au www.ddh1.com.au Australia DMAC DRILLING Phone 604.856.9383 info@dmacdrilling.com www.dmacdrilling.com Canada DORADO DRILLING Phone (+1) 250-549-0885 admin@doradodrilling.com www.doradodrilling.com Canada DRILLCON AB Phone +46 587 82820 Fax +46 587 311895 drillcon@drillcon.se www.drillcon.se Scandinavia, Portugal, Spain

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

LOGAN DRILLING Phone 902-639-2311 logan@logandrillinggroup.com www.logandrillinggroup.com Canada, United States, Colombia NOREX DRILLING LIMITED Phone +1 (705) 235-2222 Fax +1 (705) 235-2806 ww.norexdrilling.com Canada NPLH DRILLING Phone 705-268-7956 Fax 705-268-5174 dbreton@nplhdrilling.ca www.nplhdrilling.ca Canada OX DRILLING Phone +260 96 6993265 info@oxdrilling.com www.oxdrilling.com Zambia and Zimbabwe

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/SERVICES & PRODUCTS CATALOG

Diamond Drilling Contractors Cont.

PEAK DRILLING Phone 250-897-0930 Fax 250-897-0960 info@peakdrilling.com www.peakdrilling.com Canada QUEST EXPLORATION DRILLING Phone +63 2 833 6304 Fax +63 2 886 3244 info@qedrill.com www.qedrill.com Philippines, PNG RUEN DRILLING Phone (208) 266-1151 Fax (208) 266-1379 office@ruendrilling.com www.ruendrilling.com United States, Peru SUMMIT DRILLING Phone 800-242-6648 Fax 732-356-1009 info@summitdrilling.com www.summitdrilling.com United States TITELINE DRILLING Phone +61 3 5338 3800 Fax +61 3 5337 6100 info@titelineinternational.com.au www.titelineinternational.com.au Papua New Guinea, Indonesia, Mongolia, Myanmar

Directional Drilling (A-Z) AS DEVICO Phone +47 72 87 01 01 devico@devico.no devico.com International

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I3 DIRECTIONAL DRILLING SOLUTIONS Phone +1 705 698 6674 roque@i3dds.com www.i3dds.com Canada

Coring Magazine #9

Directional Drilling Cont.

Surveying & Geophysics (A-Z) DIGITAL SURVEYING Phone +27 18 788 6349 sales@digitalsurveying.co.za www.digitalsurveying.com.za Africa

DOWNHOLE SURVEYS Phone +61 (0) 8 9361 4745 sales@downhole.com.au www.downhole.com.au Australia

GYRODATA SERVICES CANADA Phone +1 705 494 0075 don.black@gyrodata.com www.gyrodata.com Canada

INTERNATIONAL DRILLING SERVICES Phone +1 480-824-7100 IDSinfo@IDSdrill.com www.idsdrill.com USA, Canada

TRUST SOLUÇÕES GEOLÓGICAS Phone +55 62 992720023 contato@trustsg.com.br Brazil

Drilling Equipment & Accessories Drill Rigs and Accessories (A-Z) ATELIER VAL-D’OR Phone (819) 824-3676 Fax (819) 824-2891 ateliervd@ateliervd.qc.ca www.ateliervd.qc.ca ACKER DRILL Phone 570-586-2061 Fax 570-586-2659 sales@ackerdrill.com www.ackerdrill.com BARKOM Phone 90-312 385 60 50 Fax 90-312 385 35 75 info@barkomltd.com www.barkomltd.com DI CORP Phone +1 (780) 395-5036 belinda@di-corp.com www.di-corp.com

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

DISCOVERY DRILL MANUFACTURER (DDM) Phone 1-506-542-9708 Fax 1-506-542-9709 info@discoverydrills.com www.discoverydrills.com DRILLCO MINING AND EXPLORATION Phone 1 705-476-3629 s.brisson@drillcomining.ca www.drillcomining.ca/ DURALITE DIAMOND DRILLS Phone 709 263-7221 Fax 709 263-7231 duralitedrills@nf.sympatico.ca www.duralitediamonddrills.com EVERDIGM Phone 82-2-801-0800 Fax 82-2-801-0799 info@everdigm.com www.everdigm.com

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/SERVICES & PRODUCTS CATALOG

Drill Rigs and Accessories Cont.

