Case Study

Our client was in the process of tendering out the Grade Control contract for their mine. They required all rigs to be fitted with drill monitors that measured ground hardness and the compressive strength upon ground conditions.

The Problem

We discovered our client client were not using MWD. Current MWD units available did not measure ground hardness.

OUR FINDINGS

No mining drill monitors were fitted with ground hardness monitoring. Drill monitors were only measuring depth of hole and not ground hardness. Hole depth accuracy was up to 2% incorrect end of each hole. All drill monitors were for single pass rigs and couldn’t count rods on or off.

 

THE RESEARCH PROCESS

Current drill monitors were for mining application, (blast hole rigs) only measuring depth of hole. The most advanced drill monitors were cost prohibitive. Most drill monitors were for the oil and gas industry. No drill monitors for the exploration or grade control application.

Read this case study of a client who required all rigs to be fitted with drill monitors that measured ground hardness and strength of ground conditions.
Read this case study of a client who required all rigs to be fitted with drill monitors that measured ground hardness and strength of ground conditions.

The Solution

To design and manufacture new MWDs specifically to the needs of our client and their project.

These drill monitors needed to measure ground hardness whilst drilling, were capable of counting rods on and off, collected data for analysis, and relayed GPS for accurate hole locations.

The Outcome

We designed and manufactured a MWD for our client’s project. All rigs fitted with MWD measured ground hardness, depth of the hole, and GPS location of the hole.

By doing this we improved mine planning and blast budgeting.

The MWD was designed and implemented for the start of the contract in 2013 and has been operating to this current day.

Our R&D department is looking at improving design and increasing the capability of the MWD over the next twelve months.

Read this case study of a client who required all rigs to be fitted with drill monitors that measured ground hardness and strength of ground conditions.