Career Episode 2

Introduction
CE 2.1.1
Location: Dehradun India
University: University of Petroleum and Energy Studies
Semester: (Please enter)
Course: (Please enter)
Timeline: (Please enter)

Background
CE 2.2.1
Rock properties in addition to rock mass structural parameters have a powerful impact on the drilling
rate. In this project, I examined various zones in open bit mines precisely to categorize rock drill ability
perspectives. I conducted different kinds of tests on the rock samples to obtain and determine the
various strength parameters of rock masses. I also carried out geological mapping on the rock surface
along with filling and aperture, spacing, joint inclination, and structural parameters recorded according
to average rock drilling times. Utilizing all kinds of information and data, I developed an empirical bond
to observe the drilling rate (DR) using RDI can predict the UCS values in the rock mass.

CE 2.2.2
I knew that mass Blasting and drilling play a major role in the specific mining area during mining
activities. I was aware of the uses of mass drill ability index for a massive impact on the cost of
production. Drilling rate prediction is essential for planning the whole project and cost estimation. Aside
from this, I had the knowledge and information about penetration rate in the mining activity along with
categorization required calculation about the time and drill mine. Penetration rate besides drillability
could be referred to in similar terms. While on the other hand, drillability specifies whether the
penetration will be hard or easy, and penetration rate defined whether the whole process will be slow
or fast. Rock drillability was not measured through an individual or single test. However, it was highly
influenced by a large number of parameters. Different kinds of rock parameters had been used to
predict the overall performance and efficiency of the drilling rigs. Drilling such as another kind of
exploitation phase in open bit mining had direct and indirect relations among the rock mass. For this
reason, it was directly impacted by the geomechanical characteristics of the rock mass along with the
rock material. However, recognition of the drilling environment besides rock mass significance was a
better help for choosing the right type of penetration or drilling system, the production rate of the
mining, and the number of drills. The rock drillability index (RDI) raw information and data involved rock
properties along with structural parameters, which were mainly obtained in the south of Iran.
Penetration behaviour was primarily categorized into moderate, passive, and active along with dormant
phases, basis on the penetration reduction rate at various phases of drilling in mining.

CE 2.2.3
This project helped to enhance and predict the drilling rate of rock masses in a particular mining area. I
studied rock mass's mechanical properties along with structural properties which assisted to observe
better relationships among the various model. The primary and main objective of this research were to
develop drilling rate prediction utilising the rock mass drillability index. On the other hand,
implementing and developing this project using upgraded technology would help mining engineers and
the construction industry predict a better drilling rate of mass rock on the mining site. However previous
study had not included different technology, yet this study paper includes various advanced technology
to gain accurate data and information.

CE 2.2.4
I performed this project under the kind supervision of a senior faculty member, and the assistance of a
team member who was a student of my batch.

Supervisor

Me as a Other team
student member

Personal Engineering Activity

CE 2.3.1
Drillability in a rock mass generally indicates penetration rate (PR), index values comparatively
boreability index (BI), and many more. 11 million iron ore extract besides 10 million waste materials
through blasts and drilling in recent years clearly indicate the importance of the drillability of the rock
mass. I studied various types of investigators and researchers which had focused on rock drillability
categorisation systems. According to my research, the most applicable system was DRI known as the
drilling rate index. I realised that the rock mass drillability classification system had a major advantage
such as its simple and easy procedure of surveying information and data, which took into account
successful rock mass overall structure parameters and rock penetration rate.

CE 2.3.2
The categorisation and rate of rock mass drillability along with effectual parameters were studied. I
drew a table to give drilling rate prediction in which RDI greater than 7 was equivalent to slow-moving
drilling. RDI greater than 20 was equivalent to a medium or slow rate of penetration rate. RDI greater
than 40 and less than 60 was equivalent to a medium rate of drilling. RDI greater than 60 and less than
80 was similarly identical to a medium-rapid rate of drilling. And lastly, RDI greater than 80 and less than
100 was similarly equivalent to a rapid rate of drilling. I averaged ad recorded the drill hole sample each
individual 25 drill times in the zone drilling rate. 11 zones on the mine site beside 25 drilling holes in
individual zone caused an overall 275 drilling times which were recorded during the subject matter.
Logical relations among the experimental data and drilling rates were obtained for the classification of
the mine area.

CE 2.3.3
I noticed that the mining site location was based on outcrops observation along with geological
conditions. I utilised a sample data sheet in the mine area for observing and recording the geological
parameter, RDI parameter along with drilling time. I drew a table to indicate the recorded data and
information about the geological parameter and RDI parameter. Aside from this, obtaining rock
mechanical properties represented 5 to 10 rock samples along with different dimensions. Indirect
strength, porosity determination, and density test were primarily carried out with the subject matter. I
knew that sound velocity tests are widely acceptable to determine the rock's dynamic elasticity.
Moreover, in this subject matter sound velocity test were primarily considered for gathering data about
the dynamic elasticity of rock.

CE 2.3.4
I mostly measured the S waves and P waves velocities on the different rock samples besides obtaining
dynamic modules for each and individual rock sample. N-type hammer tests were primarily constructed
for obtaining information and data about the rock samples. The main focus of this research project was
classifying and categorizing the rock mass in an open pit mine through the drillability of a rock mass. This
particular classification was mainly intended to increase the improvement and efficiency of blasting
operations. On the other hand, rock mass categorization furthermore increased production planning and
drilling period determination on the mine site. Rock mass information and data were collected beside
the average drilling time for 10 sites. Rock samples were gathered for observing the physical strength
and mechanical strength of this test. I correlated outcomes with drilling rate (DR) and RDI values for
considering the reasonable relationship. Determining the bond between the average drilling rate and
RDI was important for the research study and overall mine site. Using all the above-mentioned relations
I was able to predict and observe the RDI values along with UCS values in all 65 zones.

