PREPRlNT

NUMBER

ANGLE HOLE DRILLING WITH LARGE BLAST HOLE DRILLS

S t u a r t R. C o t t e r i l l

J a c k D . Nelmark

Bucyrus-Erie Company
South Milwaukee, Wisconsin

For p r e s e n t a t i o n a t t h e SME-AIME Annual Meeting

Los Angeles, C a l i f o r n i a - February 26-March 1 , 1984

Permission is hereby given to publish with appropriate acknowledgments,

excerpts or summaries not to exceed one-fourth of the entire text of the paper.
Permission to print in more extended form subsequent to publication by the Institute
must be obtained from the Executive Director of the Society of Mining Engineers
of AIME.
If and when this paper is published by the Society of Mining Engineers of AIME, it
may embody certain changes made by agreement between the Technical Publications
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MINING ENGINEERING

Open cast s u r f a c e m i n i n g r e q u i r e s
b l a s t h o l e d r i l l i n g w i t h many i n t e r e s t i n g
f a c e t s i n o r d e r t o a c h i e v e mine p l a n n i n g
forecasts. I n t e r e s t i n g l y , no s i n g l e met-
hod o r c o m b i n a t i o n o f t h e o r e t i c a l hypoth-
e s i s o f m i n i n g e c o n o m i c s is r i g h t f o r
a l l c o n d i t i o n s . On o c c a s i o n mine p l a n -
ners introduce a project with l i t t l e o r
no r e g a r d t o d r i l l i n g a n d b l a s t i n g . Gen-
e r a l l y , d r i l l i n g and b l a s t i n g c o s t s a r e
a s i g n i f i c a n t p e r c e n t a g e o f t o t a l mine
overhead.
One s u c h d r i l l i n g a n d b l a s t i n g method
which c a n b e u t i l i z e d t o r e d u c e o v e r a l l
mine e x p e n d i t u r e i s i n c l i n e d o r a n g l e
h o l e d r i l l i n g . One must b e a r i n mind,
t h a t angle h o l e d r i l l i n g per-se m i l l not
reduce c o s t s , u n l e s s a set o f r e q u i r e d
c i r c u m s t a n c e s is m e t . An a t t e m p t w i l l
b e made t o d e t a i l when c o n d i t i o n s o f t h e
mine d e s i g n c r i t e r i a d i c t a t e t h e u s e o f
angle d r i l l i n g .
F i r s t l y , t h e g e o t e c h n i c a l problems
must be a n a l y z e d t o d e t e r m i n e i f i n -
clined d r i l l i n g has merit.
Primary c o n s i d e r a t i o n s given toward
i n c l i n e d d r i l l i n g of b l a s t h o l e s a r e :
o Safety
o Fragmentation
o Production
o Haintenance
S e c o n d a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n s c a n i n some
instances provide :
o R e d u c t i o n i n amount o f e s p l o s i v e s ,
which i n t u r n , l o w e r s b l a s t i n g
COStS.
o S u b s t a n t i a l reduction of p r a c t i c a l
f r a g m e n t a t i o n beyond b l a s t i n g
pattern l i m i t s .
o In c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s , o v e r a l l
c o s t s a r e l e s s e n e d due t o r e d u c e d
volume r e q u i r e d by e x c a v a t i o n
machine o p e r a t i o n .
Future trends i n b l a s t hole d r i l l i n g
may encompass e i t h e r i n c o r p o r a t i o n o f
d r i l l equipment t o b e designed t o s u i t
r a p i d c h a n g e from v e r t i c a l t o i n c l i n e d
d r i l l i n g a n d / o r a b i l i t y t o chamber h o l e s
a t any e l e v a t i o n throughout t h e h o l e
depth.
D r i l l equipment can be designed mlth
automatic a b i l i t y f o r t h e operator t o
n u i c k l y s e t up i n c l i n e d h o l e from v e r t i -
c a l t o any a n g l e . T h i s w i l l a l l o w one
p e r s o n ( o p e r a r o r ) r o a d a p t co c h a n g l n g
h o l e requirements w i t h minlmal l o s s of
product i o n .
The a b i l i t y t o chamber o r e n l a r g e t h e
d r i l l h o l e a t s p e c i f i e d d e p t h s would a l -
low more c h a r g e t o b e p l a c e d a t s t r a t e -
g i c l o c a r i o n s t o improve f r a g m e n t a t i o n .
T h i s f e a t u r e of chambering d r i l l h o l e s ,
c o u l d o u t w e i g h any o t h e r p r o g r a m . t o -
'vard o p t i m i z i n g d r i l l i n g and b i a s t i n g
nrocedures c u r r e n t l v being p r a c t i c e d .
' . I e r i t s Of D r i l l i n r . i n z l e ?isles
F o r nany y e a r s , p e o p l e have d i s c u s s e d
- u p i o t h e e s n e r l e n c e of r h e mine oe:-son-
t h e n e e d t o a r l l l i n c l i n e d h o l e s . .is
with most t h i n r s i n l i f e , i o a p p r o a c h r h e
s u b j e c t o f a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g immedi-
a t e l y provokes a d i s c u s s i o n , u s u a l l y of
a c o n t r o v e r s i a l n a t u r e . D r i l l i n g is
done f o r t h e e x p r e s s p u r p o s e o f c r e a t i n g
v o i d s w i t h which t o p l a c e e x p l o s i v e s ,
e i t h e r t o recover minerals o r t o esca-
v a t e a volume o f e a r t h . The manner i n
which t h e m i n i n g o r e x c a v a t i o n method
u s e d t o d r i l l and b l a s t c a n g r e a t l y a f -
f e c t t h e economics of t h e o v e r a l l pro-
j e c t . Up t o now, many i n n o v a t i o n s a n d
t y p e s o f methods h a v e b e e n t r i e d , b u t
t h e most p r a c t i c a l and e c o n o m i c a l may t o
a c c o m p l i s h t h i s work h a s b e e n by d r i l -
l i n g h o l e s and u s i n g e s p l o s i v e s t o f r a g -
ment t h e m a t e r i a l .