FORSUN ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL INDUSTRY Phone +86-731 84254020 Fax +86-731 84252208 info@forsuntools.com www.forsun-tools.com GEO DRILLING MACHINERY MANUFACTURING Phone +90-312-354-8576 Fax +90-312-385-6215 www.geosondajmakine.com

HOLE PRODUCTS Phone +1 909-939-2581 Fax +1 909-891-0434 www.holeproducts.com HYDRACORE DRILLS Phone +1 604-940-4937 +1 604-940-4919 info@hydracore.com www.hydracore.com

INTERNATIONAL DRILLING SERVICES Phone +1 480-824-7100 IDSinfo@IDSdrill.com www.idsdrill.com MAXIDRILL INC Phone +1 450-763-0212 Fax +1 514-221-2356 info@maxidrill.com www.maxidrill.com

ODYSSEY FLUID POWER Phone 705 707 1780 info@odysseyfluidpower.com www.odysseyfluidpower.com SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone 1-905 632 4940 Fax 1-905 632 2172 www.mining.sandvik.com

SINOCOREDRILL Phone 86-510-82723272 Fax 86-510-82752846 sales@sinocoredrill.com www.sinocoredrill.com

VERSA DRILL Phone 1-819-874-4404 www.versadrillcanada.com

USINAGEM MARCOTTE Phone 1-819-824-3977 www.umvd.ca

Diamond Products (A-Z) ASAHI DIAMOND Phone + 61-2-9997-7033 Fax +61-2-9997-8313 sales@asahi-diamond.com.au www.asahi-diamond.com.au

GEO DRILLING MACHINERY MANUFACTURING Phone 90-312-354-8576 Fax 90-312-385-6215 www.geosondajmakine.com

CARBON DRILLING PRODUCTS Phone (289) 291-3861 sales@carbondrill.com www.carbondrill.com

HARGRAND DRILLING TOOLS Phone 86-010-61599828 Fax 86-010-61599828 whp@baoqizt.com www.hargrand.com

DIAMANTINA CHRISTENSEN Phone 56(9) 7707 9371 christensen@christensen.cl www.diamantinachristensen.com

HOFFMAN DIAMOND PRODUCTS Phone 800-444-4180 Fax 814-938-7625 sales@hoffmandiamond.com www.hoffmandiamond.com

DIASET Phone 1-800-663-5004 Fax 604-940-9534 bits@diaset.com www.diaset.com DI-CORP Phone 775-424-3045 www.di-corp.com DIMATEC Phone 1-866-202-5875 Fax 1-204-832-4268 info@dimatec.com www.dimatec.com DRILLING HQ Phone 1 (208) 690-3111 Info@DrillingHQ.com www.drillinghq.com DYNAMIK Phone 1-877-867-8398 Fax 819-762-2325 info@equipementdynamik.com www.drilling.dynamik.com

pilotdiamondtools.ca sales@pilotdiamondtools.ca +1 705 497 3715 +1 705 497 3714

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PARTNER OF THE WORLD’S BEST DRILLERS Supplier of world-class diamond products to the diamond drilling and construction industries.

Business models and technology have changed over the years, but Pilot Diamond Tools’ core business values have not.

FORSUN ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL INDUSTRY Phone 86-731 84254020 Fax 86-731 84252208 info@forsuntools.com www.forsun-tools.com

HOLE PRODUCTS Phone 909-939-2581 Fax 909-891-0434 www.holeproducts.com HUD MINING SUPPLIES 27 (0) 11-974-1500 info@hud.co.za www.hud.co.za JUFERMA Phone 34-91 498 93 07 Fax 34-91 498 93 06 diamondjuferma@juferma.com www.juferma.com LEVANTO DIAMOND SOLUTIONS Phone 358-9-511-470 Fax 358-9-5114-7470 info@levanto.fi www.levanto.fi MBI DRILLING PRODUCTS Phone 1-819 762-9645 Fax 1-819 762-2845 www.mbidrillingproducts. com/en/

Coring Magazine #9

Diamond Products Cont.

