Table of Contents

Drillers and Their Industry

Profile of a driller

Occupational skills

Working as part of a team

Drilling industry sectors

Drilling objectives

Introduction to drilling methods

Mathematics and Mechanics

Measurement and calculations

Velocity and flow rates

Mass, density, force, and pressure

Levers, torque, and rotation

Centre of gravity and stability

Stress and strength of materials

Hydraulics

Bit pressure and drill string loads

Drill rig ratings

Drill pipe stretch and elongation

Drilling Operations and Methods

Introduction

Cutting and drilling actions

Methods of drilling

The connection to the bit

Sampling

Cable-tool and hydraulic drilling

Cable-tool bits

Cable-tool operation

Auger drilling

Auger drilling practice

Rotary drilling

Rotary bits and tools

Rotary drilling practice

Rotary drilling tasks

Rotary Mud Drilling

Rotary Air Drilling

Slim-hole rotary and core drilling

Core drilling

Top-hole hammer drilling

Raise boring

Sonic drilling

Pile top drilling

Push or drive boring and sampling

Dutch cone probing

Vibracoring

In-hole water or mud hammer drilling

Coiled tube drilling

Vacuum drilling

Drills, Pipes, and Auxiliary Equipment

Drilling machines

Drilling machine rating capacity

Transmissions

Hoists and winches

Rig hydraulics

Drilling instruments

Pipes and pipe threads

Other drill strings

Drill string handling

Casing – hole design

Downhole motors and hammers

Compressors

Circulating pumps and swivels

Automated and remote control drilling

Maintenance

Rig maintenance

Engines

Transmissions

Maintaining the hydraulic systems

Filters

Vehicles

Compressors and air systems

Ancillary equipment and drilling tools

Safe use and care of tools

Electricity

Circulation Fluids and Grouting

Fluids for cleaning and stabilising

Drilling muds

The circulation system

Stabilisation using circulating fluids

Overcoming lost circulation using muds

Air and foam circulation

Testing and treating muds

Mud mixes for different drilling methods

Mud mixing and cleaning equipment

Stabilising and sealing boreholes with cement

Minimum requirements for cementing and sealing casing

Cementing and sealing casing practice

Sealing boreholes and casing with bentonite grout slurry

Tests and Measurements

Hole depth and diameter measurements

Surveying deep holes

Wire line surveys

Core orientation

Downhole inspection

Geophysical logging

Borehole fluid measurements

Test pumping water bores

Packer testing

Soil penetration tests

Measurement of subsurface movement

Measurement of formation pore pressure

Testing soil samples

Drilling Applications and Sectors

Introduction

Blast hole drilling – Surface

Blast hole drilling – underground

Environmental drilling and sampling

Foundation drilling

Geotechnical drilling

Geothermal drilling

Exploration drilling

Mineral production and development drilling

Oil/Gas drilling – Onshore

Oil/Gas drilling – Well control

Seismic drilling

Trenchless technology

Water exploration drilling

Water well drilling and construction

Well construction – Screen selection

Well construction – Screen placement

Well construction – Artificial packs

Well development

Well development procedures

Well construction – Eliminating contamination

Well maintenance and rehabilitation

Borehole decommissioning

Overcoming Downhole Problems

Decisions and problem solving

Deeper holes accentuate problems

Drill pipe sticking and recovery

Problem formations

Fishing principles

Fishing tools and their operation

Hazardous gases

Problems during well control procedures

Geology and Mapping for Drillers

Benefits of knowing geology

Some geological basics

Defining drillability and stability

Relating rock classification and structural geology to drillability and stability

Groundwater occurrence and movement

Occurrences of pressurised water

Map reading and use

Global positioning systems (GPS)

Information: Logs, Records, and Reports

Recording information

The driller’s log – What is it for?

Shift or daily reports

Records of drilling tools

Cost records

Hole records

Legal requirements for reporting

Workplace health, safety, environmental management, and reporting

A Guide to Rig and Crew Management

The driller’s broad responsibilities

The management process

Defining the objective

The drilling plan

Carrying out the drilling plan

Monitoring the drilling

Continuous improvement

Managing the workplace health, safety and environment (WHS&E)

The owner–operator

Tendering for work

Financial management

Conclusion

Appendixes

A. Abbreviations and Acronyms

B. Glossary of General Drilling Terms

C. Drilling Industry Associations and related bodies

D. References and Further Reading

Index

About the Author

The Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee Ltd authors this work, and is a not-for-profit industry body which formally represents all sectors of the Drilling Industry in matters relevant to vocational competence. It has a primary focus on assisting the industry to use professional practice.





Principal technical writer and editor: Robert Maxwell (Max) King MIEAust CPEng:


Associate of the Western Australian School of Mines (General Engineering). Member of the Institution of Engineers Australia (Chartered Professional Engineer). Diploma in Occupational Safety and Health (Curtin University Western Australia). Western Australian Underground Shift Supervisors Certificate. Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training - TAE40110. Diploma of Drilling Operations - RII50909, Advanced Diploma in Drilling Management - RII60409. 50 years’ experience in the mining and drilling industries including underground and surface mining, owner-operator, drilling engineer, site manager and operator using a number of different drilling methods.


Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee - Industry Steering Committee members:






Virginia Hilliard: Editor and industry committee Chair. CEO of Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee (ADITC). Chair, National Uniform Driller Licensing Committee. Member of the Institute of Quarrying. Member of International Society of Explosives Engineers: 21 years in the drilling industry

Leigh Davies: Chairman Australian Drilling Industry Training Committee; Managing Director, Davies International and Managing Director, Geotechnical Drilling Engineers: 43 years in the drilling industry

Bruce Keogh: Principal Technical Officer, Drilling, Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland: 37 years in the drilling industry

Gordon Stewart: Sales and Marketing Manager, Globaltech Corporation Pty Ltd: 17 years in the mining and exploration industry

Kerry Brydon: Project Manager NSW, Lucas Drilling Pty Ltd: 37 years in the drilling industry

Peter Kanck: Senior Manager – Product Development and Integration, Boart Longyear Asia Pacific: 40 years in the drilling industry





The Steering Committee also formally acknowledges industry expertise contributed during the development of this Edition by a range of industry members across all sectors of the drilling industry.

Reviews

"… an excellent reference guide and source of information in assisting myself and my business in developing and providing well informed, comprehensive and quality Training packages and Verification of Competency (VOC) tools in the field. … very much a planning tool providing information on techniques, shortfalls, resources, quality assurances, recording and safety"
—James Hall, ADITC "This book is a valuable industry resource."
—Tim Westcott, JSW Australia