In o r d e r t o b r e a k t h e m a t e r i a l masses
up i n t o l o o s e s e c t i o n s o r i n d i v i d u a l
s m a l l e r p i e c e s p r a c t i c e h a s been t o p l a c e
c h a r g e s w i t h i n t h i s m a t e r i a l mass. T h i s
is a c c o m p l i s h e d by d r i l l i n g h o l e s of a
s p e c i f i c d i a m e t e r and d e p r h i n t o t h e
m a t e r i a l mass o f s u c h m a g n i t u d e a s t o
develop s u f f i c i e n t energy t o break o r
l o o s e n t h i s m a t e r i a l and p r o v i d e a n
e a s i e r means t o remove t h e m a t e r i a l by
mechanical methods. In general, blast-
i n g t h e m a t e r i a l mass must b e a l l o w e d
t o h a v e o n e o r more open o r e x p o s e d f a -
c e s i n which t o f a c i l i t a t e b r e a k a g e o f
material.
I n c l i n e d d r i l l i n g can b e advantageous
when open c u t m i n i n g w i t h d e p t h s o f h i g h -
w a l l from 80 f e e t ( 2 4 m e t e r s ) and d e e p e r .
With open c u t m i n i n g , a t l e a s t a
minimum o f two f a c e s a r e open a n d t h e
m a t e r i a l c a n b e thrown o u t w a r d t o c o v e r
pre-mined volume. This eliminates the
n e e d t o remove o r r e l o c a r e a l a r g e p o r -
t i o n o f m a t e r i a l which r e s u l t s i n l o w e r
COStS.
C e r t a i n t i m e s r h e m a t e r i a l is o f s u c h
a mass t h a t more e n e r g y p e r u n i t i s r e -
q u i r e d t o l o o s e n m a t e r i a l t h a t c a n n o t be
e a s i l y done by b l a s t i n g v e r t i c a l l y . In-
c l i n e d h o l e s w i l l allow a n o r e uniform
l o a d i n g of d r i l l e d h o l e s t o r a i s e t h e
u n i t of energy t o s a t i s f a c t o r i l y b l a s t
w i t h l i t t l e o r no s e c o n d a r y b l a s t i n g r e -
q u i r e d . G e n e r a l l y , t h i s comes a b o u t
o n l y i f mine p l a n a g a i n c a l l s f o r d r i l l -
i n g h o l e s d e e p e r t h a n 80 f e e t ( 2 4 met-
e r s ) . F o r s h a l l o w h o l e s , s p a c i n g and
b u r d e n c a n be made c l o s e r T O a l l o w s u f -
f i c i e n t e n e r g y 20 b l a s t t h e z o e . Of
c o u r s e , i f t h e onen f a c e is o n l y i n one
p l a n e , t h e r e is no a d v a n t a g e t o d r i l l
inclined holes. i n t h e s e c a s e s hen.
l a r g e r h o l e s d r i l l e d v e r ~ i c a l l yp r o v i d e
n e c e s s a r y e n e r g y T O f r a g m e n t r h e mat-
erial.
S u i ~ a b i l i t vOf 3 r l l l i n r . \ n e l e Hole
One s h o u l d n o t :veigh i n c l i n e c i v e r s u s
v e r t i c a l d r i l l i n g b a s e d ~ o c a l l yon C O S T
n e r u n i c volume removed. !lanv o f r h e
s e l e c r ~ o nf a c t o r s t o ~ r i c l eh o l e d r l l ! :s
n e l . P l a y i n q h e a v i l y i n The ,>uccome n r e
: r e o g r a p h l c a i a t r a t a e n c o u n c e r e g . :cilrc-h
j i c r a r e s a r l l ; hole s i z e . Surden.spa(:~n-.
and d c s t c n o f f r a q ~ c n t a e i o n f a e c o r s , s u c h
, ~ c .d c l a y s a n d ~vhen and how much StcmminR
s l l o u l d bc u s e d . Only t h r o u g h o x p e r i c n c e
and t e s t i n c , by c h a n g i n g t h e s e p a r a m e t e r s
o f d r i l l i n g and b l a s t i n g can a s o l i d eco-
nomic a n a l y s i s b e made t o d e t e r m i n e t h e
e x t e n t a t which t o a n g l e d r i l l . b part
o f t h i s t e s t i n n must b e d o n e t h r o u n h v a r -
y i n g t h e amount o f a n g l e t o b e u s e d when
d r i l b i n ~i n c l i n e d h o l e s . Ideally, steep-
e r a n g l e d r i l l i n g up t o 45 d e g r e e s w o u l d
provlde t h e b e s t fragmentation i n break-
i n g up t h e t o e o r b o t t o m o f t h e h o l e .
However, p r o b l e m s a r i s e i n l o a d i n g t h e
holes s r t h explosive a t angles greater
t h a n 30 d e g r e e s .
