Assiut University Third Year Mining
Faculty of Engineering Drilling Methods Applications
Mining & Metall. Department Exercises
Chapter (1)
Answer the following questions:
1- Explain why drilling is an essential process for mineral exploration?
2- Drilling is very old. Explain briefly the historical development of drilling.
3- The two methods rotary and percussion drilling are still the basis of all
conventional drilling techniques. Show a brief classification of them.
4- What are the general guidelines used to determine which drilling method is
necessary for the operation.
5- What are the properties that would be expected to have the greatest influence
on the drilling performance of the bit?
6- Draw a chart shows the optimal drilling methods in respect to borehole
diameter and rock strength.
7- Give general classification for drilling bits used with different drilling
methods
8- Compare between down-the-hole hammer drills and top hammer drills
9- What are the differences between percussive drilling methods and rotary
drilling methods?
10- Mention the most important rotary drilling methods
11- Describe briefly the following:
i- Cable tool drilling method
ii- Down the hole drilling method
iii- Top hammer drilling method
iv- Auger drilling method
v- Reverse circulation drilling method
vi- Core drilling method
vii- Non-core drilling method
viii- Heavy rotary blast hole drilling method
ix- Rotary percussion drilling method
12- Compare between the various types of core barrels that are used to
produce a core sample by diamond drilling.
Assiut University Third Year Mining
Faculty of Engineering Drilling Methods Applications
Mining & Metall. Department Exercises
Chapter (2)
1- Discuss briefly the most important factors affecting penetration rate.
2- Give a classification of bit types that are used with the main types of drilling
machines.
3- The collected information from drill monitoring is used to characterize rock,
explain the rock characterization by monitoring and give an example.
4- Discuss Measurement While Drilling system (MWD) and show the system
description?
5- Write short notes on drill productivity evaluation by monitoring
6- Show how can you determine rotary drilling rate prediction models for
conical and spherical tooth?
7- What are the best models developed for the three drill types: rotary drills,
down the hole drills and hydraulic top hammer drills?
8- A medium soft formation is drilled using rotary drilling machine having
roller type bit from the conical tooth. The roller bit rotates at 70 rpm. The
weight on the bit is 50 KN and the drill ability index is 5 kN/mm. If the bit
diameter is 6 inch, what would be the predicted penetration rate? Calculate
the penetration rate for the same conditions if the bit having spherical tooth.
9- For drilling boreholes in hard formation having drill ability of 10 kN/mm,
rotary drilling machine with roller cutter of conical tooth was used. If the
weight on bit is 80 kN, the hole diameter is 12 inch and the bit rotates at 60
rpm. Calculate the predicted penetration rate and what would be the
predicted penetration rate if the bit replaced by roller cutter of spherical
tooth?
10- For drilling boreholes in soft formation, rotary drilling machine with
blade bit was used. The compressive strength (σc) of the rock is 60 MPa. If
the weight on bit is 80 kN, the hole diameter is 12 inch and the bit rotates at
60 rpm. Calculate the predicted penetration rate.
11- Mention the drilling rate prediction models for rotary and percussion
drilling
12- Calculate the drilling penetration rate for a rotary drill using tri-cone
roller bit under the following conditions:
Rock Type WOB, RPM Diameter, D. Index, PR,
kN mm kN/mm m/hr
Medium hard 50 70 152 5 147.4-
Hard formation 80 60 152 10 154.3
Very hard F. 100 40 152 15
13- Calculate the penetration rate for rotary drilling using the prediction
models for the following types of rocks applying the given conditions:
PR=1.05
Rock types UCS, WOB, Diameter, RPM PR,
MPa kg mm m/min
Marble 64.9 5935 251 120 0.93
“ “ 11.4 6127 251 119 2.72
“ “ 21.4 3063 251 120 1.62
Clayed limestone 45.1 3981 165 75 1.01
Sandstone 70.5 1493 165 72 0.335
PR=1.05 =0.93 m/min.
14- Calculate the penetration rate for down the hole percussive drilling
using the prediction models for the following types of rocks applying the
given conditions:
PR=3.24 …
Rock Type Operating Piston Rebound PR,
pressure, diameter, d, No. m/min
P, bar mm Rn
Limestone 7 57 42 0.375
“ “ 7 57 68 0.15
Dolomite 8 43 51 0.23
PR=3.24 =0.375 m/min
15- Calculate the penetration rate for top hammer percussive drilling using
the prediction models for the following types of rocks applying the given
conditions:
PR=0.47
.
Rock Type UCS, Blow Quartz PR,
MPa Frequ., content% m/min.
bpm
Limestone 123.8 2520 - 0.68
Sandstone 20.1 3600 17 3.34
Dolomite 68 3600 - 1.06
Serpentine 69.1 2350 - 0.90
With my best wishes
Prof. Dr. M. A. Sayed
Assiut University Third Year Mining
Faculty of Engineering Drilling Methods Applications
Mining & Metall. Department Exercises
Chapter (3)
1- Discuss briefly pitting and trenching as a method for deep sampling, and
show what are the main advantages and disadvantages of this method?
2- Describe auger-drilling machine that used in drilling and sampling and what
are the procedures for drilling and sampling by this method?
3- Piston sampler used to obtain deep samples on engineering sites for soil
mechanics tests. Describe it and what are the procedures for sampling by this
type?
4- Describe window sampler which used for sampling and what are the
procedures for sampling by this type?
