Examples of Various Kinds

Examples of Various Kinds

of
of

DRILLING RIGS
DRILLING RIGS
J. David Rogers

One of te earliest diamond drilling ma!ines is te

steam"po#ered rig so#n ere in $%&'( re!overing
!ores for assessment of sallo# !oal deposits in
Illinois. From Illinois State Geological Survey

)rom a*out $%&&( sallo# +dr, *orings- for )rom a*out $%&&( sallo# +dr, *orings- for
geote!ni!al exploration utili.ed a /"man !re# #it geote!ni!al exploration utili.ed a /"man !re# #it
a simple 0"frame( su! as tat so#n ere( along a simple 0"frame( su! as tat so#n ere( along
#it a gas po#ered engine. 1is !ould *e set up #it a gas po#ered engine. 1is !ould *e set up
and *ro2en do#n *, and( in !onfined spa!es. and *ro2en do#n *, and( in !onfined spa!es.
0"frame rigs
0"frame rigs

0"frame rigs are still

0"frame rigs are still
utili.ed #orld #ide for
utili.ed #orld #ide for
drilling explorator,
drilling explorator,
*orings and advan!ing
*orings and advan!ing
large diameter
large diameter
!aissons( as te
!aissons( as te
example so#n ere.
example so#n ere.

1is is an earl,
1is is an earl,
example of a large
example of a large
diameter +*u!2et
diameter +*u!2et
auger- ex!avation for
auger- ex!avation for
a dam site in 3ontana
a dam site in 3ontana
Old S41 Sampler
Old S41 Sampler

1e original S41 sampler 1e original S41 sampler

#as developed *, te Go# #as developed *, te Go#
Division of te Ra,mond Division of te Ra,mond
5on!rete 4ile 5o. in te 5on!rete 4ile 5o. in te
late $%6&s late $%6&s

It used a $7& l* #eigt It used a $7& l* #eigt

dropping /& in!es( using dropping /& in!es( using
a rope drag line #rapped a rope drag line #rapped
around a !at ead( so#n around a !at ead( so#n
ere ere

8lo#!ounts are measured 8lo#!ounts are measured

in te field as te sampler in te field as te sampler
is driven into te ground is driven into te ground
Damage and
Damage and
Distur*an!e
Distur*an!e

Sampler soes
Sampler soes
and
and
eads
eads
*e!ome
*e!ome
in!reasingl, damaged
in!reasingl, damaged
and deformed #en
and deformed #en
used in granular
used in granular
materials( li2e !o**les
materials( li2e !o**les
and ro!2
and ro!2

1is distur*an!e
1is distur*an!e
invalidates
invalidates
!omparative
!omparative
measurements( su!
measurements( su!
as N
as N
spt spt
or 9N
or 9N
$ $
:
:
;& ;&
Smear and selvage
Smear and selvage

Drive samples sould *e Drive samples sould *e

assumed to *e distur*ed assumed to *e distur*ed

1eir perimeter is often 1eir perimeter is often

!overed #it a selvage of !overed #it a selvage of
smeared material tat ma, smeared material tat ma,
not *e representative of te not *e representative of te
a!tual ori.on *eing a!tual ori.on *eing
sampled sampled

1is selvage of gooe, 1is selvage of gooe,

material sould *e ligtl, material sould *e ligtl,
s!rapped to as!ertain #at s!rapped to as!ertain #at
te sample interval a!tuall, te sample interval a!tuall,
re!overed re!overed

Samples of Samples of cohesionless materials cohesionless materials( su! as !oarse ( su! as !oarse
sand 9so#n ere:( ma, not *e re!overa*le as neat sand 9so#n ere:( ma, not *e re!overa*le as neat
!,linders of !oerent material< esp. if sampling *elo# !,linders of !oerent material< esp. if sampling *elo#
te #ater ta*le. te #ater ta*le.
0dvantages of te S41 1est
0dvantages of te S41 1est

=suall, te most e!onomi!al metod of

testing

4rovides p,si!al sample for soil

!lassifi!ation

Long servi!e life of e>uipment

Vast S41 data*ase

Numerous empiri!al !orrelations #it

S41

Oter metods availa*le to supplement

#en more refinement ?ustified 9e.g.
li>uefa!tion anal,ses:
3ost 5ommon Errors #en
3ost 5ommon Errors #en
=sing S41 test
=sing S41 test