Open Cut B l a s t D e s i a n
T h e r e a r e a number o f t h e o r i e s a n d
formulae t h a t a r e used t o j u s t i f y a n g l e
hole d r i l l i n g . When d r i l l i n g d e e p e r
h o l e s w i t h o p e n cast d e s i g n , t h e b u r d e n
d i s t a n c e can p l a y an important p a r t o f
b l a s t i n g e c o n o m i c s . B u r d e n d i s t a n c e is
t h e l e n g t h between t h e h o l e bottom and
che n e a r e s t f r e e f a c e . When t h e b u r d e n
d i s t a n c e t o f r e e f a c e becomes t o o g r e a t
t h e e n e r g y t o b r e a k t h e m a t e r i a l is i n -
s u f f i c i e n ~ ,a n d a t o e o f u n b r o k e n mass
is l e f t . Bv d r i l l i n g on a n a n g l e , see
F i g u r e S o . 1 , t h i s i n e f f e c t is r e d u c i n g
t h e burden d i s t a n c e and a l l o w s h i g h e r
energy t o b r e a k o u t t h e t o e . Examples
of changing burden d i s t a n c e f a r outweigh
a n v c h a n ~ e si n t h e s p a c i n g . D i s t a n c e :
S p a c i n q d i s t a n c e is t h e d i s t a n c e b e t w e e n
holes running p a r a l l e l t o a f r e e face.
An e a s y way t o remember - s p a c i n g is p a r -
a l l e l a n d b u r d e n is p e r p e n d i c u l a r t o t h e
f r e e f a c e . The d e p t h o f h o l e h a s s i g n i -
f i c a n t b e a r i n g on when t o a n g l e h o l e
drill. -1s d e p t h o f h o l e i n c r e a s e s , l a r -
ger hole size should be considered i n an
e f f o r t t o i n c r e a s e t h e amount o f e x p l o -
s i v e s a n d a d e c r e a s e i n t h e number o f
h o l e s t o be d r i l l e d . Other f a c t o r s v h i c h
e n t e r i n t o t h e s t u d y a r e t h e e f f e c t on
stemming w i t h t y p e o f e x p l o s i v e u s e d .
X s u a l l y , s t e m m i n g r a t i o v a r i e s b e t w e e n 60
co 80 p e r c e n t o f b u r d e n . Delay b l a s t i n g
is u t i l i z e d t o c o n t r o l amount a n d d i r -
e c t i o n c f t h r o w , r e d u c e e x p l o s i v e re-
q u i r e m e n t s and b l a s t i n g v i b r a t i o n , and
allow i n c r e a s i n g of burden and s p a c i n g .
:fachine D e s i g n F a c t o r s
C o n v e n t i o n a l d r i l l i n g m a c h i n e s re-
quire additional desisn considerations
i n o r d e r t o be adapted f o r a n g l e h o l e
drilling.
Due t o h o l e e s p l o s i v e l o a d i n g p r o b -
l e m s . a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g is p r e s e n t l y
l i m i t e d t o a nasimum o f 30 de,rnrees f r o m
vertical. A n a c h i n e s h o u l d have t h e
a b i l i T y t o change t h e a n g l e o f d r i l l i n g
rapidly. I!ost n a n u f a c r u r e r s o f f e r con-
venrional d r i l l s supnliea with angle
h o l e f e a r u r e s co bore h o l e s a r f i v e de-
Tree i n c r e m e n t s from - : e r t i c a l T O c h i r - c g
d e g r e e s . T h i s T i y e s mine p l a n n e r s t h e
o p t i o n zo p u r c h a s e c o n v e n t i 2 n a l equin-
ment, but s u i t a l l paranieters r e q u i r e d
t o d r i l l a n $ l c l l o l e . !lost mast ( t a w o r )
d e s i g n s a r e r a i s e d a n d l o w c r e d b y hgd-
r a u l i c c y l i n d e r s , w h i c h are a l s o u s e d t o
v a r y t h e a n g l e o f mast (.torvor) when a n p l e
h o l e d r i l l i n g . > l a c h i n e d e s i g n s have i n -
c o r p o r a t e d t w o s t e e l tubes w i t h remov-
a b l e p i n s which r e q u i r e maintenance per-
s o n n e l t o m a n u a l l y remove t h e p i n s f o r
c h a n g i n g a n g l e o f d r i l l i n g . T h i s is
v e r y p r a c t i c a l , b u t time c o n s u m i n g . To-
day p a t e n t e d f o l d i n q t y p e b a c k b r a c e s
t o v a r y t h e a n g l e o f m a s t ( t o w e r ) are
b e i n q u t i l i z e d , which change t h e a n g l e
r a p i d l y . The r e m o v a b l e p i n s c a n b e de-
s i g n e d t o b e e x t r a c t e d u n d e r power.
A second design f a c t o r i n angle hole
d r i l l i n g is i n t h e area o f t o o l h a n d l i n g .
To c h a n g e d r i l l p i p e w h i l e a t some a n g l e
o t h e r than v e r t i c a l , requires a device
commonly kno~vn a s a p i p e p o s i t i o n e r
( h o l d e r ) , which keeps t h e d r i l l p i p e
c e n t e r e d o v e r t h e h o l e when m a k i n g o r
breaking pipe j o i n t s . This pipe posi-
t i o n i n g d e v i c e can b e a c t u a t e d manually
o r more commonly b y p n e u m a t i c o r hvd-
r a u l i c means. To a c t u a t e t h e d e v i c e
u n d e r i t s own power a l s o s a v e s t i m e when
a d d i n g o r removing d r i l l p i p e .
A new d e v e l o p m e n t g o i n g i n t o o p e r a -
t i o n a t a c o a l mine e l i m i n a t e s t h e n e e d
f o r an e x t r a p i p e p o s i t i o n e r u n i t i n
order t o d r i l l angle holes. This design,
see F i q u r e No. 2 , c a n b e e i t h e r a s i n g l e
pipe handling rack o r a carousel housing
multiple d r i l l pipe. This unit a c t s a s
t h e p i p e p o s i t i o n e r when c h a n g i n g o r
adding d r i l l p i p e , e l i m i n a t i n g t h e need
f o r d i f f e r e n t t o o l h a n d l i n g equipment
f o r angle hole d r i l l i n g .
