DRILLING & BLASTING

DRILLING

❑ DEFINITION- The process of making a hole in hard materials such as rocks

and earth.

❑ COMPONENTS –

➢ Drill- Type of tool which holds the drill bit and rotates it to provide axial force
to create a hole.

➢ Drill bits- Cutting tools used to create cylindrical holes.

Drilling
Drilling is an important construction activity which is required for
following purposes -
•
For explosive charges
•
For grouting on rock bolt stabilization
•
Making bore for placing utility lines
•
Seep hole for drainage of water
•
Constructing well for water supplies
•
For obtaining sample of soil for testing
•
Installing cast in-site piles
•
Driving shaft for ventilating tunnels and other underground facility
Drilling is a very fundamental activity in mining and petroleum industry.

Different methods and equipment's are used for drilling in rock and earth
drilling.

The factor affecting the selection of equipment can be enumerated as –

• The required depth of the holes

• The size of project

• The purpose of drilling

• Type of terrain

• The size cores required for exploration

• The nature of the formation i.e. extent to which it is broken or fractured.

Drilling equipment's can be categorized into the following
broad groups -

• Percussion drills
• Rotary drills - The rotary drills can be further grouped into
Pressure drilling Abrasion drilling.

Also, various types of augers are used for earth drilling.

 SAFE WORKING PROCEDURE

• Ensure that a Site Specific Risk assessment is carried

out.
• Drilling Operatives are experienced personnel.
• Prevent unauthorized access.
• Provide safe traffic and pedestrian routes.
• Be aware of the presence of other workers or
members of the public.
• Find and mark position of ALL services, overhead and
underground.
• Ensure standing area is free from slip, trip or fall hazards. •
• Erect rig in accordance with BDA guidance •
• Check previous ground use, for possible contamination
• Ensure the dill rig is well secured and stable. •
• Ensure that all servicing, maintenance and inspections are carried out at
the correct intervals, by competent people •
• Take care when refuelling, avoid spillage of fuel and refrain from smoking •
• Check for unhealthy atmosphere •
• Wear correct PPE

British Drilling Association (BDA)

DRILLING PATTERNS

➢Selection of drilling pattern varies with the type and

size of the drill’s used, depth of hole, kind of rock,
quantity, rapidity of the explosive & amount of
steaming.
 BLASTING

❑ DEFINITION- The process of

breaking rocks into smaller pieces
by use of explosives.

❑ TYPES OF EXPLOSIVES-

➢ Explosives based on chemical

nature
➢ Explosives based on availability
EXPLOSIVES BASED ON CHEMICAL NATURE

➢High or detonating explosives-

Process is extremely rapid,
almost instantaneous.

➢Low or deflagrating Explosives-

Low velocity of burning and
produce pressure by
progressive burning.
EXPLOSIVES BASED ON AVAILABILITY
➢ Powder explosives- Slow burning , slow acting and low strength explosives
made either from potash nitrate or sodium nitrate.

➢ Disruptive explosives or Dynamites-

Available in various sizes and
strength. Approximate strength
is specified as a percentage of
ratio of weight of nitroglycerine
to the total weight of a cartridge.
 DETONATORS
❑ DEFINITION- Cylindrical metal shells close
at one end having 6.8 mm dia & 50 mm
height.
➢ The ignition of detonator is done by blasting
fuse or electric ignitors.

➢ Following is required for electric ignition:

1. Detonator.
2.Power source-dynamo.
3.Circuit line-iron or copper wires.
4.Electric ignitor-comprising 2 supply wires
detonator shell and priming charge.
5.Line testing apparatus-galvanoscope or
measuring bridge.
FIRING CHARGE

➢ common practice to fire several holes using parallel circuit, series circuit
or combined parallel and series circuit
 FUSES

➢ Fuses are required to ignite

explosives.
➢ They are in the form of a small
rope of cotton with core of
continuous thread of gun powder.
➢ The rate of burning is about 1
cm/sec.
➢ They enable the person firing the
charge to move to a safe distance
before the explosion takes place.
 TOOLS FOR BLASTING
1.Dipper 2.Jumper 3.Priming needle
4.Scraping spoon 5.Tamping bar

➢ Dipper- Used to drill hole to the required depth.

➢ Jumper- Used to make blast hole & more effective in

boring a nearly vertical hole.

➢ Priming needle- Used to maintain the hole while

tamping is done & is in the form of a thin copper rod
with a loop at one end.
➢ Scraping spoon- Used to remove dust of crushed
stone from blast hole.

➢ Tamping bar- Used to tamp the material while

refilling a blast hole.
PROCESS OF BLASTING

1.The blast holes are made and

cleaned by using the tools.
2.The charge of explosive placed at
the bottom.
3.Remaining portion is filled with
clay and tamped.
4.Fuse is inserted, kept projecting
15-20 cm above the rock surface.
5. Thereafter free end of fuse is fired
by detonator.
Safety during Transporting and handling of explosives