Damaged drive soes

Variation in ammer fall

Effe!t of over*urden pressure 9if not

!orre!ted:

Driving a stone aead of te sampler

@ollo# stem auger +>ui!2 !ondition- in

saturated !oesionless soils

5areless or inexperien!ed drilling !re#

@OLLOA )LIG@1
@OLLOA )LIG@1
0=GERS
0=GERS
Sampling
Sampling
troug ollo#
troug ollo#
fligt augers
fligt augers

@ollo# fligt augers @ollo# fligt augers

are !ommonl, are !ommonl,
emplo,ed in ig emplo,ed in ig
ground#ater ground#ater
!onditions !onditions

Drive samplers !an *e Drive samplers !an *e

inserted inside te inserted inside te
ollo# !,linders ollo# !,linders

Note sample Note sample

distur*an!e !aused *, distur*an!e !aused *,
penetration of te plug penetration of te plug

@ollo# fligt augers
@ollo# fligt augers

@ollo# fligt augers @ollo# fligt augers !an *e used #it most !an *e used #it most
!onventional drill rigs. 1e stems !ost more per lineal !onventional drill rigs. 1e stems !ost more per lineal
foot( *ut te ole !an *e advan!ed *et#een sampling foot( *ut te ole !an *e advan!ed *et#een sampling
rounds #itout aving to #itdra# te drill stems rounds #itout aving to #itdra# te drill stems
@ollo# )ligt
@ollo# )ligt
0ugers
0ugers

@ollo# fligt augers

@ollo# fligt augers
*egan appearing in te
*egan appearing in te
late $%6&s for drilling
late $%6&s for drilling
geote!ni!al *orings
geote!ni!al *orings
in running sands and
in running sands and
lo# !oesion materials
lo# !oesion materials

1is so#s a
1is so#s a
!onventional S41
!onventional S41
sampling *arrel *eing
sampling *arrel *eing
set inside ollo# fligt
set inside ollo# fligt
augers.
augers.
3=D RO10RB
3=D RO10RB
DRILLING
DRILLING

3ud rotar, drilling rigs

3ud rotar, drilling rigs
are t,pi!all, used for
are t,pi!all, used for
deeper appli!ations( su! as oles more tan
deeper appli!ations( su! as oles more tan
C& or $&& feet deep( *elo# te #ater ta*le
C& or $&& feet deep( *elo# te #ater ta*le
Rotar, Aells =suall, Drilled #it
Rotar, Aells =suall, Drilled #it
1ri!one 8its
1ri!one 8its
1e tri!one *it #as developed *, @uges 1ool 5o. in $%// to drill
deeper oil #ells. It as *een refined man, times sin!e ten. It
uses tree distin!tive rotating !utting eads( #it interior flusing
of te drill !uttings *, te drilling mud
Drilling 3ud
Drilling 3ud
5ir!ulation 1an2s
5ir!ulation 1an2s

3ud rotar, drilling

3ud rotar, drilling
emplo,s a dense drilling
emplo,s a dense drilling
fluid under its o#n
fluid under its o#n
,drostati! pressure to
,drostati! pressure to
support te #alls of an
support te #alls of an
open *oreole
open *oreole

1e drilling fluid is usuall,

1e drilling fluid is usuall,
!omprised of
!omprised of
bentonite
bentonite
(
(
*ut some drillers #ill use
*ut some drillers #ill use
soap or a variet, of oter
soap or a variet, of oter
agents( depending on
agents( depending on
lo!al experien!e
lo!al experien!e
Rotar, Rigs
Rotar, Rigs

Rotar, rigs #it teir masts extended. 0

Rotar, rigs #it teir masts extended. 0
#ater tru!2 usuall, a!!ompanies te rig( to
#ater tru!2 usuall, a!!ompanies te rig( to
provide te drilling fluid.
provide te drilling fluid.
Large 3ud
Large 3ud
Rotar, Drill Rig
Rotar, Drill Rig

3ost deep #ater #ells

3ost deep #ater #ells
are drilled #it larger
are drilled #it larger
mud rotar, rigs( li2e
mud rotar, rigs( li2e
tis Gardner"Denver
tis Gardner"Denver
$C&& series rig #it a
$C&& series rig #it a
7& ft mast.
7& ft mast.