Another machine d e s i g n c o n s i d e r a t i o n
when a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g is d u s t c o n t r o l
c u r t a i n s o r s h i e l d s . L a r g e r and l o n g e r
d u s t s h i e l d s a r e r e q u i r e d when d r i l l i n g
o n a n a n g l e s i n c e t h e d r i l l h o l e is a t ,
o r outside o f , the d r i l l parimeter.
T h e r e is a m y r i a d o f d u s t s h i e l d d e s i g n s
offered.
Using r o r a r y cppe b l a s z h o l e d r i l l s
a s a n g l e h o l e m a c h i n e s r e q u i r e s t h e de-
sign a n a l y s i s o f r o t a r y p o w e r t o t u r n
t h e b i t , s u f f i c i e n t t h r u s t f o r c e on b i t ,
and high b a i l i n g v e l o c i t y t o b a i l t h e
d r i l l c u t t i n g s from t h e h o l e .
Yhen d r i l l i n g a t a n a n g l e r h e d r i l l e d
h o l e T e n d s t o c u r v e do~vnmard. -4s a h o l e
1s b e r n g d r l l l e d t h e d r l l l p l g e , a t t a c h -
ed t o the r o t a r r top drive, extends fur-
t h e r and f u r t h e r unsupported t h r u t h e
deck bushing. T h i s c r e a t e s a longer
c a n t i l e v e r and w l t h l o a d a p p l i e d , t e n d s
t o deflect the d r l l l yipe. Belnq a
t h r e a d e d member a z 5 0 t h e n d s , t h e d r i l l
plpe allows increased aeflection w t h
every added j o i n t . A s t h e hole depth in-
c r e a s e s t h e h o l e h a s a zreater o f f s e t .
-111 o f t h l s deflection t r a n s l a z e s r n t o
more p l u g g r n g a n d buildup o f d r i l l c x t -
t r n e s b a c k t o t h e t o p o f the h o l e . Due
yo t h e a d d e d f r ~ c t i o n .r o t a r y r o r o u e is
reauired. Zsperlence rncicntes lncreasea
r o t a r c t o r o u e o f ' 5 yo 35 p e r c e n r . Sddi-
t i o n a l t h r u s t f o r c e is r e q u i r e d t o com-
p e n s a t e f o r t h e change i n c e n t e r o f g r a -
v i t y o f t h e machine. In hard d r i l l i n g
t h i s becomes more p r e v a l e n t , s i n c e a t 30
d e g r e e a n g l e d r i l l i n g t h e r e is a l o s s i n
maximum t h r u s t o f 25 p e r c e n t . Should
more t h r u s t power b e r e q u i r e d a h e a v i e r
machine is n e c e s s a r y t o compensate f o r
t h i s l o s s of t h r u s t .
When a n g l e d r i l l i n g t h e h o l e t e n d s t o
p l u g more and c u t t i n g s l o s e e n e r g y due
t o f r i c t i o n f o r c e s . Larger compressors
are n e c e s s a r y t o r a i s e energy u n i t s t o
b a i l c u t t i n g by overcoming t h e r e s t r i -
c t i o n s , due t o t h e l o s s i n u n i f o r m an-
n u l a r a r e a . S e c o n d l y , i t is b e n e f i c i a l
i n angle hole d r i l l i n g t o increase t h e
a n n u l a r a r e a by u s i n g s m a l l e r d r i l l p i p e
t o a s s i s t i n b a i l i n g c u t t i n g s through
less r e s t r i c t i o n . However, t h i s r e -
q u i r e s l a r g e r a i r c o m p r e s s o r s t o compen-
s a t e f o r t h e l o s s of b a i l i n g v e l o c i t y
due t o t h i s i n c r e a s e i n a n n u l a r a r e a .
T h i s optimum b a i l i n g v e l o c i t y a p p e a r s t o
b e 7 , 0 0 0 t o 1 0 , 0 0 0 F.P.11. ( 2 , 1 3 0 t o
3 , 0 5 0 !.lP?I) .
Primary Considerations
Some c r i t i c a l d e t e r m i n a t i o n s t o an-
a l y z e when c o n s i d e r i n g a n g l e h o l e d r i l l -
i n g a r e s a f e t y , p r o d u c t i o n , f r a g m e n t a t i o n . l a y e r s of s h a l e a r e predominant c l o s e t o
and m a i n t e n a n c e .
Safety
Under c e r t a i n c o n d i t i o n s , a n g l e h o l e
d r i l l i n g o f f e r s s a f e r o p e r a t i o n t o men
and e q u i p m e n t . Angle h o l e d r i l l i n g a l -
lows t h e machine t o b e p l a c e d f a r t h e r
from t h e open f a c e i n h i g h w a l l m i n i n g .
I n m a t e r i a l which is w e a t h e r e d o r f r a c -
t u r e d and w i t h t h e p o s s i b i l i t y o f l o o s e
m a t e r i a l f a l l i n g , angle d r i l l i n g can
o f f e r a s l o p e a n g l e t o reduce t h e chance
of f a l l i n g o r sloughing m a t e r i a l .
I n mines where low p r o f i l e e x c a v a t o r s R . P . U . , and b a i l i n g a i r of 8 , 0 0 0 F . P . 3 .
a r e u s e d , i t is d e s i r a b l e t o a n g l e h o l e
d r i l l and s h o o t t h e m a t e r i a l w i t h h i g h
fragmentation o r t o throw m a t e r i a l out-
ward from t h e f a c e t o k e e p e x c a v a t i n g
h e i g h t i n t h e working a r e a t o a minimum.
