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BR-112022008153-B1 - Drilling sleeve device for drilling rig, drilling device, method of drilling a borehole, method for providing a collar support device in a borehole.

BR112022008153B1BR 112022008153 B1BR112022008153 B1BR 112022008153B1BR-112022008153-B1

Abstract

DRILLING SLEEVE APPARATUS FOR DRILLING RIG, DRILLING APPARATUS, METHOD FOR DRILLING A DRILL HOLE, METHOD FOR PROVIDING A COLLAR SUPPORT APPARATUS IN A DRILL HOLE AND SHEET FORMATION DEVICE. The invention provides an apparatus and method for preventing loose surrounding rock fragments from falling or collapsing into a drill hole during drilling and immediately after removal of a drill string from the drill hole. The apparatus includes a drill hole sleeve for a drilling rig, the sleeve including a tubular element adapted to be coupled to a mast of a mobile drilling rig and to be positioned within the collar region of a drill hole, the tubular element including an internal longitudinal passage to receive a drill string through it and an external surface facing outwards against a wall of the drill hole.

Inventors

  • Gregory PATCHING

Assignees

  • AQUIRIAN TECHNOLOGY PTY LTD

Dates

Publication Date
20260310
Application Date
20201029
Priority Date
20191030

Claims (20)

  1. 1. DRILLING SLEEVE APPARATUS FOR DRILLING RIG (100) to prevent loose surrounding rock fragments from a pre-conditioned layer from falling or collapsing into the borehole, characterized by the sleeve apparatus including: a tubular element (110) adapted to be coupled to a mast (20) of a mobile drilling rig (10) and to be positioned within the collar region of a borehole (2), the tubular element (110) including an internal longitudinal passage (120) to receive a drill string (30) through it and an external surface (125) facing outwards against a borehole wall (2) and an actuator to raise and lower the tubular element (110) in relation to the borehole, for temporary insertion and support of the borehole collar region (2).
  2. 2. SLEEVE APPARATUS, according to claim 1, characterized in that the tubular element (110) and the mast (20) include a coupling for removablely fixing the tubular element (110) to the mast (20).
  3. 3. SLEEVE APPARATUS, according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling is adapted to allow movement of the tubular element (110) relative to the mast (20) between a position in which the tubular element (110) is aligned with an axis of the drill string (30) and another position in which the tubular element (110) is displaced from the axis of the drill string (30) while the tubular element (110) and the mast (20) remain coupled to each other.
  4. 4. SLEEVE APPARATUS, according to claim 2, characterized in that the coupling includes an adapter element (150) fixed to the mast (20) which includes a groove (160) to receive a flange (115) at one end of the tubular element (110).
  5. 5. SLEEVE APPARATUS, according to claim 4, characterized in that the flange (115) is adapted to move within the groove (160) between a position in which the tubular element (110) is aligned with an axis of the drill string (30) and another position in which the tubular element (110) is displaced from the axis of the drill string (30) while the tubular element (110) and the mast (20) remain coupled to each other.
  6. 6. SLEEVE APPARATUS, according to claim 1, characterized by the tubular element (110) being self-supporting within the borehole collar (2) and being adapted to receive a collar support device (200) within the internal longitudinal passage (120).
  7. 7. DRILLING APPARATUS (10), characterized by including: a mobile platform; a mast (20) disposed on the platform including a support for a drill string (30); a drive and rotation mechanism for the drill string (30) to drive the drill string (30) to make a hole in the rock; a borehole sleeve apparatus (100) including a tubular element (110) coupled to the mast (20) for positioning within the collar region of a borehole (2), the tubular element (110) including an internal longitudinal passage (120) to receive the drill string (30) through it and an external surface (125) facing outwards against a borehole wall (2) and an actuator to raise and lower the tubular element (110) relative to the borehole (2), for temporary insertion and support of the borehole collar region.
  8. 8. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 7, characterized in that the tubular element (110) is movable while remaining coupled to the mast (20) between a position in which the tubular element (110) is aligned with an axis of the drill string (30) and another position in which the tubular element (110) is displaced from the axis of the drill string (30), while the tubular element (110) and the mast (20) remain coupled to each other.
  9. 9. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 7, characterized in that the tubular element (110) is axially movable while remaining coupled to the mast (20) to lower the tubular element (110) into the borehole (2) and to raise the tubular element (110) out of the borehole (2).
  10. 10. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 7, characterized by including a sheet implantation apparatus (350) for implanting a flexible sheet (210) at the open end of the tubular element (110) located in the borehole (2).
  11. 11. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 7, characterized by further including a cover (400) adapted to be substantially sealed with the internal longitudinal passage (120) of the tubular element (110) to direct the rock fragments and/or debris left by the drill bit that emerge from the borehole (2) during drilling.
  12. 12. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (400) includes an axial passage to receive the drill string (30) through it and an outlet opening (415) that is oriented transversely to the axial passage.
  13. 13. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 12, characterized in that the outlet opening (415) is adapted to be coupled to a flexible conduit (425) of a vacuum apparatus.
  14. 14. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 11, characterized in that the cover (400) is mounted on the mast (20) and an actuator is adapted to translate the cover (400) up and down in a linear range of motion.
  15. 15. DRILLING APPARATUS, according to claim 11, characterized by further including an outlet (415) located near or below the mobile platform to direct rock fragments and/or debris left by the drill bit that emerge from the borehole (2) during drilling to a pile adjacent to or below the mobile platform.
  16. 16. METHOD FOR DRILLING A DRILLING HOLE (2), characterized by including: attaching a tubular element (110) to a mast (20) of a mobile drilling rig, the tubular element (110) including an internal longitudinal passage (120) to receive a drill string (30) through it; drilling a drilling hole in a bench surface and lowering the tubular element (110) into the collar region of the drilling hole (2), the tubular element (110) including an external surface (125) facing outwards against a wall of the drilling hole (2); and raising the tubular element (110) out of the drilling hole (2), so that the tubular element (110) provides temporary support to the collar region of the drilling hole.
  17. 17. METHOD FOR PROVIDING A COLLAR SUPPORT DEVICE (200) IN A DRILL BORE (2), characterized by the method including: attaching a tubular element (110) to a mast (20) of a mobile drilling rig (10), the tubular element (110) including an internal longitudinal passage (120) to receive a drill string (30) through it; drilling a borehole in a bench surface and lowering the tubular element (110) into the collar region of the borehole (2), the tubular element (110) including an external surface (125) facing outwards against a wall of the borehole (2); providing a support in the borehole (2) to stabilize the collar region of the borehole (2). remove the tubular element (110) from the borehole (2), so that the tubular element (110) provides temporary support to the collar region of the borehole (2).
  18. 18. METHOD, according to claim 17, characterized by providing a support in the borehole (2) including the insertion of a collar support device (200) comprising a flexible sheet (210) of material in the longitudinal inner passage (120) of the tubular element (110) and in which the removal of the tubular element (110) from the borehole (2) leaves behind the collar support device (200) inside the borehole (2).
  19. 19. METHOD, according to claim 18, characterized by including movement of the mast (20) relative to the tubular element (110) to access the internal longitudinal passage (120) of the tubular element (110), wherein the movement of the mast (20) relative to the tubular element (110) includes movement of the mast (20) between a position in which the tubular element (110) is aligned with an axis of the drill string (30) and another position in which the tubular element (110) is displaced from the axis of the drill string (30) while the tubular element (110) and the mast (20) remain coupled to each other.
  20. 20. METHOD, according to claim 17, characterized by the removal of the tubular element (110) from the borehole (2) including the maneuver of the mast (20) to lift the tubular element (110) out of the borehole (2).

