HOME

Chapter 10

Drilling

Drilling and sample recovery is not an exact •• True dip = 60° towards 130° (SE)
science so geologists should remember to take Drill hole intersection:
the time to explain to drilling crews what they
are aiming to achieve. For example, directional •• Hole bearing = 270° or 40° off true dip line
(130 = 310)
control can be difficult at the best of times
and despite a crew’s best efforts nature will •• Hole dip angle = 45°
sometimes intervene. It is vital that the drilling •• Intersection width = 10.0 units
crew strive to obtain 100 per cent core recovery Solution (refer to Figure 10.3.1):
at all times, ensuring that ‘core blocks’ identify
Approach: rotation of vertical planes to
any loss zones.
horizontal plane. This solution is a simple
Holes can be steered quite successfully, but extension of the standard geometric rotation to
at a cost. Slower penetration (ie production) determine either true or apparent dip given one
is frequently one of the penalties, but it is also or the other and strike directions (ie triangles
possible to hit a target with a reasonable degree ABC, ACD and ADE).
of certainty by changing the entry angle (at the
surface) and just allowing the hole to swing AB = Oblique intersection = 10.0 units.
gently towards the target area. It is usually more \ Point A is pierce point into target plane,
productive to rely on ‘natural deflection’ than to CD is strike of target formation.
try and counter it. Construction procedure: (select suitable scale
But without a doubt, the best results are for plotting, accuracy and ease of measurement)
achieved when the geologist and the drilling crew 1. Triangle ABC in vertical plane of drill hole to
function as a team and focus their combined show entry dip angle CAB (45°) and oblique
skills, knowledge and energy on the same intersection AB.
objective.
2. Triangle ACD in horizontal plane with angle
CAD = 40° being angle between true dip and
10.1. DETERMINATION OF TRUE intersection planes, and angle CDA = 90°.
WIDTH FROM OBLIQUE DRILL 3. Triangle ADE in vertical plane of true dip
HOLE INTERSECTION with angle ADE = 90°, and DE = BC. Join AE,
which represents foreshortened intersection
AB viewed normal to true dip plane. AE =
Graphical solution approximately 8.9 units.
4. Extend AD to F such that angle AFE = true
Given: dip of 60° and FE passes through point E.
Planar target formation: 5. Triangle AFE in the vertical plane shows true
•• Strike direction = 040° dip with FE representing the lower side of

Field Geologists’ Manual 305

Chapter10.indd 305 27/07/2011 5:52:03 PM

 CHAPTER 10 – drilling

the target plane. Construct a perpendicular Figure 10.3.1

from point A (pierce point of target plane)
to FE at point G. GA = true width of target
formation, and length GA = approximately
8.2 units.

Mathematical solution
T = true thickness
a = dip of drill hole (45°)
b = dip of formation (60°)
c = angle between direction of dip and
direction of hole (40°)
AB = drill hole intercept (10 units)
T = AB (sin a × cos b - cos a × sin b × cos c)
= 10 (0.707 × 0.500 - 0.707 × 0.866 × -0.766)
= 10 (0.353 + 0.469)
= 8.22
See also Peele (1945).

306 Field Geologists’ Manual

Chapter10.indd 306 27/07/2011 5:52:03 PM

Chapter10.indd 307

10.2. CALCULATION OF DRILL HOLE ELEVATIONS AND COORDINATES FROM DOWNHOLE SURVEYS

Survey data Conversion of survey data Elevation calculation Calculation of coordinates Coordinates

Hole length for calc

Hole depth for calc1

North-ing ± (1 × m)

East-ing ± (1 × n)
Sin dip angle (±)
Bearing for calc2

Cos bng (cos g)

Sin bng (sin g)

Horiz advance
Cos dip angle
Dip angle (±)

Difference in

North (± o)
Hole depth

Bng (mag)

Bng (grid)

East (± p)
Elevation
elevation

(f × k)

n
h
d

p
b

o
k
a

g
e
c

l
Collar 60 30 360 1204.7 1264 4832

CHAPTER 10 – drilling
25 25 0 -0.8660 -21.6 1183.1 0.5 12.5 1 0 12.5 - 1276.5 4832
50 58 31 1
75 50 1 NE -0.8480 -42.4 1140.7 0.5299 26.5 0.9998 0.0175 26.5 0.5 1303 4832.5
100 56 32 2
130 55 2 NE -0.8290 -45.6 1095.1 0.5592 30.76 0.9994 0.0349 +30.7 1.1 1333.7 4833.6
160 43 28 358
205 75 2NW -0.7986 -59.9 1035.2 0.6018 45.14 0.9994 0.0349 45.1 -1.6 1378.8 4832
250 48 26 356
255 255 50 4NW -0.7431 -37.2 998 0.6691 33.46 0.9976 0.0698 33.4 -2.3 1412.2 4829.7
TD
Field Geologists’ Manual