Product ion
G e n e r a l l y , when s p e a k i n g i n d r i l l e d
h o l e p r o d u c t i o n , v e r t i c a l d r i l l i n g pro-
d u c e s more h o l e t h a n a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g .
However, i n d e e p h o l e d r i l l i n g a n g l e h o l e when d r i l l i n g h o l e s a t 15 t o 20 d e g r e e
can b e more p r o d u c t i v e i n t e r m s of t o t a l
m a t e r i a l removed a t a l o w e r c o s t due t o
c l o s e r b u r d e n s which b r e a k t h e t o e b e t t e r
when b l a s t e d . Xany t i m e s a n g l e h o l e
d r l l l i n g i s u s e d t o move l a r g e q u a n t i t i e s 100 f e e t (?Om). ?.lost d r i l l i n g i s done
of m a t e r i a l by t h r o w b l a s t i n g i n t o a
p e r v i o u s l y mined a r e a .
P r o d u c t i o n f i g u r e s g i v e n by mines who b i t s .
o p e r a t e b o t h v e r t l c a l and a n g l e d r i l l i n g
is l i m i t e d . Usually p e n e t r a t i o n r a t e s
a r e l e s s with angle hole d r i l l i n g than
mlth v e r t i c a l d r l l l i n g . A c c u r a t e pro-
ductlon figures a r e d i f f i c u l t t o obtain
b e c a u s e few m l n e s ..vork d r i l l s a t maxi-
num g e r f o r m a n c e . T h e r e a r e a n r i e t y o f
r e a s o n s f o r t h i s , due t o mine o p e r a t i n g
r e s t r i c t i o n s , poor maintenance p l a n n i n g ,
and c h a n g i n g mine p l a n s . To d r i l l a n g l e
h o l e r e q u i r e s more s k i l l f u l and c o n s c i e n -
tious operators. H o l e s t e n d t o b e plug-
ged i f t h e b i t is b u r i e d i n s o f t m a t e r i a l ,
h o l e c a v e s i n on t h e d r i l l p i p e and b i t ,
l a c k of b a i l i n g a i r , o r machine is t o o
l i g h t i n weight t o d r i l l t h a t p a r t i c u l a r
h o l e d i a m e t e r chosen by mine p l a n n e r s .
Nulti-pass d r i l l i n g r e q u i r e s s k i l l e d
o p e r a t o r s t o make up and remove d r i l l
t o o l s f a s t , w i t h s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n t o de-
tails. The d i f f e r e n c e i n p e n e t r a t i o n
r a t e p r o d u c t i o n when a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g
is l e s s s e v e r e i n s o f t m a t e r i a l t h a n i t
is when d r i l l i n g i n h a r d m a t e r i a l . An
i r o n mine d r i l l i n g i n h e m a t i t e o r e w i t h
n i n e d r i l l s w e i g h i n g a p p r o x i m a t e l y 160,000
l b s . ( 7 2 , 0 0 0 k g ) and u s i n g 9-7/8" (250mm)
tri-cone r o t a r y b i t s average t e n percent
less d r i l l h o l e p r o d u c t i o n when d r i l l i n g
a t 20 d e g r e e a n g l e h o l e . T h i s mine h a s
r e c e n t l y gone t o v e r t i c a l d r i l l i n g due t o
o p e r a t i n g i n s o f t e r m a t e r i a l , and h a s no
p r o b l e m s w i t h f r a g m e n t a t i o n and minimal
t o e problems. They a l s o d r i l l 80 - 90
f e e t (24 - 27 m e t e r s ) which m i n i m i z e s i n -
c l i n e d h o l e d r i l l i n g b e n e f i t s . One main
r e a s o n t h i s mine a l s o u s e d a n g l e h o l e
d r i l l i n g was f o r bench s l o p e c o n t r o l when
t h e bench w a l l . B i t l i f e is reduced a t
t h i s i r o n mine w i t h a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g ,
but is not a s i g n i f i c a n t f a c t o r .
Four c o a l mines i n a r e m o t e , extrem-
e l y c o l d p a r t of t h e w o r l d have t w e n t y
d r i l l s weighing over 320,000 l b s . ( 1 4 5 ,
000 k g ) u s i n g 12-114" ( 3 1 1 m ) t r i - c o n e
c a r b i d e medimum s o f t r o t a r y b i t s a v e r -
a g i n g 820 f e e t (250111) p e r e i g h t h o u r
s h i f t production r a t e , while d r i l l i n g a t
b o t h 1 5 and 30 d e g r e e a n g l e s . T h r u s t
f o r c e is 7 0 , 0 0 0 t o 8 0 , 0 0 0 l b s . ( 3 1 , 0 0 0 t o
3 6 , 0 0 0 k g ) , r o t a t i o n s p e e d of 90 - 100
(2,440mpm) v e l o c i t y . >:faximum d e p t h o f
d r i l l i n g is 180 f e e t ( 5 5 m ) . V e r t i c a l
d r i l l i n g a v e r a g e s t e n p e r c e n t h i g h e r pe-
netration rates. E x p l o s i v e is b u l k l o a d -
e d . Angle d r i l l i n g above 20 d e g r e e s some-
times becomes a problem due t o l o a d i n g o f
the holes. D r i l l p i p e and deck b u s h i n g
wear i n c r e a s e s w i t h i n c l i n e d d r i l l i n g .
Angle h o l e b i t l i f e a v e r a g e s 8 , 0 0 0 f e e t
(2,440111). T h e s e c o a l mines found t o e
b r e a k a g e and o v e r a l l d r i l l i n g t o b e b e s t
angles.