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD [001] The present invention relates to the field of borehole drilling, particularly, though not exclusively, in blasting operations for mining and quarries. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [002] Above ground, open-pit mining methods may involve blasting with explosives to dislodge large quantities of ore for excavation and recovery. Bench blasting is a process that involves drilling holes into the rock to depths of up to 50 meters or more and filling the holes with explosive material to form a column charge that fractures the rock in a controlled manner. Blast holes can have diameters as large as 270 to 311 or even 350 millimeters. [003] Blast holes are typically drilled using percussive drilling techniques. Percussive energy is generated by a reciprocating piston where each piston impact causes the tungsten carbide buttons in the drill bit to penetrate the rock. The drill string is rotated after each impact to rotate the drill bit to a new position so that the buttons strike fresh rock surfaces. Top hammer percussive drilling is where percussive energy is applied by a piston to an upper end of the drill string. Down-the-hole (DTH) percussive drilling is where percussive energy is applied by a piston to a lower portion of the drill string, just above the drill bit. Top hammer drilling is generally used to drill relatively smaller diameter holes, while DTH drilling is generally used to drill larger diameter holes. [004] Rotary drilling is another technique for drilling holes for explosives. Rotary drilling does not use percussion. Instead, rotary drilling applies a feed force and a rotational torque. The torque causes the drill bit to rotate, while the feed force keeps the drill bit firmly against the rock surface. The combination of rotational torque and feed force allows the drill bit to penetrate the rock by cutting the rock surface. [005] Most of the rock that is fractured after a blasting operation is removed by excavators for further processing. However, significant quantities of loose rock fragments, or “pre-conditioned” material, from the underdrilled region after reaching the Reduced Level (RL) may remain on the bench at the location where boreholes are drilled for a subsequent blasting operation. A pre-conditioned layer depth of up to 4 meters or more can improve the efficiency of the comminution process by maximizing the volume of fine fragmentation resulting from the subsequent blasting operation. [006] Loose rock fragments from the pre-conditioned layer around the blast hole, commonly referred to as the “collar” region of the blast hole, can collapse into the blast hole after drilling. Applicant WO2019014716 patent application discloses a collar support apparatus to prevent loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into a blast hole. The apparatus includes a normally flat flexible sheet that is formed into a curved shape to define a longitudinal passage and is then inserted into the open end of a blast hole. The curved sheet faces an inner surface of the blast hole and forms a barrier preventing loose rock fragments from falling or collapsing into the open end of the blast hole. [007] However, even during drilling or immediately after drilling, and before the collar support device can be positioned, loose surrounding rock fragments may collapse into the borehole. Consequently, there is a need for a drilling system that minimizes any chance of loose rock fragments from the pre-conditioned layer collapsing into the borehole. [008] Furthermore, the process of manually manipulating a pre-formed collar support device and inserting the collar support device into the hole can be laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, there is a need for a drilling system by which a collar support device can be positioned within a hole in a less laborious and time-consuming way. [009] Any discussion of the background of the invention throughout the descriptive report should in no way be considered as an admission that any of the documents or other material referred to have been published, are known or are part of common general knowledge. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [010] Consequently, in one aspect, the invention provides a borehole sleeve apparatus for a drilling rig, the sleeve apparatus including a tubular element adapted to be coupled to a mast of a mobile drilling rig and to be positioned within the borehole collar region, the tubular element including an internal longitudinal passage to receive a drill string through it and an external surface facing outwards against a borehole wall. [011] Preferably, the tubular element and the mast include a coupling to secure the tubular element to the mast. [012] Preferably, the coupling is adapted to fix the tubular element to the mast in a removable manner. [013] Preferably, the coupling is adapted to allow movement of the tubular element relative to the mast between a position in which the tubular element is aligned with an axis of the drill string and ano