1e *iggest eada!e
1e *iggest eada!e
is loss of !ir!ulation(
is loss of !ir!ulation(
most !ommon in
most !ommon in
limestone or ad?a!ent
limestone or ad?a!ent
to *ro2en ro!2 along
to *ro2en ro!2 along
faults
faults
DI))I5=L1
DI))I5=L1
5ONDI1IONS )OR
5ONDI1IONS )OR
S=8S=R)05E
S=8S=R)05E
S034LING
S034LING

5ommon !auses of !aving in a sallo#

*oreole
Sti!2, 5la,e, Silt
Sti!2, 5la,e, Silt

One of te most !allenging !onditions to drill

One of te most !allenging !onditions to drill
and sample in are sti!2, !la,e, silts( su! as
and sample in are sti!2, !la,e, silts( su! as
tose pi!tured ere< #i! sti!2 to te auger
tose pi!tured ere< #i! sti!2 to te auger
fligts
fligts

Loss of drilling fluid circulation is !ommon in

#eatered !ar*onate ro!2s #it open !avities.
Clay-filled cavities !an *e also pro*lemati!
#ere te, !ontain ro!2 DfloatersE
Residuum
Residuum

Residual soils
Residual soils

profiles !an *e
profiles !an *e
igl, undulator,
igl, undulator,
and anisotropi!( as
and anisotropi!( as
portra,ed ere
portra,ed ere

8e#are of deepl,
8e#are of deepl,
in!ised #eatering
in!ised #eatering
.ones along faults(
.ones along faults(
sears( !onta!ts(
sears( !onta!ts(
fold axes( or
fold axes( or
litologi! ori.ons
litologi! ori.ons

1,pi!al #eatering profiles in metamorpi! and 1,pi!al #eatering profiles in metamorpi! and
igneous ro!2s. igneous ro!2s. Floating clasts Floating clasts are al#a,s pro*lemati! are al#a,s pro*lemati!
in developing relia*le !ross se!tions. in developing relia*le !ross se!tions.
DE0LING AI1@
DE0LING AI1@
DI))I5=L1 SI1E
DI))I5=L1 SI1E
055ESS 5ONDI1IONS
055ESS 5ONDI1IONS
5RI88ING
5RI88ING
S10NDS
S10NDS

In te old da,s(
In te old da,s(
temporar, #ood or
temporar, #ood or
steel !ri**ing #as
steel !ri**ing #as
ere!ted to support a
ere!ted to support a
drilling platform( or
drilling platform( or
DpadE( as so#n ere
DpadE( as so#n ere
along 4a!ifi! 5oast
along 4a!ifi! 5oast
@ig#a, in 4a!ifi!
@ig#a, in 4a!ifi!
4alisades( 5alifornia
4alisades( 5alifornia
in $%7&.
in $%7&.
Drilling
Drilling
4latforms
4latforms

1is so#s a
1is so#s a
temporar, drilling
temporar, drilling
platform set up
platform set up
a!ross te narro#
a!ross te narro#
gorge of te Little
gorge of te Little
5olorado River( near
5olorado River( near
5ameron( 0ri.ona in
5ameron( 0ri.ona in
te earl, $%7&s
te earl, $%7&s

Su! platforms are

Su! platforms are
removed after drilling
removed after drilling
1ru!2"mounted
1ru!2"mounted
drill rigs
drill rigs

Generall, used on
Generall, used on
semi"level ground(
semi"level ground(
if eas, site a!!ess
if eas, site a!!ess

Fui!2 set"up
Fui!2 set"up

Rate of advan!e
Rate of advan!e
depends on eigt
depends on eigt
of mast G drill
of mast G drill
strings
strings

Large normal for!e

Large normal for!e
!an *e emplo,ed
!an *e emplo,ed
9see left *elo#:
9see left *elo#:

