SE534606C2 - Device and method for sample analysis in exploration - Google Patents

Description

534 606 In order to obtain a more comprehensive and faster analysis than during an ocular inspection, instruments have been developed which can perform an analysis scanning along a sample, so-called scanning, at the drilling site. Such an instrument, which uses X-ray ores uorescence detector technology, so-called XRF technology, marketed by e.g. a. the company Thermo Scienti fi c under the name NITON XRF Analyzer. The instrument is portable and made to be held in the hand during scanning. The analysis with this type of instrument is admittedly better than during an ocular inspection, but the accuracy suffers from the instrument being hand-held.

Furthermore, the Finnish patent no. 120164 generally describes an equipment and a method for analyzing drill cores and which is to enable analyzes closer to the drilling sites. The patent description does not go into detail about the design of the scanning equipment or how the scanning or documentation is done in detail, but it is still clear that expert maintenance of this equipment is required, which maintenance is normally performed by extreme personnel. This is perceived as a problem in exploration. The results from the test drillings constitute sensitive information and the prospector therefore does not want to share this information with extreme actors.

Summary of the invention and its advantages.

According to the invention, the above-mentioned problem is solved with a device for analyzing samples taken during exploration of natural resources such as ore, oil and gas, which device comprises a receiver for at least one sample and an analysis unit for scanning the sample. The analysis unit is set up for non-contact scanning of the sample and the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample are movably arranged relative to each other.

Furthermore, the relative position between the analysis unit and the sample can be adjusted by means of an electronics unit and by at least one positioning means controlled by the electronics unit. The device is provided with measuring means for determining the relative position between the analysis unit and the receiver and a sample located at the receiver, the electronic unit being arranged to control the positioning means on the basis of output from the position measuring means so that the desired relative position between the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample, i.e. desired, optimal scanning mode, established and maintained during scarming. The invention enables the creation of a mobile manageable device, easily transferable into the field, which in turn enables a direct analysis of material from the bedrock on or next to an area where exploration is carried out or where the material is stored. The invention provides an already in the field automated, accurately documented analysis of drill cores, which analysis does not require external expertise. With the aid of this invention, the time for the analysis of drill cores and cuttings can be considerably shortened. Instead of having to wait a number of months or weeks, analysis results can be obtained shortly after the drill core or cuttings have been raised to ground level. This brings great advantages over other known methods; especially the time saving is valuable. One of the advantages is that you can then quickly control the drilling based on the drilling results. Another advantage is that the invention enables and uses a non-destructive analysis of the drill cores or drill cuttings. In traditional analyzes, the samples are prepared before analysis is performed. This is thus not needed for analysis with the help of the present invention, which contributes to both the 534 E06 time saving and cost reduction. Thus, the invention enables a non-destructive analysis, and thus other important information from the drill cores and the drill cuttings can be retained and later produced, for example microstructure of the surface.

In an embodiment of the invention, the position measuring means is of a type which measures without contact. This allows a fast and safe position control in direct dependence on how the outer surface of the sample varies in appearance and position.

In a further embodiment, the position measuring means is arranged together with the analysis unit. This allows the relative position between the analysis unit and the position measuring means to be fixed and does not need to be calculated separately.

In another embodiment, the receiver of the sample is movably arranged by means of a first positioning means for movement in a first link, X-link, and the analysis unit is movably arranged by means of a second and a third positioning means for moving the analysis means in a second and a third link, Y-link. respectively Z-led. This is a construction which, in addition to a path which is driven by a range of motion of the analysis unit and a path which is driven by a range of motion of the receiver with its sample, creates a space which can be used for auxiliary equipment such as the electronics unit and other units.

The device can also be designed to receive fl your, elongated samples, arranged substantially parallel to each other in a magazine located on the receiver with the extent of the samples in the Y-direction. In this case, the electronics unit is advantageously arranged so that when changing samples for scanning, the first positioning means is controllably predetermined, stepwise in the X-direction without control of the output data from the position measuring means. The step essentially corresponds to the mutual distance between the parallel samples.