In s o u t h e a s t e r n U . S . A . a t a number of
c o a l m i n e s , t h e y have qone t o d r i l l i n g a t
20 d e g r e e a n g l e s w i t h d e p t h s i n e x c e s s of
u s i n g 9" (229mm) and 9 - 7 / S W (250mrr.) t r i -
cone s o f t t o medimum c a r b i d e and t o o t h
F r a g m e n t a t i o n and t o e b r e a k a g e
were a p r o b l e m . By ,going t o a n g l e h o l e
d r i l l i n g a t 20 d e g r e e s t h e i n c r e a s e i n
f r a g m e n ~ a z i o nand improved by 20 D e r c e n t .
By k e e p i n g burden d i s t a n c e a t 30 f e e t
( 6 m ) , b u t i n c r e a s i n n s p a c i n q from 30 f e e t
! 9 . l m ) T O 3 2 . 5 f e e t (9.9171) an e i c n t p e r -
c e n t . By k e e p i n g burden d i s t a n c e a t 20
f e e t ( 6 m ) , b u t i n c r e a s i n g s p a c i n g from
30 f e e t ( 9 . l m ) t o 3 2 . 5 f e e t (9.9m) an
e i g h t p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n volume b l a s t e d
and r e d u c t i o n o f h o l e d r i l l e d was r e a l -
ized.
Angle h o l e d r i l l i n g m i l l g i v e t h e
b l a s t e r t h e a b i l i t y t o widen t h e s p a c i n g ,
r e s u l t i n g i n more p r o d u c t i o n and d r i l l -
ing l e s s hole. In c a s e s where t h r o w
b l a s t i n g is d e s i r e d t h e a n g l e d r i l l i n g
and b l a s t i n g c o s t s must b e weighed w i t h
c o s t s a v i n g s of n o t h a v i n g t o c a s t a
l a r g e p e r c e n t a g e of o v e r b u r d e n t o t h e
spoil.
Fragment a t i o n
Good f r a g m e n t a t i o n r e s u l t s i n a v a r i -
e r y of advantages such a s , high product-
i v i t y of e q u i p m e n t , l o w e r o v e r a l l c o s t ,
r e d u c e d m a i n t a n a n c e , and t h e r e d u c t i o n
of s e c o n d a r y b l a s t i n g .
I t is w e l l known t h a t r h e d r i l l h o l e
p r o v i d e s b e s t r e s u l t s when i t is p a r a l l e l
t o t h e f a c e . Angle h o l e d r i l l i n g w i l l
allow t h e h o l e t o be d r i l l e d p a r a l l e l t o
t h e f a c e . Loading o f h o l e s from t o p t o
bottom, m i l l then hold t h e burden d i s -
t a n c e uniform and, i f loaded p r o p e r l y ,
m i l l p r o d u c e d e s i r e d r e s u l t s of f r a g m e n t -
a tion.
Angle h o l e d r i l l i n g r e q u i r e s more ex-
p e r i e n c e and c a r e on t h e o p e r a t o r s p a r t
o r t h e mine w i l l pav f o r l a c k o f c a r e i n
h i g h e r maintenance c o s t s .
Except i n v e r y s o f t d r i l l i n p , v i b r a -
t i o n l e v e l s i n c r e a s e when i n c l i n e d d r i l l -
. An o p e r a t o r by e x p e r i e n c e , f e e l ,
o r m a t c h i n e h i s m e t e r s and g a u g e s must
be c o n s c i o u s of c h a n g i n q c o n d i t i o n s i n
t h e h o l e , The a b i l i t y t o c h a n g e r o t a -
t i o n s p e e d s , t h r u s t l o a d , and down f e e d
r a t e i s alwavs a t h i s f i n g e r t i p s . I f
t h e operator d o e s n ' t adapt t o t h e s e
c h a n s i n g c o n d i t i o n s , v i b r a t i o n can b e i n -
P.uced t o l e v e l s d e t r i m e n t a l t o xhe d r i l l
and d r i l l t o o l s . I f c o n t i n u e d on a pro-
longed b a s i s t h e a v a i l a b i l i t y of equip-
c e n t is hampered and t h i s shows up i n
r a i s i n g maintenance c o s t s . llines should
c o n x i n u a l l y t r a i n and m o n i t o r t h e i r d r i l l
operators. I f a mine h a s good o p e r a t o r
p r a c t i c e s , e x p e r i e n c e shows t h a t a d d i -
t i o n a l maintenance c o s t s t h a t a r e in-
c u r r e d c a n b e o f f s e t by t h e g a i n i n c o s t
s a v i n p s of p r o d u c r i o n and f r a g m e n t a t i o n
i n a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g . Q u o t i n g mine
p e r s o n n e l t h r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d who have
had e s p e r i e n c e w i t h a n g l e h o l e d r i l l i n g :
"LYith c o r r e c t o p e r a t o r u n d e r s t a n d i n g t h e
d r i l l i n g equipment m i l l m a i n t a i n a c c e p t -
a b l e l e v e l s of mainrenance c o s t s . "
i r e a s of h i g h ~ a i n t e n a n c ec o s t s r e -
p o r t e d by mine p e r s o n n e l a r e :
o B i t l i f e is r e d u c e d
o V i b r a r i o n on rotar:: machinery is
i n c r e a s e d . shortening t h e l i f e of
b e a r i n q s and i e a r i n g .
o !.last , rower m a i n t e n a n c e is i n -
c r e a s e d due t o h i g h e r v i b r a t i o n
levels.