Some ligter 7AD e>uipped drill rigs !an *e

Some ligter 7AD e>uipped drill rigs !an *e
emplo,ed on uneven ground and in illside
emplo,ed on uneven ground and in illside
situations( using te ,drauli! leveling rams.
situations( using te ,drauli! leveling rams.
1ra!2ed Rigs
1ra!2ed Rigs

0 num*er of
0 num*er of
manufa!turers
manufa!turers
offer tra!2ed rigs
offer tra!2ed rigs
of var,ing si.e
of var,ing si.e

1ese !an *e
1ese !an *e
extremel, useful
extremel, useful
#en #or2ing on
#en #or2ing on
sift or sloping
sift or sloping
ground
ground
1ra!2ed Rigs
1ra!2ed Rigs
Smaller tra!2ed rigs !an *e Smaller tra!2ed rigs !an *e
operated remotel,( using radio operated remotel,( using radio
!ontrols !ontrols
Largest produ!tion tra!2ed rig is Largest produ!tion tra!2ed rig is
te 53E 'C&( so#n at left te 53E 'C&( so#n at left

D
D
S#amp ogE all terrain vei!les use oversi.e
S#amp ogE all terrain vei!les use oversi.e
floatation tires inflated H 7 psi tire pressure to
floatation tires inflated H 7 psi tire pressure to
allo# a!!ess on soft( mu!2, ground
allo# a!!ess on soft( mu!2, ground

4orta*le Ds2id rigE pla!ed on a fat"*ottom *arge or 4orta*le Ds2id rigE pla!ed on a fat"*ottom *arge or
DJon 8oatE( in lo#er 3ississippi Delta area. 8iggest DJon 8oatE( in lo#er 3ississippi Delta area. 8iggest
pro*lem is an!oring te !raft to resist drilling" pro*lem is an!oring te !raft to resist drilling"
indu!ed tor>ue. indu!ed tor>ue.
4orta*le 3inuteman Rigs
4orta*le 3inuteman Rigs

)oremost 3o*ile
produ!es 6;C l*s
porta*le drill 2no#n as
D3inuteman- rigs

=ses a ;& l* ammer

1is vie# so#s a !ustom remote drilling rig

po#ered *, remote"sour!e offsite ,drauli!s.
It is #or2ing on a /& degree slope C&&I feet
a*ove te nearest *en!.
@eli!opter 0ssist
@eli!opter 0ssist

=nder !onditions of =nder !onditions of

extreme remoteness( extreme remoteness(
eli!opters !an eli!opters !an
sometimes provide sometimes provide
verti!al lift of ligter verti!al lift of ligter skid skid
rigs rigs

1is so#s drilling pad 1is so#s drilling pad

set up for exploring pat set up for exploring pat
of te 1etsuo @arano of te 1etsuo @arano
1unnels 1unnels on Interstate @"/ Interstate @"/
troug te Koolau troug te Koolau
Range in Oau( @a#aii. Range in Oau( @a#aii.
ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING
GEOLOGI5 LOGGING O)
GEOLOGI5 LOGGING O)
EJ4LOR01ORB
EJ4LOR01ORB
1REN5@ES
1REN5@ES

Explorator, tren!es are an inexpensive metod to Explorator, tren!es are an inexpensive metod to
get a /D evaluation of soil !onditions and sallo# get a /D evaluation of soil !onditions and sallo#
geologi! stru!ture. =suall, used in rural( geologi! stru!ture. =suall, used in rural(
undeveloped areas. undeveloped areas.

1ren!es are generall, ex!avated *, *a!2oe. 1e, 1ren!es are generall, ex!avated *, *a!2oe. 1e,
must *e sored if K C.C ft deep in most states. must *e sored if K C.C ft deep in most states.
3e!ani!all, !ompa!ting *a!2fill !an *e expensive. 3e!ani!all, !ompa!ting *a!2fill !an *e expensive.

