Overcoming Difficult Rock Formations with Sonic Drill

Many people think of giving up when a drilling project would involve a difficult and challenging rock formation. They may not know this yet, but employing sonic drilling for such a project is the sanest thing to do because it is primarily designed for that kind of work or drilling task. 

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Deciding to go ahead with a project that seems to entail an insurmountable difficulty is a risk and can’t be taken lightly, especially when something is at stake. If you know that you are about to take on a drilling job that involves working on loose or fragile ground, the use of a sonic drill will make sense.  

All these years, the mining sector has been taking advantage of sonic technology and makes it work to their advantage. They know that with this type of drilling technology, they have a good chance of overcoming obstacles with great efficiency. Other methods of drilling that are still being used today will never be at par with what can be achieved with the sonic method of drilling. 

The high level of success of the sonic method of drilling can be attributed to its use of resonant energy. This frequency force significantly helps the core barrel to advance itself regardless of the subsurface formation you are faced with. With the drilling activity going on, it will generate energy that will be relayed to the drill string and, then, finally onto the bit face. This is considered by the experts as a normal occurrence that may happen at varying sonic level frequencies. 

The string and its sustained rotation will help on ensuring that there is an even distribution of energy here. It is possible to leave an impact on the bit face, which renders the efficient advancing of the string. 

While the sample is contained within the core barrel, the outer casing would be drilled over the barrel, helping it in the process to keep the same depth. This takes away the need for liquid of any kind, even water. The chances that the hole will become and remain stable is high. What does this cover then? Heaving or lose sand, gravel, till, cobbles and boulders. 

Here are some good points on why the sonic drill is considered by expert minds in the business as more advantageous than any other conventional method of drilling. 

Superior information: 

Sonic cutting is very effective in sheering soil. It will be so clean that it will be hard for anyone to spot the presence of liquid around it. Or else it certainly would have diluted or soaked your sample. The drilling process will work in such a way that you are likely to obtain a relatively undisturbed sample, no matter what kind of soil you may be working on. 

With this kind of scenario, you are certain to be a step closer to obtaining 100% core recovery, and this is going to be continuous to the depth. This will translate into superior subsurface information, a crucial factor to have when you need to decide anything about continuing or carrying on your drilling project or chance the course instead.  

Speed: 

The medley of slow rotation and vibration will render the quick advancement of the casing via unconsolidated formations. This gives you a reason to expect a penetration rate that is at least 3 times faster than what traditional overburden drilling is like to have.  

Reduced amount of waste: 

This drilling method, by far, is considered by industry insiders as an efficient drilling process that can be carried out efficiently even without the use of any kind of liquid, which will reduce expected drill spoils and wastes to at least 80%. With other traditional methods of drilling, this is going to be a complete opposite.  

Conclusion

Employing sonic drill, with all the 3 points described above, for what seems to be your most challenging ground drilling project to date will increase your odds of obtaining full control in mapping out your projects’ schedule as well as allowing for better management of your resources, particularly in the financial aspect. 

It also minimizes the chances of your drilling project to fail as well as the possibility of deadlock brought about by difficult subsurface conditions. And the fact that it will also lower your overall costs while keeping the likelihood of environmental impact is a sigh of relief to project handlers.