1. Calculation is based on the tangential method, in which the drill hole survey measurements are assumed to be the average values for a hole length from halfway to the
previous survey to halfway to the next. The coordinates and elevation of the lower halfway point are calculated (see example above).
2. For the calculation: when the grid bearing (d) is 0 to 90° use grid bearing ( +N, +E) •
when the grid bearing (d) is 90° to 180°, use 180° – grid bearing (–N, +E)•
when the grid bearing (d) is 180° to 270°, use grid bearing – 180° ( –N, –E) •
when the grid bearing (d) is 270° to 360°, use 360° – grid bearing (+N, –E)
See also Wilson (1968).
27/07/2011 5:52:03 PM

307
 CHAPTER 10 – drilling

10.3. CHECKLISTS FOR DRILL HOLE •• lithology:

LOGGING ◦◦ degree of weathering;
◦◦ colour;
Petroleum wells ◦◦ grain size;
For petroleum exploration and production wells, ◦◦ field rock name (often in capitals or
underlined);
a standard composite well log format has been
established by the Bureau of Mineral Resources. ◦◦ proportions of rock minerals;
This lists all the status and location data at the
beginning, then describes in a series of columns:
◦◦ attitude of bedding or foliation (the
angle between the planar structure and
•• drilling rate, drilling activity, lithology the long axis is generally stated, often
(graphic column presentation), depth, hydro- termed q); and
carbon analysis data;
◦◦ attitude and spacing of joints;
•• spontaneous potential, resistivity, gamma •• attitude, width and description of sheared
ray and neutron logs, lithologic descriptions; zones.
•• casing, plugs and deviation information; and The interval in which ore minerals are present
•• stratigraphic position (stage and series). is listed separately, with ore mineral species
in capitals or underlined, and with notes on
Mineral exploration drlll holes weathering, grain size, grain relationships,
orientation of ore minerals and of zones of
For mineral exploration drill holes, no standard mineralisation, gangue minerals present, their
exists. Information recorded on the top of the grain size and relation to the ore minerals, and a
first page of the drill log is generally: visual estimate of grade as per cent metal.
•• hole number;
Non-coring drill holes
•• name of the prospect, mine, etc;
•• location – both grid coordinates and cadastral For non-coring drill holes, the same general
position; location information is provided, with data on
•• elevation of hole collar; the bit diameters or baler diameters used for each
section drilled. Recovery of cuttings is shown
•• hole direction and inclination;
as volume recovered for a stated interval, and
•• total depth;
per cent recovery calculated for the theoretical
•• size of hole and core in depth ranges; volume that should be recovered for that hole
•• depths of casing used; diameter.
•• date of start and completion of drilling;
•• name of the person logging core or cuttings; Surveys and summary
and Drill hole surveys are generally listed at the
•• page number – often as sheet … of … end of the lithological-mineralisation log, and
Subsequent pages generally show only the hole a summary of the log listing the intervals of
number and page number. various major lithological units, and the intervals
of economic mineralisation as average grades
Diamond drill holes above a selected minimum grade.

For diamond drill holes, the range of data shown

is generally: 10.4. CORE ORIENTATION
TECHNIQUES
•• length of coring run, in metres and
millimetres, as defined by the driller’s core The orientation of diamond drilled core samples
blocks; can be classified into two distinct categories based
•• length drilled; on the technique used to achieve orientation and
these are contact or non-contact.
•• measured length of core recovered (in metres
and millimetres); •• contact: as the term implies is any technique
used that involves physically contacting the
•• calculated per cent core recovered;
formation in order to either make a mark
•• a list of assays; upon it or take an imprint of it prior to
•• a graphic lithological section; drilling the sample; and