1ren!es ave te potential to reveal !omplex 1ren!es ave te potential to reveal !omplex
su*surfa!e stru!tural relationsips( su! as su*surfa!e stru!tural relationsips( su! as
geologi! !onta!ts( faults( previousl, distur*ed geologi! !onta!ts( faults( previousl, distur*ed
ground( and anomalies reveled in geop,si!al ground( and anomalies reveled in geop,si!al
surve,s( li2e sin2oles. surve,s( li2e sin2oles.
3apping of 4edogeni! ori.ons 3apping of 4edogeni! ori.ons L exposed ori.ons !an *e L exposed ori.ons !an *e
deli!atel, examined and logged in open ex!avations. 1is deli!atel, examined and logged in open ex!avations. 1is
o!!asionall, allo#s for radiometri! dating. o!!asionall, allo#s for radiometri! dating.
Strategi! Sample
Strategi! Sample
Re!over, and
Re!over, and
Insitu testing
Insitu testing

Lo# strengt
Lo# strengt
ori.ons !an *e
ori.ons !an *e
identfied and
identfied and
re!overed for
re!overed for
la*orator, testing<
la*orator, testing<
or
or

Insitu shear
Insitu shear
strength tests
strength tests
!an
!an
*e !arried out in te
*e !arried out in te
field
field
L0RGE DI03E1ER
L0RGE DI03E1ER
EJ50V01IONS )OR
EJ50V01IONS )OR
4ERSON0L
4ERSON0L
ENGINEERING
ENGINEERING
GEOLOGI5 INS4E51ION
GEOLOGI5 INS4E51ION

8u!2et augers 8u!2et augers are 67 to /;"in diameter oles drilled are 67 to /;"in diameter oles drilled
for do#nole geologi! inspe!tion. 1e, are usuall, for do#nole geologi! inspe!tion. 1e, are usuall,
advan!ed *, large tru!2"mounted drill rigs. advan!ed *, large tru!2"mounted drill rigs.

8u!2et auger oles are generall, ex!avated

8u!2et auger oles are generall, ex!avated
using standard fligts #it drag or !isel *its(
using standard fligts #it drag or !isel *its(
as so#n at rigt. 1ra!2ed mounted rigs are
as so#n at rigt. 1ra!2ed mounted rigs are
sometimes needed in illside situations.
sometimes needed in illside situations.

0 geologist is lo#ered do#n te ole #it ardat( 0 geologist is lo#ered do#n te ole #it ardat(
radio eadset( prote!tive overead !overing( and radio eadset( prote!tive overead !overing( and
metane and !ar*on dioxide meters and an metane and !ar*on dioxide meters and an
emergen!, suppl, of ox,gen. emergen!, suppl, of ox,gen.

1e !ollar .one of te large

diameter oles is
temporaril, !ased to
prevent fall"in of *ro2en
ground near te ground
surfa!e
1eam#or2
1eam#or2

0 t#o person team 0 t#o person team

logs te ole( using logs te ole( using
t#o"#a, radio t#o"#a, radio
!ommuni!ation !ommuni!ation

In tis manner a large In tis manner a large

amount of data !an *e amount of data !an *e
re!orded in a sort re!orded in a sort
period of time( period of time(
in!luding stru!tural in!luding stru!tural
information su! as information su! as
stri2e and dip( stri2e and dip(
orientation of ?oints( orientation of ?oints(
and sear planes( et!. and sear planes( et!.
Spe!ialt, Rigs
Spe!ialt, Rigs

Some operators ave Some operators ave

*uilt teir o#n rigs( #i! *uilt teir o#n rigs( #i!
allo# tem to #or2 on allo# tem to #or2 on
steep or !onstri!ted #or2 steep or !onstri!ted #or2
sites sites

3ost of tese Eremote 3ost of tese Eremote

rigsE emplo, ,drauli! rigsE emplo, ,drauli!
fluid( #i! !an *e fluid( #i! !an *e
transmitted to te drill rig transmitted to te drill rig
*, oses laid out from *, oses laid out from
pumps to#ed *eind pumps to#ed *eind
vei!les( as mu! as 6&& vei!les( as mu! as 6&&
feet a#a,. feet a#a,.

Geologi! !ross se!tion troug an a!tive landslide Geologi! !ross se!tion troug an a!tive landslide
!omplex derived from *u!2et auger information. !omplex derived from *u!2et auger information.

3i2e S!ullin( RG( 5EG( 54G 9$%/6"$%%C:( te

fater of grading !odes