A new face drilling rig for narrow tunnels and ... - Advanced Mining

obtain extensive data on the extent, formation, thickness
and potash content of the Stassfurt seam (K2).
In order to undertake this exploration programme
Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH opted for an Atlas Copco
all-hydraulic Diamec 262 drilling machine, which is being
employed in conjunction with a special wireline coring
system using the dry-drilling technique. The flushing
medium, in this case air, is cleaned by being passed
through a dust filter unit after exiting from the annulus.
The drill rig and its various fittings are mounted on a
specially built transport pallet.
With the wireline coring process the core bit is driven
by a rotating outer core barrel, while an inner core tube,
which is not part of the rotary movement, is located
within the outer barrel casing. This arrangement allows
the drill core to be pushed up undamaged into the inner
core tube, where a corecatcher installed in the inner
core tube detaches it from the rock at the end of the drill
run.
Issue 04 | 2010
TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
In order to recover the drill core the inner core tube is
released from the outer barrel by means of an overshot
tool and is then withdrawn from the hole using a wireline
winch. The outer core barrel and drillstring remain in the
hole and the complete outer barrel assembly (rotating
drillstring) is only withdrawn if and when the drill bit has
to be changed over
Exploration drilling programs at K+S
KALI’s Sigmundshall potash mine
Sigmundshall mine, which is located to the north-west
of Hanover near the town of Wunstorf, began operating
in 1896 as the ‘Wunstorf Potash Drilling Company’ and
was connected to the Steinhuder Meer railway in 1906.
The three active shafts, namely Sigmundshall, Kohlenfeld
and Weser, are all sited to the south-west of the zone.
Thyssen Schachtbau GmbH has been
engaged in exploration drilling work at this
site since March 2007. This involves both
horizontal and vertical drilling with hole
deviation using counterflush and wireline
coring methods.
The exploration work carried out at
the Weser shaft placed particularly high
demands on the operating crew and technical
equipment. As at Zielitz this operation used
The Weser project – wireline coring
with directed deviation.
(Foto: staff of consortium)
Drilling core
(Foto: staff of consortium)
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