308 Field Geologists’ Manual

Chapter10.indd 308 27/07/2011 5:52:04 PM

 CHAPTER 10 – drilling

•• non-contact: equipment in this category profile of the ‘pin face’ and the orientation mark
typically is operated at the finish of the core then transferred to the core sample.
drilling run and does not need to contact
Advantages:
the formation, therefore the accuracy is less
affected by soft or broken formation. •• similar to the spear the equipment is simple
to use.
Contact techniques Disadvantages:
•• requires angled profiles/breaks in the
Spear core sample to ensure orientation can be
accurately transferred,
This technique first requires that the innertube
of core sample be retrieved from the drilling •• unreliable in very soft or broken ground,
barrel via wire line and then a ‘spear’ usually •• same as the spear this technique impinges
containing a sharpened wax pencil be lowered upon the drilling process and can be
down via the wireline into the drilling rods expensive, and
and finally through the diamond drilling bit to •• being a gravity system cannot orientate at
mark the ground. Once a mark has been made vertical.
the spear is retrieved and an empty innertube is
lowered into the drilling barrel and core drilling Continuous mechanical pin face
is recommenced. Although still a contact method this technique
Advantages: is a significant improvement compared to the
•• the equipment is simple and therefore cheap previous two wireline methods. In this system
to manufacture and use. a mechanical tool is inserted into an empty core
Disadvantages: innertube that is pumped into the core barrel,
saving the time taken to use the rig wireline thus
•• although low cost to manufacture this
making this system ‘continuous’.
method impinges upon the drilling process
and is usually charged out by the drilling To further reduce the ‘non-drilling’ time a
contractor at an hourly rig work time second tool is usually kept on standby at the
rate, making it one of the more expensive surface and this is typically used in the second
orientation techniques; core innertube.
•• the quality of the orientation relies heavily
Once the core innertube is ‘seated’ the tool
upon the operator pausing the wireline and
protrudes past the drill bit and the drill rods
lowering the spear slowly to ensure lateral
movement is reduced; are then lowered so that the tool can touch the
formation and record its profile.
•• unreliable in very soft or broken ground; and
The action of touching the formation will
•• being a gravity system cannot orientate at
retract the tool and then normal core drilling can
vertical.
recommence.
The wax pencil can also be substituted with
plasticine to take an impression or a chisel tip Advantages:
to make a more robust physical mark upon the
formation.
•• reduced impingement to the drilling process,
and
Counter balanced pin face •• can work on angled and flat profiles.
Disadvantages:
This technique also requires that the core
innertube be retrieved to the surface and that the •• numerous moving parts can make the tool
prone to mechanical breakdown,
tool be lowered through the drilling barrel via
wireline so that it can contact the formation prior •• a gravity based system that loses consistency
to drilling. The ‘pin face’ is counterbalanced and and accuracy within ten degrees of vertical,
when lowered onto the formation the individual •• service and maintenance can be technically
pins will be pushed in to record the profile. Once challenging, and
the drilling run has been completed and the core •• malfunctions can result in tool damage.
innertube retrieved to the surface the profile These tools have several patents and are
on the first piece of core can be matched to the usually only available on a rental basis.

Field Geologists’ Manual 309

Chapter10.indd 309 27/07/2011 5:52:04 PM

 CHAPTER 10 – drilling

Non-contact techniques Acoustic/optical televiewer

This non-contact system involves the lowering of
Continuous digital core orientation
a probe via a winch line into an open borehole
The most recently developed core orientation and using either acoustic waves or an optical CCD
system this instrument also relies on gravity to to generate a 360° image of the borehole. This
determine ‘bottom of hole’ orientation but by system does not rely upon the core sample but
using accelerometers it is able to maintain a higher instead determines orientation of the structure
accuracy and consistency much closer to vertical. being drilled by using the wall of the borehole.
The instrument connects directly to the The sensors used in this instrument enable the
core innertube and is unique in that it records televiewer to be used in vertical applications as
orientation position at the end of the drilling well as angled, allowing for high quality data. To
run digitally. utilise this system a trained operator is required
Being digital this system is able to generate plus a logging vehicle.
numerous data that can be utilised for QA/ Advantages:
QC, diagnostics and monitoring of drilling
production. •• orientation data in vertical and angled
boreholes, and
Advantages:
•• capable of orientating reverse circulation
•• superior accuracy and consistency closer to percussion drilled boreholes.
vertical, Disadvantages:
•• higher success rate in soft and broken
•• expensive to rent or purchase and time
formations,
consuming,
•• large amount of digital data generated
•• probe cannot be lowered flatter than•
including inclination, and
30°, and
•• doesn’t impinge on the drilling process.
•• cannot operate if the borehole is bridged/
Disadvantages: blocked.
•• instrument can be unretrievable if the drilling
barrel is lost in the hole.

310 Field Geologists’ Manual

Chapter10.indd 310 27/07/2011 5:52:04 PM