T h e r e is l e s s m a i n t e n a n c e o f r o t a t i n g
m a c h i n e r y , m a s t , and t o o l h a n d l i n g e q u i p -
ment i n s o f t f o r m a t i o n d r i l l i n g , w i t h
t h e r e v e r s e i n t h e c a s e of d r i l l i n g i n
hard formations. When m u l t i p l e p a s s
( d e e p h o l e ) d r i l l i n g t h e o p e r a t o r and
maintenance s k i l l l e v e l is b e t t e r than
when d r i l l i n g s i n g l e p a s s h o l e s .
A s t h e a n g l e of d r i l l i n g i n c l i n e d
h o l e is i n c r e a s e d , more v i b r a t i o n is de-
v e l o p e d which i n c r e a s e s m a i n t e n a n c e .
A g a i n , though t h e i d e a l a n g l e t o d r i l l
would b e a p p r o a c h i n g 4 5 d e g r e e s , due t o
maintenance and l o a d i n g problems, it
would a p p e a r 1 3 t o 25 d e g r e e s i n t h e
most d e s i r a b l e a n g l e t o u s e i n i n c l i n e d
drilling.
Secondary C o n s i d e r a t i o n s
T r e n d s I n B l a s t Hole D r i l l i n g
D r i l l Ecuiprnent D e s i g n
T h e r e i s , and a l w a y s w i l l b e r e s t r i c -
t i o n s i n t h e d e s i g n o f d r i l l equipment
and t o o l s t o c o v e r t h e myriad of n e e d s
i n t h e d r i l l i n g industry. Generally,
t h e problem does not l i e i n one a r e a ,
such a s mine p l a n n i n g , d e s i g n e r ' s in-
a b i l i t y t o meet b l a s t e r s r e q u i r e m e n t s ,
o r l a c k of knowledge and e x p e r i e n c e o f
e n g i n e e r i n g t e c h n o l o g y . Tie b a s i c prob-
l e m is e c o n o m i c s . D r i l l equipment and
d r i l l t o o l m a n u f a c t u r e r s , d u e t o eco-
nomic f a c t o r s , c a n n o t meet e a c h and
every customer requirement.
Today, d r i l l equipment t e c h n o l o g y p r o -
i d e s d e s i g n of i n c l i n e d d r i l l i n g from
v e r t i c a l up t o 30 d e g r e e s . T h i s a p p e a r s
t o be adequate, unless t h e b l a s t tech-
n o l o g y c a n d e t e r m i n e a way t o l o a d h o l e s
a t h i g h e r a n g l e s up t o 45 d e g r e e s .
D r i l l t o o l h a n d l i n g r e q u i r e s improve-
m e n t s b e x a d e t o s p e e d up c y c l e t i m e r o
change d r i l l s t r i n g s e c t i o n s . One m e t -
hod is t o d e s i g n a p i p e s t o r a g e r a c k
t h a t o p e n s from t h e b o t t o m t o q u i c k l y
t h r e a d and u n t h r e a d d r i l l s t r i n g s . T h i s
p a t e n t e d d e s i g n is c u r r e n t l y c n d e r f i e l d
testing.
The b a s i c a d v a n t a g e s a r e :
o Past operation - Generally reducing
t h e t i m e t o make and b r e a k a j o i n t .
o A c t s a s a ~ i p ep o s i t i o n e r . t h e r e -
by e l i m i n a t i n g t h e n e e d f o r a p i p e
p o s i t i o n e r , which u s t i m e con-
suming and c o s t l y .
o U t i l i z e s o n e man o p e r a t i o n r e m o t e l y
from o p e r a t o r ' s s t a t i o n .
o From a s a f e t y s t a n d p o i n t , r e d u c e s
t h e p o s s i b i l i t y of i n a d v e r t e n t l y
dropping a d r i l l s t r i n g .
o Operates within reason. with bent
d r i l l s t r i n g s . misaligned rotary
m a c h i n e r y and d r i l l m a s t s ( t o w e r ) .
o Additional t i m e s a v i n g , s i n c e oper-
a t o r c a n b e g i n d r i l l i n a c v c l e be-
f o r e r e t r a c t i n g empty p i p e s t o r a g e
rack.
? I a s t cowers r e q u i r e back s t a y s t o i n -
cline d r i l l . I n t h e p a s t tern p e a r s
 f o l d i n g and f l u i d i c o p e r a t e s t y p e s have
been u s e d t o q u i c k l y change mast t o w e r
a n g l e s i n f i v e degree increments.
An a r e a which r e q u i r e d development
is t h e deck b u s h i n g t h a t g u i d e s t h e
d r i l l p i p e d u r i n g d r i l l i n g . R e s e a r c h is
n e c e s s a r y t o a l l o w f l e x i b i l i t y , shock
a b s o r b t i o n , and wear r e s i s t a n c e due t o
friction. The s t a n d a r d d e c k b u s h i n g p r e -
s e n t l y a v a i l a b l e is one o f t h e h i g h e s t
m a i n t e n a n c e i t e m s when i n c l i n e d d r i l l i n g .
Some r e s e a r c h is u n d e r way, b u t up t o now
no s a t i s f a c t o r y p r o d u c t i o n u n i t is a v a i l -
able.
Dust c o n t r o l s y s t e m s , which have
been d e s i g n e d and t e s t e d , a r e c a p a b l e of
c o n t r o l l i n g most d r i l l c u t t i n g s and d u s t ,
a s w e l l a s b e i n g c a p a b l e of working a t
v a r i o u s a n g l e s on mast t o w e r s . Addi-
t i o n a l d e s i g n i s needed t o work u n d e r
adverse conditions i n freezing climates
o r areas with w e t holes.