TECSO Phone 34-91 870 15 47 Fax 34-91 871 41 69 comercial@tecso-sa.com www.tecso.es

SAFARI DIAMOND DRILL BITS Phone 1-888-500-BITS(2487) Fax 604-275-2487 safaribits@telus.net www.safaridiamonddrillbits.com

SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone 1-905 632 4940 Fax 1-905 632 2172 www.mining.sandvik.com

SINOCOREDRILL Phone 86-510-82723272 Fax 86-510-82752846 sales@sinocoredrill.com www.sinocoredrill.com

Core Barrels (A-Z)

Rates for print catalog listings Basic insert 80€ per issue 150€ per three issues Includes a text-only listing with a company name, telephone and fax number, email and web address.

Highlighted insert 120€ per issue 260€ per three issues Includes a basic insert of the same size but with a color background for better exposure.

Featured insert 200€ per issue 450€ per three issues A large advert-sized listing with your image of choice as a background, your company logo, strapline, text of 240 symbols, and company contact details.

DIAMANTINA CHRISTENSEN Phone 56(9) 7707 9371 christensen@christensen.cl www.diamantinachristensen.com DI-CORP Phone 775-424-3045 www.di-corp.com DRILLING HQ Phone 1 (208) 690-3111 Info@DrillingHQ.com www.drillinghq.com FORDIA Phone 514-336-9211 Fax 514-745-4125 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

FORSUN ULTRA-HARD MATERIAL INDUSTRY Phone 86-731 84254020 Fax 86-731 84252208 info@forsuntools.com www.forsun-tools.com

JUFERMA Phone 34-91 498 93 07 Fax 34-91 498 93 06 diamondjuferma@juferma. com www.juferma.com

HARGRAND DRILLING TOOLS Phone 86-010-61599828 Fax 86-010-61599828 whp@baoqizt.com www.hargrand.com

K. MAIKAI Phone 81-3-3490-8433 Fax 81-3-3490-8622 www.kmaikai.co.jp/eng

HOLE PRODUCTS Phone 909-939-2581 Fax 909-891-0434 www.holeproducts.com

KUVAWALA CORE DRILL EQUIPMENTS Phone + 91 22 66635452 Fax + 91 22 66607358 mgk@kuvawalacoredrill.com www.kuvawalacoredrill.com

ICEMS Phone (16) 3367-3126 Fax (16) 3361-5073 icems@icems.com.br www.icems.com.br

MBI DRILLING PRODUCTS Phone 1-819 762-9645 Fax 1-819 762-2845 www.mbidrillingproducts. com/en/

SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone 1-905 632 4940 Fax 1-905 632 2172 www.mining.sandvik.com

Contact us at editorial@coringmagazine.com

SINOCOREDRILL Phone 86-510-82723272 Fax 86-510-82752846 sales@sinocoredrill.com www.sinocoredrill.com TECSO Phone 34-91 870 15 47 Fax 34-91 871 41 69 comercial@tecso-sa.com www.tecso.es TERRA TEAM OY Phone 358-9-849-4030 info@terra-team.fi www.terra-team.fi/en

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/SERVICES & PRODUCTS CATALOG

Drill Rods & Casings (A-Z)

SPECIALITY CHEMICALS, PARTS AND ACCESSORIES di-corp.com info@di-corp.com 1-800-661-2792

Di Corp focuses on all aspects of your industrial project; Mineral Exploration, Drilling Fluid Supply, Cementing & Stimulation, Mining, Research & Development, Testing Equipment, and all Small Bore Drilling disciplines.

BARKOM Phone 90-312 385 60 50 Fax 90-312 385 35 75 info@barkomltd.com www.barkomltd.com

JINSHI DRILLTECH Phone +86-0315-3156039 Fax +86-0315-315-6010 www.tsjinshi.cn export@jsexplo.com

BOART LONGYEAR Phone 1-801-972-6430 Fax 1-801-977-3374 www.boartlongyear.com

KUVAWALA CORE DRILL EQUIPMENTS Phone + 91 22 66635452 Fax + 91 22 66607358 mgk@kuvawalacoredrill.com www.kuvawalacoredrill.com