CE 2.3.5
I knew that the drilling rate would increase logarithmically, since all three parameters besides tensile
strength were in direct bond with UCS values and their relations would be more acceptable among
drilling rates. Due to having low strength in porous rock, it was much easier than dense rock. Moreover,
in this research study through enhancing rock porosity the drilling rate was increased as well. The harder
rock was able to pass much faster sound waves. Enhancing most sound velocities in various kinds of
rocks tended to reduce the drilling rate of rock significantly. It was found that through enhancing rock
mass RDI value the rock drilling rate would be increased as well. All the above-mentioned relationships
were primarily selected basis on the logarithmic, exponential, and power functions and the utmost
correlation coefficient. In order to get a drilling rate (DR) including all types of mine zone conducting
tests on all types of rock samples were much more costly and time-consuming. Furthermore using the
above-mentioned relationship it was easy to predict the drilling rate for the left zones. From this study,
it was observed that RDI indicated the drillability index, and on another hand and DR referred to the
overall frilling rate. According to this subject matter in the mine area, the general rock surface was less
in the porphyritic and more in granitic classes.

CE 2.3.6
The study showed that the drilling rate procedure utilised multiple types of regression in rotary drilling
on the mine's surfaces. The model was clearly represented in an image that I plotted which indicated the
UCS values, on the second phase multiple and easy regression analyses were implemented for obtaining
the DRI values of mass rocks along with UCS values. On the other hand, I considered the function of the
DRI and UCS by utilising statistical analysis. I observed that in the DRI and UCS, there was no kind of
linear relationship.
From the above equation, it was clear that there was no relationship between the UCS along with DRI.
This model utilised multiple regression techniques for the rotary drilling on the mine surface. The
following equation was used.

In the above equation, ROP represented the penetration rate for the rotary drilling, WOB represents the
weight in the Kg, RPM indicated the rotation speed, D represented as diameter and lastly, UCS
represents the compressive strength of the MPa. The overall outcome of this subject matter was
compared with the above equation for testing the significance of this model.

CE 2.3.7
Collected RDI parameters from all nine zones were mainly rated for the rock drillability categorization.
The below image shows the cumulative distribution from the gathered RDI values for the research study.

Fig. Distribution of particular zone and RDI values

I observed that 40 percent of the mine area had been covered through the RDI values among the 37 and
44. According to RDI value frequency it was summarized that rock mass was categorized in to three
major classes such as medium-fast, slow-medium, and medium rock drillability. From the subject matter,
I observed that 60 percent of the nine areas were primarily located in the medium class category.

CE 2.3.8
The cumulative distribution and frequency histogram of overall RDI parameters in nine zones was
plotted by me. However, the rock texture played a significant role in obtaining RDI classification in this
study. On the other hand, I summarised that allocating 17 percent among the total rates of the impactful
parameters were taken into medium hard rocks. Furthermore, I saw that 66 percent of rock masses
were mainly located in the medium class and the remaining rocks were much softer which took more
rates. I understood that UCS value was the globally used design parameter in rock engineering and the
industrial construction industry. However, I observed that UCS values getting compared with a large
range of values where major rock strength was higher rather than 100 MPa. During the mine drilling
procedure, it was seen that the drilling rate reduced when the rock strength was enhanced. I also
observed that 61 percent of rock was mostly located in the elevated strength class on the RDI
categorization. Joint spacing was an impactful parameter in rock drilling. Moreover, through reducing
joint spacing overall drilling stare was increased as well. Almost 60 percent of joint spacing was much
lower than 0.5 meters. For this reason, it tended to reduce the whole drilling rate. Joint filling and
apertures at the mining area strongly gave impacted the overall drilling condition, where the simple
scraping of air flush along with drill trapping accelerated an extreme reduction of rock drilling efficiency.

CE 2.3.9
During the project, I was collaborating with my team members positively to achieve successful results.
At the project culmination, I used all my plotted data and arranged it neatly in form of a project report
which I shared with the supervisor. The supervisor appreciated our efforts in timely delivery of the
project work and we were given good grades for this project. The key to our success was that we were
sticking to our project timeline and made sure that we accomplished each task within the prescribed
time.

Summary
CE 2.4.1
Mass rock drillability mainly depends on the specific numbers of parameters involving operational
parameters, machine specifications along with rock properties. However, in this research study rock
masses were mainly classified based on the RDI value system. Drill rigs were executed for the drilling
holes in the mine zones. The main focus of this subject matter was obtaining RDI factors on the rock
texture, joint spacing, UCS values, filling, and joint aperture beside the average drilling rate during the
drilling pattern performance. Various representative rocks were gathered from the individual site to
carry out obtaining mechanical properties, physical properties, and strength tests of a rock mass. The
outcome of this experiment test demonstrated that there was a better correlation between the rock
properties and rotary drilling rates. Rock properties were primarily rated according to the RDI
categorization beside the whole rate designated for the rock mass. Data and information about the RDI
in the individual area were correlated with the rock drilling rate for developing a certain relationship.
Thus building a strong relationship could predict the accuracy of drilling rate in all kinds of mine zone.