T h e r e is a n e e d f o r d r i l l i n g e q u i p -
ment t h a t i n c o r p o r a t e s a mast t o w e r t o
d r i l l m u l t i p l e h o l e s s i m u l t a n e o u s l y , and
t o a n g l e d r i l l up t o 30 d e g r e e s on two
o r more q u a d r a n t s . P o s s i b l y o n e o r b o t h
o f t h e s e f e a t u r e s may b e r e q u i r e d on a
single unit.
I f t h e mast t o w e r were t i l t a b l e on
a t l e a s t two q u a d r a n t s , i n c l i n e d d r i l l -
i n g would b e s u i t a b l e t o d r i l l b o t h p a r -
a l l e l t o an open f a c e , a s w e l l a s p a r -
a l l e l t o a t o e of t h e bench a b o v e , see
F i g u r e No. 3 . T h i s would h e l p t o s t a -
b i l i z e o u t s i d e p e r i m e t e r p i t w a l l s , espe-
c i a l l y i n r o c k q u a r r y mines w i t h h i g h
face walls.
With t h e u s e of c o m p u t e r s t o d a y , t h e
a b i l i t y t o c o l l e c t c o p i o u s amounts o f
d a t a p r o v i d e s a m u l t i t u d e of a v e n u e s t o
s o p h i s t i c a t e d r i l l i n g and b l a s t i n g t a s k s .
Automated equipment is h e r e on a l i m i t e d
s c a l e , b u t e f f i c i e n t mine o p e r a t i o n s t i l l
r e l a y s on o p e r a t o r / b l a s t e r t e c h n i a u e and
e x p e r i e n c e . T h i s can be g r e a t l y reduced
by g a i n i n g t h e same r e s p e c t from com-
puters.
D r i l l i n g t o t a l l y w i t h micro-pro-
c e s s o r s may b e a f u t u r e p o s s i b i l i t y .
T h e r e a r e numerous m a n u f a c t u r e r s of micro-
p r o c e s s i n g u n i t s which r e c o r d t i m e , r a t e
of p e n e t r a t i o n , d e p t h , b i t l i f e , and s o
on, but t h e s e u n i t s a r e only glving t h e
p a r t i a l need o f t o t a l programmed d r i l l i n g
and b l a s t i n g .
centrated properly. I f t h e c a v i t y is
poorly p l a c e d t h i s could r e s u l t i n over-
b r e a k and f l y r o c k . D r i l l t o o l manufac-
t u r e r s have a t t e m p t e d t o e e v e l o p d r i l l
b i t s , e n l a r g e r s , and e x t r a c t o r s w i t h o u t
t o o much i m p a c t on t h e i n d u s t r y , see
F i g u r e No. 4 .
An o f f s h o o t o f chambering h o l e s is
t o e n l a r g e o r reduce d r i l l h o l e diameters
while d r i l l i n g a hole. This achieves
s i m i l a r r e s u l t s t o chambering w i t h c o s t
s a v i n g s t o d r i l l i n g and b l a s t i n g , i m -
p r o v e s f r a g m e n t a t i o n and t o e p r o b l e m s ,
h i g h d e n s i t y f l o a t e r s , and o v e r b r e a k a t
t h e upper end of t h e f r e e f a c e .
These l i m i t a t i o n s d e s c r i b e d ' i n d r i l l
equipment and d r i l l t o o l t e c h n o l o g y a r e
a f f e c t i n g t h e c o s t o f d r i l l i n g and b l a s -
t i n g i n o v e r a l l mine p r o d u c t i o n .
References
1. Nelmark, J a c k D . , 1983. B l a s t Hole
D r i l l D e s i g n and h p p l i c a t i o n , p r e -
s e n t e d a t A u s t r a l i a n : I i n e r a l Found-
ation, Brisbane, Australia
February 21 -2 5 , 1983.
2 . Nelmark, J a c k D . , 1979. L a r g e Dia-
meter B l a s t Hole D r i l l i n g P a s t ,
P r e s e n t and F u t u r e , p r e s e n t e d a t
.American Mining C o n g r e s s , Los
Angeles, C a l i f o r n i a
September 2 3 - 2 6 , 1 9 7 9 .
3 . Hartman, Howard L . , " S u r f a c e \ l i n i n g w ,
AIME, N e w York, New York, 1 9 6 8 .
4 . G r e g o r y , C. E . , E x p l o s i v e s F o r North
American E n g i n e e r s , Second E d i t i o n ,
T r a n s Tech P u b l i c a t i o n s , 1 9 7 9 .
5 . H e m p h i l l , G a r y , B . , B l a s t i n g Opera-
t i o n s , :!cGrav-Hill BOOK Com~any.
Acknowledgement
Xike T r a c y , Xanager of :.line
E n g i n e e r i n g , D r m o n d Coal C o . , I n c .

Chambered H o l e s
An i n t e r e s t i n g s u b j e c t is chambering
of d r i l l h o l e s . The need t o chamber (make
b i g g e r ) can s o l v e a m u l t i t u d e of p r o b l e m s .
some of which c a n b e s o l v e d w i t h i n c l i n e d
drilling. "Chambering" o r " b u l l i n g " of
h o l e s mould a l l o w a o r e e n e r g y t o b e p l a c e d
a t any s t r a t e g i c p o i n t a l o n g t h e d e p t h .
In nany d r i l l i n g s i r u a t i o n s chambering
would a l l o w a much s m a l l e r l e s s c o s t l y
c i r i l l , which c o u l d r e d u c e d r i l l i n g and
5 l a s t i n g c o s t s d r a s t i c a l l y . When cham-
b e r i n g d r i l l h o l e s c a r e must be t a k e n t o
p l a c e enlarzeci h o l e i n t h e c o r r e c t loca-
c i o n s t o e n s u r e e n e r g y of b l a s t is con-