DIAMANTINA CHRISTENSEN Phone 56(9) 7707 9371 christensen@christensen.cl www.diamantinachristensen.com FORDIA Phone 514-336-9211 Fax 514-745-4125 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com GEO DRILLING MACHINERY MANUFACTURING Phone 90-312-354-8576 Fax 90-312-385-6215 www.geosondajmakine.com

SANDVIK MINING AND CONSTRUCTION Phone 1-905 632 4940 Fax 1-905 632 2172 www.mining.sandvik.com TECHNIDRILL SAS PHONE +33 492 088 220 Fax +33 492 088 229 rolf@technidrill.com www.technidrill.com

Wedges (A-Z) FORDIA Phone 514-336-9211 Fax 514-745-4125 info@fordia.com www.fordia.com REFLEX Phone 1-705-235-2169 Fax 1-705-235-2165 reflex@imdexlimited.com www.reflexnow.com

SONDA PARTS Phone 55 – (31) 3391 3810 Fax 55 – (31) 3391 3810 comercial@sondaparts. com.br www.sondaparts.com.br/ TERRA TEAM OY Phone 358-9-849-4030 info@terra-team.fi www.terra-team.fi/en/

Survey Equipment Survey Tools (A-Z) AS DEVICO Phone +47 72 87 01 01 devico@devico.no devico.com International INERTIAL SENSING Phone +46 708 980 459 dag.billger@inertialsensing.com www.inertialsensing.com

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REFLEX INSTRUMENTS Phone 61 8 9445 4020 Fax 61 8 9445 4040 reflex@imdexlimited.com www.reflexnow.com SPT STOCKHOLM PRECISION TOOLS Phone 46-8-590-733-10 Fax 46-8-590-731-55 info@stockholmprecisiontools.com www.stockholmprecisiontools.com

Coring Magazine #9

Survey Tools Cont.

Core Orientation (A-Z) BOART LONGYEAR Phone 1-801-972-6430 Fax 1-801-977-3374 www.boartlongyear.com

COREFINDER Phone +55 62 992720023 contato@corefinder.com.br www.corefinder.com.br

DEVICO Phone +47 72870101 devico@devico.no www.devico.com

REFLEX INSTRUMENTS Phone 61 8 9445 4020 Fax 61 8 9445 4040 reflex@imdexlimited.com www.reflexnow.com

Miscellaneous Drilling Fluids (A-Z)

ENVIRONMENTALLY SAFE DRILLING FLUIDS & LUBRICANTS matexdrillingfluids.ca orders@matexdrillingfluids.ca +1 403 720 7044

Control Chemical (1989) Corporation has been a manufacturer of high performance drilling fluid systems and our proprietary vegetable oil lubricants under the Matex brand name for over 25 years.

+1 403 720 4951

CEBO HOLLAND B. V. (BAROID) Phone +31 255 546 262 info@cebo.com www.cebo.com

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

MUDEX Phone +61 (8) 9390 4620 info@mudex.com.au www.mudex.com.au

TIGER FLUIDS Phone +61 (0) 417 60 11 info@tigerfluids.com www.tigerfluids.com

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/SERVICES & PRODUCTS CATALOG

Packers (A-Z) HOLE PRODUCTS Phone +1 909 939 2581 Fax +1 909 891 0434 holeproducts.com SON-MAK Phone +90 224 482 44 40 Fax +90 224 482 44 39 info@son-mak-com.tr www.son-mak-com.tr

Core Trays (A-Z)

BY FAR THE BEST STORAGE SOLUTION FOR CORE SURVEYS corecase.com.br contact@corecase.com.br +55 51 3012 6531

Core Case designs and develops core boxes and accessories using 100% recycled material. They are resistant, lightweight and easy to carry, as well as more durable than wooden boxes.

DYNAMICS G-EX Phone +61 7 54826649 sales@dynamicsgex.com.au www.dynamicsgex.com.au PROSPECTORS Phone +61 (02) 9839 3500 Fax +61 (02) 8824 5250 sales@prospectors.com.au

Health & Safety

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Coring Magazine #9

Fordia is now part of as a team fully dedicated to exploration consumables.

Same products. Same trusted team. Just more power.

Faster. Deeper. Safer.

fordia.com

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