We do not live in an ideal world, and in this not-ideal world we are faced with difficult drilling sites that can challenge even the most experienced environmental and engineering consultant or driller. For limited access sites in particular'those that, due to the footprint or overhead obstacles, limit the tools and resources that can be used'portable drill rigs that can be easily assembled and disassembled on location are often the best solution. In this blog post Bill Poupis, Sr. Vice President, answers questions about portable rigs and their capabilities.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of pneumatic drilling rig for construction project. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.
If you would like to learn more about the differences between restricted and limited access drilling, read Bill's previous post on the topic here.
The most obvious difference between portable and traditional drill rigs is that portable ones are built with an aluminum frame and can be disassembled, packed into the bed of a pick-up truck, taken in pieces to the site, and reassembled where drilling will occur. This sidesteps a lot of issues regarding access that would make traditional rigs unsuited for the project.
Because portable rigs are typically smaller than traditional options, they may also be more limited in their functionality, and may not be able to achieve the same depths as more typical rigs.
It varies, but portable rigs are typically about 36' wide, so assume three feet. They're aluminum and are lightweight, which is great when carrying them to a project site, but when needed we can add weight. For example, to drill deeper, the rig requires more hold back at the top so we would add weight to the machine.
Portable rigs are best suited for shallow investigations, but we have achieved depths of 190 feet using them.
Our electric portable rig requires 220 volts, three phase, 60 amps. There are occasions where we hook up into the panel of the facility if it's available to us, but for the most part we run off our own power that we keep located outside the building. In those situations where we do use the facility's power, we don't do the hookup'if there's a janitor or custodian, we ask them to manage it, or we subcontract a licensed electrician.
Our portable rigs were originally designed for Geotech. It's a mud rotary system, so no air, sonic, and it's set up specifically for Geotech investigations. We can do environmental work with them, but in those cases fluid must be used to advance the bit and casing. We've achieved depths of 190 feet, but drilling depth is dependent on the drill location.
Interested in learning more about portable rigs and other drilling solutions for limited and restricted access project sites? Watch Bill's on-demand webinar, Limited Access Drilling: How to Do More With Less.
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If you have a project where a portable drill rig might be the best solution, you can request a quote now.
1. Question: What types of integrated drilling rigs are there?
Answer: According to the different parts that perform work, they are divided into:
Top hammer type integrated machine drill,
Down-the-hole integrated drilling rig,
Rotary integrated drilling rig
2. Question: What is the difference between top hammer type, down-the-hole type and Rotary type?
Answer:
(1) Top hammer drilling rigs mainly use the hydraulic rock drill located at the upper end of the slide frame to perform work.
The common aperture range is: 64mm ~ 127mm.
By replacing drill bits of different specifications, different apertures can be switched. It is suitable for the entire hard rock layer without cracks. Considering that the flow rate of the equipped air compressor is usually about 8 cubic meters, the actual drilling depth is not recommended to exceed the depth of 4 drill pipes;
(2) Down-the-hole drilling rigs mainly use the impactor located at the bottom of the drill pipe to perform work.
The common aperture range is: 90mm ~ 225mm.
By replacing impactors and drill bits of different specifications, different apertures can be switched, and it is suitable for perforating various rock formations;
(3) The roller-type drilling rig mainly relies on hydraulic pressure and a rotary mechanism to perform work.
The commonly used hole diameter range is 180mm ~ 300mm, which is suitable for softer rock formations.
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit water swivel for drilling.
3. Question: The engine power of a topping hammer drilling rig is small. Is it more fuel-efficient than a down-the-hole drilling rig?
Answer: The air compressor of the top hammer drilling rig is relatively small, with a flow rate of no more than 10 cubic meters and a pressure of no more than 12 kilograms.
Therefore, the engine power of the top hammer integrated drilling rig is relatively small.
It can be used in hard rock with a hole diameter of no more than 115mm and no cracks in the rock layer.
Under working conditions, top hammer drilling rigs have obvious fuel-saving advantages.
4. Question: Why is a top hammer drilling rig more expensive than a down-the-hole drilling rig of the same diameter?
Answer: Because the rock drill of the top hammer drilling rig is expensive.
5. Question: What factors determine the dust removal effect of an integrated drilling rig?
Answer:
(1) The speed of the dust removal motor. The higher the speed of the dust removal motor, the better the dust collection effect.
(2) The number of dust filter elements. The greater the number of dust removal filter elements, the better the dust collection effect.
6. Question: Will the operation of the integrated drilling rig be complicated? Is it easy to find operators?
Answer: The operation of an integrated drilling rig is more complicated than that of a split drilling rig.
It is recommended that operators who have experience driving construction machinery such as excavators or loaders transfer to operating integrated drilling rigs.
After a short period of training, they can be proficient in operation and maintenance.
7. Question: We are a newly opened mine, so the integrated drilling rig is not suitable?
Answer: For newly opened mines, excavators and other equipment will first come on site to make three connections and one level.
The excavators will build the road to the top of the mountain, and then the integrated drilling rig will perform penetration and blasting operations from top to bottom.
It should be noted that when selecting an integrated drilling rig for a newly opened mine, in addition to confirming the climbing ability of the drilling rig, you must also pay attention to the driving speed of the drilling rig.
Because there are fewer working platforms in newly opened mines and they need to enter and exit the site frequently, a drilling rig with a faster driving speed can gain more drilling time in a day and save waiting time for subsequent processes such as blasting, loading, transportation, and platooning.
8. Question: If we replace the split drill rig we used before with an all-in-one drill, can the previous impactor and drill bit still be used?
Answer: The integrated down-the-hole drilling rigs currently on the market are basically with high wind pressure, and the wind pressure is about 20 kg.
If the split drill you used before was also a high-pressure drill, and the design hole diameter of the mine has not changed, the impactor and drill bit can continue to be used on the integrated drill.
9. Question: The integrated drilling rig can automatically change the rod and does not require a laborer to carry the drill rod.
However, our mine requires that every hole must be measured, so do I still have to have a laborer to measure the hole?
Answer: If Party A requires the depth of each hole to be measured, or even extreme requirements to measure the angle, it is recommended that when choosing an integrated drilling rig, choose an integrated drilling rig that comes standard with automatic hole depth measuring functions and angle display functions.
An integrated drilling rig with automatic hole depth measurement is standard. Every hole drilled will measure the hole depth and display it on the cab screen.
It can also count the cumulative hole depth. The integrated drilling rig comes standard with automatic angle display.
When drilling pre-split holes, it automatically displays the angles in two directions, allowing the hole to be formed quickly in one go without the need for repeated manual measurements.
10'Question: When purchasing an integrated drilling rig, should you choose a foreign brand or a Chinese brand?
Answer: (1) Look at the budget. From a price point of view, foreign brands are usually more expensive than Chinese brands.
(2) Look at the service. Understand the spare parts supply and after-sales service organizations of different brands of drilling rigs in the region, and see which drilling rig brand has a more sufficient supply of parts and more timely services in the region.
(3) Long-termism. Integrated drilling rigs have a longer service life. In order to ensure guaranteed service and parts supply during the entire life cycle of the drilling rig, social background factors should be comprehensively considered and brands with longer vitality in the future should be selected.
If you want to learn more, please visit our website water swivel drilling.