November 6, 2024
The challenge
In a recent operation, they encountered a challenging problem. The complex geological conditions of the quarry made it difficult for the large and heavy drill rigs to work on small benches. In narrow passages, it was especially challenging for rigs to pass through. Even if it was driven in, reversing became a difficulty for safety of personnel and equipment. To overcome this problem, they planned to build a large platform on a ramp and use a crane to move the drill rig to the operating area, but this significantly increased the time and cost of operations.
Pioneering the way
Things took a turn for the better when Epiroc provided Feilong Drilling with a new-generation PowerROC T35 prototype, making them the first enterprise in the world to use this drilling machine. The rig was meant to run drill test at the quarry but it also helped to manage the challenge.
“The introduction of Epiroc PowerROC T35 has solved our problem," said Mr. Zhong, the Manager of Equipment Management at Feilong Drilling.
"The introduction of Epiroc PowerROC T35 has solved our problem"
Small holes make high productivity
The holes they usually drill are mainly 16.5 meters-deep vertical holes for production and slope holes with an angle of 65°. There are also some horizontal holes for dewatering. The hole diameter is 89 mm and the hole pattern parameters are 3 x 4.5 m.
"In the past, we had to stop at a certain depth, then manually measured the hole depth before finishing a hole drilling. However, by using PowerROC T35 now, our operator can accurately complete all operations sitting in cabin all the time.” Mr. Zhong continues, “the operator only needs to set the hole depth on the display mounted in the cabin and swing the feed beam to an expected angle which can also be directly seen on the screen. After drilling stopped automatically at the desired depth, an accurate hole was born with high quality. The blasted bench face is as smooth as “Tofu”. This greatly saves machine standby time and enhances the safety of personnel.” Besides the quicker and safer features brought by PowerROC T35, its efficiency is also outstanding, with a penetration rate of 35-40m/h. “In addition, the rig is solid, and its availability is up to 100%.”, said Mr. Zhong. This makes it possible for a small hole rig to contribute productivity to Feilong Drilling which must produce over 16 million tons of limestone annually.
Surprising numbers
It is understood that the geological conditions of the quarry are mainly limestone mixed with siltstone and sandstone, with a rock hardness of F8. The rock conditions are relatively complex, which means the lifecycle of drilling tools is shorter. The PowerROC control system on PowerROC T35, developed by Epiroc, matching with Epiroc's COP Logic, maximizes the energy transmission between the drill bit and the rock, which helps to save the cost of drilling tools. Mr. Zhong is surprised by the first bit used with the PoweROC T35 which can manage 5,000 meters before it needs replacing. Moreover, in actual use, the fuel consumption of the rig is only 0.7 L/m. “These are really good numbers.” Mr. Zhong emphasized. The low fuel consumption and less wear on drilling tools are keys to low running cost for Feilong Drilling.
A friendly buddy to operator
In addition to the company management team’s appreciation of the high efficiency of PowerROC T35, the operator is also satisfied with the drill rig. The operator, Zhishan Zhong, said that this rig has the easiest operation he has ever experienced. “Just push the lever for seconds, the drilling starts. And it’s much easier when changing rods.” In fact, this benefits from the assisted operation system of PowerROC T35, which makes work simpler. Even beginners can operate the rig with a basic training. The rig is user-friendly. There is a FOPS and ROPS-certified cabin, an improved air conditioning system, and an ergonomic seat with damper suspension. This not only ensures the safety of the operator but also greatly enhances his sense of comfort. Zhishan shared with us his experience of listening to music while operating the rig to express his satisfaction on the sound insulation of the cabin.