1. Dynamite and detonators should be kept

separately when storing and transporting.
2. Vehicle carrying explosives should carry a
warning sign and operated with care.
3. The smoking or the carrying of matches and
lighteners etc., should not be permitted on
or around a vehicle transporting
explosives.
4. Wiring on motor-truck used for moving
explosives should be heavily insulated.
5. Explosives should be stored in dry
ventilated bullet proof and fire resistant
magazines, away from buildings and roads.
The safety guide lines may divide into four
groups:
- Before drilling
- during drilling and charging
- During blasting
- After blasting
During design the following points should keep in
mind:
➢ Is it a controlled blasting
➢ Are there any critical structures to take care
➢ Are there any historical structures
➢ Permissible limits for those critical structures
➢ The maximum charge may explode to restrict the
. damage to structures and adjacent rock mass.
➢ The maximum size of fragmentation
CONTROLLED BLASTING TECHNIQUE
• Used to reduce over break and minimize the fracturing of the rock of the
boundary of an excavation

◼ Basic controlled blasting techniques are

1) Line Drilling :This system involves a single row of
closely spaced uncharged holes along the neat excavation line.
◼ Diaof hole - 50 to 75mm
◼ Spacing – 2 to 4 dia
◼ Depth upto 9.0m
CONTROLLED BLASTING TECHNIQUE

2)Presplitting:Pre-splitting is the smooth blasting method in which

cracks for the final contour are created by blasting prior to the drilling
of the rest of the holes for the blast pattern.
• Dia of hole - 50 to 100mm
• Spacing – 6 to 12 dia
• Explosives- spring loaded on detonating chord
• Depth upto 15.0m
3)Cushion blast: a single row of holes along the specified final excavation
line
• Dia of hole - 50 to 150mm
• Depth upto 30.0m
4)Smooth blast:A technique used mostly in underground blasting,
closely spaced drill holes are loaded with decoupled charges and
fired simultaneously to produce an excavation contour without
fracturing or damaging the rock behind or adjacent to the blasted
face.
 Safety During Drilling
-The design should be explained clearly to drilling team.
- The design should be marked before drilling starts. No of
holes and direction of holes in each round.
- Proper care should be taken to maintain the drill hole
angle.
- The depth of each hole should maintain as per design.
- The no of holes should be checked after drilling.
 DURING CHARGING
Transport of explosives:

❖ Transport of explosives from the magazine to temporary

storage shall be done in daylight .

❖ the mechanical vehicle used for transport should be

approved

❖ Every vehicle used for explosive shall be marked with

words ‘ explosive’ in red letters atleast 15 cm high on white
background.

❖ Explosives and detonators shall be transported in separate

vehicles / trips
❖ Atleast two fire extinguishers shall be there in vehicle used for
transport of explosive.

❖ The winding engine driver, banks-man shall be informed

beforehand.

❖ The quantity of explosive and no of detonators should be

checked before carrying to under ground/ shaft
❖The charge and the detonator number to put into each hole
should be checked.

❖The detonator should be checked for breakage and any defect.

❖After charging in all the holes, the connections should be made

by shot-firer with help of blasting in charge.

❖All the connections should be checked once again by shot-firer

and blasting in charge before connecting to main cable.
Loading Explosives:
• No operating equipment within 50 feet of
loaded holes
• Load only those holes intended to be fired
in the next round
• Warning signs posted
• Check all holes for
depth prior to loading
 Safety After blasting

❑ There is chance of ‘misfires’ and ‘blown out-shots’. So, men

should not be allowed to return to the place unless there is
clearance signal from the blasting incharge.

❑ Minimum time gap of 5 min for electric blasting and 30 min for
non-electric blasting should be given before entering the blasting
zone.

❑ Explosives theoretically contain sufficient oxygen to complete

combustion, but combustion is seldom perfect and ‘co’ is liable to
present in the blasting fumes.
In addition post detonation fumes contain
notorious fumes.
So, men should not be allowed to return to the
place until the fumes have been cleared by the
ventilation.
After the stipulated time gap the shot
firer/blasting incharge should check for any
misfires or blown out shots.
If blast is all right the final siren may given for
clearance .
 Misfires
Misfire- is one which the detonator fails to explode or
having exploded, fails to ignite the charge.
Reasons-
▪ Defective shot-firing exploder by which required
voltage is not generated.
▪ Bad connection between exploder and shot-firing
cable, between cables and detonator leads.
▪ Defective shot firing cable, broken wires interrupting
the circuit or damaged insulation causing a shot circuit.

▪ Bad explosive (either due to bad manufacture or due

to deterioration during storage).
 Dealing with mis-fires
Disconnect the cable and wait for prescribed period.
▪ Check main cable and detonator if all the shots are failed
▪ Check sub connections, and particular detonator leads, if some
holes are fialed.
▪ Reconnect,if any defect connections found and connect the cable
and fire once again.
▪ If again fialed, fence the entrances to the place.
▪ Drill a fresh hole atleast 30 cm away from the misfired hole and as
far as possible parallel to misfired hole.
▪ Charge the new hole with proper stemming in the usual manner.
▪ Fire the new hole in the usual manner.
• Destroy the misfired explosive (charge) and
detonator on the surface, if traced out.

• If not found, report the circumstances fully to the

shot firer of the next shift.
 Safety and FIRST AID

•Hit injury by projectiles

•Inhalation of explosives

•Inhalation of blasting fumes

 WARNING
Not to use
•Mobile / cell phone
•Hand sets &
•Welding
 Emergency Response

✓ Fire
✓ Thunder storm
✓ Explosive van accident
✓ Any un-attended explosive
materials
Thank you