In the case of an embodiment of the device, the device is provided with a marking equipment which is arranged to mark the points on the sample that have been scanned. This provides a valuable addition to the measured values that have been scanned.

According to the invention, a magazine, a box for drill cores, was also used in conjunction with the device. The magazine is for this purpose equipped with at least one compartment for receiving a sample, and in the compartment there are advantageously arranged means for determining the position of the sample in the compartment.

With a device according to the invention and advantageously boxes according to the invention, an automated, well-documented and permanently secured analysis of drill cores and drill cuttings can already be obtained in the field, without extreme personnel.

The invention also includes a method for analyzing samples taken during the exploration of natural resources, wherein an analysis device comprising a receiver for one or more samples and an analysis unit for scarming the sample or samples is used.

The method comprises fl your steps, where at least one sample is placed in a receiver, the analyzer scans the sample or samples to be analyzed while the analyzer and the receiver with the sample or samples move relative to each other, the relative movement between the receiver with the sample or samples and the analyzer is controlled by by means of an electronic unit which in turn controls a positioning means of the analysis device, the relative position between the analysis unit and the receiver or between the analysis unit and the sample or samples in the receiver is determined by a position measuring means of the analysis device and the desired relative position between the receiver and the sample and analysis unit is held by the 534 B06 electronics unit which controls the positioning means on the basis of output data from the position measuring means. With this method, quality-assured measurement results are obtained, which form the basis for the evaluation of the drill site's possible deposits.

Brief description of drawings.

The invention will in the following be described and explained in more detail in connection with exemplary embodiments, which are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 schematically shows a device according to the invention, Fig. 2 schematically shows the principle of scanning used in the device according to the invention, Fig. 3 shows in more detail the principle for measuring fl your drill cores serially, Fig. 4 schematically shows a search process for measuring an optimal scanning position, Fig. 5 shows in principle variants of how boxes for drill cores can be set up to determine the position in a box with good accuracy. located the drill cores relative to the box and F ig. 6 shows a more detailed example of a device according to the invention.

Description of embodiments.

Figure 1 shows that a device according to the invention includes a housing or housing 1 which contains all the essential components belonging to the device. The house 1 is in the figure only schematically shown with four indicated walls but is so arranged that it meets certain requirements which will be stated below. There is a truss in the house (for the sake of clarity not shown in the figure) which is set up to carry the components housed in the house. The entire device is designed as a mobile unit, possible to transport out to a drilling site to be able to perform the analysis work in the field.

The device further comprises a receiver, a platform 2, intended to receive a box 3 for storing drill samples or drill cores (not shown). The box included in the invention will be described in more detail with a number of embodiments later.

The platform 2 is in turn arranged on linear guides 4, which control the displacement of the platform in a one-dimensional direction, X-direction, and which for this purpose cooperate with a positioning means, a first servomotor unit of known type (not shown). The servomotor unit is electric and is steerable forwards / backwards with respect to outgoing drive means. It may be provided with position sensors with respect to the drive means. The first servomotor unit is arranged to be able to displace the platform 2 in the desired direction on the guides via control electronics.

In the och clock and in ordinary use mode, a scanning unit 5 is arranged above the box, which built-in itself has a schematically shown scanner 6, preferably of the XRF type, for evaluating the properties of the drill cores. The scanning unit 5 is arranged so that the scanning area of the 534 605 and thus the scanner 6 is fl surface (t) in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of displacement of the platform 2, in the Y-direction, by means of a unit 7 which is shown in a gear bar cooperating drive wheel 9, which in turn is arranged on an output shaft of a second servomotor unit of known type (not shown). The unit 7 runs during its movement along a guide 10.

The unit 7 further comprises a third servomotor unit of known type (not shown) for adjusting the position of the scanning unit 5 in a joint substantially perpendicular to the plane defined by the directions X and Y, i.e. in Z-direction, in fi clock up or down.

