LDDE drills into abandoned non-flooded mine workings to extract coal, iron ore, and other minerals. Borehole construction is often challenging since drilling must be guided to pass through a mine roadway that is only a few meters wide. As a result, work must adhere to stringent health and safety regulations. To control any exhalation, Wellhead Control is required.
This project was completed using a rotary top drive drilling rig with direct circulation mud flush. The borehole design was specified by the client in consultation with the Environment Agency and the Coal Authority, as is customary. The superficial deposits were enclosed in a heavy-duty mild steel casing, the annulus was properly grouted, and pressure was tested to guarantee that any gas emissions would be controlled once the Wellhead Control was installed.
To avoid cross-contamination, the borehole was advanced to the base of all water aquifers, which were subsequently cased off according to Environment Agency guidelines. After this was carefully completed, the drill was progressed to a depth of 10 meters above the target seam using a guidance system. The annulus was entirely grouted and a third casing was installed to this depth. Drilling was then advanced, and the target roadway was successfully penetrated. The client was then given the completed borehole to install his vacuum pump and begin extracting gas.
The drill bit was gradually steered toward the target by oil industry specialists, and further casing was fitted and the annulus was thoroughly grouted. Following that, drilling was advanced into the target roadway.
The client was able to take command of the borehole after these basic operations were completed, and a vacuum device was installed to extract the gas.
LDDE has drilled a handful of these targeted boreholes to date with 100 percent success.
Our Track mounted drilling machines are Tata Hitachi EX200 & 210 drill rigs which are mounted with ELGI 550-200S compressors capable of drilling up to 10 meters in all Strata.
LG 550-200 compressors are installed in the EX 200 and EX 210.
These machines can drill up to 6 to 12 meters per minute (mine blast hole drilling). They are all track-mounted equipment that can drill on an incline with complete safety features.