5- Describe Holman type sampler which used for sampling and what are the
procedures for sampling by this type?
6- Give a comparison between piston, window and Holman type samplers that
used for sampling and what is the best sampler type?
7- Percussion drills mounted on trailers are commonly known as wagon drills.
Describe that machine and what are the procedures for drilling and sampling
by this type?
8- Describe cable tool method for water well drilling and explain how it works?
9- What are the advantages and disadvantages of the cable tool method for
water well drilling?
10- The cable tool method is not applicable in some drilling conditions.
Mention the most known conditions?
11- Mention the reasons that make some engineers are specifying the use
of cable tool rigs in geothermal production zones?
12- Rotary drilling is the most common drilling method in both water and
geothermal well drilling. Show how is the rotary drilling rig works?
13- What are the most known types of drilling bits used with rotary
drilling method? Show how can you select the suitable bit type?
14- Write short notes on types of drilling fluids and what are their most
important functions?
15- Hydrostatic pressure allows the fluid to support the borehole wall and
is a function of the density or weight of the mud column. Show how can you
determine the hydrostatic pressure in the water well? Give an example.
16- Complete the following:
i- One of the more popular methods for drilling geothermal wells is the air
hammer method. It is especially suited to drilling ……. and hard ………
formations. (igneous and metamorphic)
ii- It is not a true ……. method, but a …….. method adapted to a rotary rig.
A pneumatic hammer, similar in action to a large ……., operates at the
……. of the drill pipe on 100psi or higher compressed air. (rotary,
percussion, jackhammer, down-hole end)
iii- The hammer face has……. inserts to provide chipping capabilities. Air
hammers are available in….. to at least …. diameter and will provide
between approximately……. strokes/min. (tungsten carbide, 3 in. 17 in. ,
800 to ……2,000)
iv- The drill pipe and hammer are rotated slowly so the inserts continually
strike a new surface to provide ……. and drill a……. Hammer exhaust or
excess air or both is directed to ……. away as they are formed, …….and
……. drilling rates from 50 to 100% faster than tricone rollers. (even
penetration, straight hole, clean the chips, providing a clean surface,
increasing)
v- The exhaust air carries…….. up the annular space and out …... Foams
can be utilized to reduce the pressure in the …….. Large hammers require
……. of air at ….. pressures. Compressors and their operation
significantly……. costs.( cuttings, the hole, borehole, large volumes,
high, increase)
17- Describe with help of sketch the important components of the reverse
circulation method for water well drilling and explain briefly how does it
work?
Assiut University Third Year Mining
Faculty of Engineering Drilling Methods Applications
Mining & Metall. Department Exercises
Chapter (4)
1) What does “an ore” mean, discuss briefly the main categories for ore
reserves?
2) Tabular ore bodies with a low dip are indicated by diamond drill holes.
Discuss with the help of sketches the different methods of ore reserve
calculations for these ores.
3) A small stratiform copper deposit is outlined by number of vertical diamond
drill holes. The distance between holes is 75 m. It is required to calculate
drill indicated ore reserves and average grade using various methods. The
areas determined for each cross-section and average grades are shown in the
table below. The specific gravity of the ore is 3.27 t/m3.
Section A B C D E
Area, m2 1195 3310 2995 2005 1551
Grade, % 4.45 3.23 3.48 3.88 3.95
4) You are given a vertical section through two drill-holes X1 and X2, in
copper deposit. The distance between X1 and X2 is 80 m. The average
lengths and grades from the two bore holes are 45 m, 4 % and 10 m, 1 %
respectively. Determine the area of copper ore between the drill holes, use
the meter % and percentage method to determine the average grade. If there
were a negative correlation, what would be the preferred method?
5) Define the cut-off-grade; the following table gives some intersections of copper mineral.
Show which of them can be defined as an ore and which can be defined as non-ore. Using
the standard cut-off-grade and the economic mining width.
True 1.31 4.53 5.20 8.27 5.20 1.34
thickness, m
Grade, % 1.51 1.20 0.73 1.81 1.73 2.20
6) You are given a vertical section through two drill-holes X1 and X2, in
copper deposit. The distance between X1 and X2 is 180 m. The average
lengths and grades from the two bore holes are 55 m, 4.5 % and 25 m, 2.8 %
respectively. Determine the area of copper ore between the drill holes, use
the meter % and percentage method to determine the average grade. If there
were a negative correlation, what would be the preferred method?
7) Three adjacent bore holes (A, B and C) intersecting an iron ore and jointed
for ore reserve calculation by triangular method. The values of thickness,
grade and angle at each borehole are: A (20m, 3.2%, 35 ○), B (35 m, 4%, 65○)
and C (25 m, 1.5%, 80○). Lengths of the lines between the holes are AB=80
m, BC=50m and AC=100 m. Determine the following:
i- The average grade by meter % and percentage methods.
ii- Determine the average thickness and grade by using weighting factor –
and compare the results.
iii- If the specific gravity of the iron ore is 3.19 t/m 3, what would be the ore
reserve?
8) A small Stratiform copper deposit is outlined by number of vertical diamond
drill holes. The distance between holes is 90 m. It is required to calculate
drill indicated ore reserves and average grade using various methods. The
areas determined for each cross-section and average grades are same in
problem (3) above. The specific gravity of the ore is 3.17 t/m 3. Compare the
results.