When evaluating Niton's XRF Analyzer, it has been shown that undesirable variations in the analysis results are due to e.g. that the distance to the measuring object becomes uncertain and the impact surface, which gives rise to the analysis result, is not well determined. In order to remedy this problem, a means for non-contact distance measurement arranged at the scanning unit 5 is arranged. The distance measuring means is arranged to measure the distance between the scanner unit 5 and the platform 2 or objects existing on the platform, i.e. drilling samples, and will be described in more detail below. With the aid of the servomotor units, the distance measuring means and the control electronics, the screening unit 5 and the platform 2 with the box 3 and test cores located in the box can be caused to assume the desired, optimal scanning position relative to each other in order to avoid undesired variations in the measured values.

I fi g. 2 shows, cleared from surrounding components, with three pairs of arrows how the scanning unit 5 with the scarm 6 included therein is movable in three substantially orthogonal directions relative to the platform 2 with the box 3 located on the platform, intended for drill cores.

In fi g.3 a box 3 with four compartments lla-d is schematically shown for each of the drill cores l2a-d.

Above the drilling core l2d in the right-hand drill, the scanning unit 5 with its scanner 6 is shown. The distance measuring equipment can be e.g. of the kind marketed by Selcom AB under the name Optocator and which uses a non-contact triangulation method.

It has thus proved important for the analysis result that the scarm always has an optimal and well-determined position in relation to the measuring object, a drill core. This is achieved by the invention in such a way that a central electronics unit (not shown) cooperates with the distance measuring equipment 13 and controls the servomotor units for the position of the platform in the X-direction and the scanner unit's position in the Y- and Z-direction so that the position of the scanning unit 5 is optimal for scanning. the object, a drill bit, with the scanner 6.

A fi g. 4 illustrates how a measuring point 14 for the distance measuring equipment during an X-direction expression of the platform and thus a box located on the platform with compartment separating walls 15 for drill samples 16 is movable in an X-direction over a dotted path around portions of the mantle surface of the round drill cores. By appropriate programming of the electronics unit, based on the measured values from the distance measuring equipment, the servomotor units can be controlled so that the platform with its drill cores 16 occupies such a position relative to the scarm that the scanner's measuring point 534 606 is optimized to a drill core. There fi er takes a movement of the scanning unit 5, during scanning, either continuously or sampling, in Y-direction. At the same time, the distance in the Z-joint should be optimized for the best scanning sensitivity, which is why the scanning unit is adjusted in the Z-joint by controlling the third servomotor unit during scarming. During the Y-direction movement, the distance to the drill core is measured continuously and the electronics unit is arranged to continuously control the current servo unit so that the optimal distance between the scanner and the drill core is maintained, even if the drill core position in the box or drill core gives rise in height changes in the drill core. The electronic unit is programmed so that by detecting the measured curve shape of the distance measuring equipment it can recognize the passage of a wall 15 to a compartment in the box 3 and distinguish it from a maximum point of a drill core. In addition, the distance measuring equipment is advantageously arranged so that it can continuously read a portion of the surface of the drill core on either side of the measuring point in order to give signals to the electronics unit for corresponding correction of the platform position in X-direction via lateral deviations of the position of the drill bit current servo unit for the guides 4. This can be achieved by oscillating the measuring point. After scarming of a drill core, the scarmer unit 5 returns to its initial position and an X-direction displacement is made during distance measurement and passage of a compartment wall as above until the peak of the next laterally drilled core is found and the scanning movement is repeated, and so on. In the event of a larger X-joint, for example when changing measuring objects, it is advisable to bring the scanning unit to a safe distance from the drill core and the walls of the box so that no fatal collision occurs.

The electronic unit can also be arranged so that when measuring a number substantially substantially geometrically similar and parallel in the compartments of a box similar objects can be programmed to control the servo unit of the platform to step by step, independently of the distance measuring equipment, set the platform and the platform related the box to positions where the highest point / line / generator of the core is located essentially right for scanning each individual object. Then fi tuning of the optimal position can be started with the help of the distance measurement.

Fig. 5 schematically shows four variants of fittings in the compartments for drill cores in a box 4. The purpose of the fittings is that the drill cores should as far as possible be kept in a predetermined position in the XYZ coordinate system. This makes it possible to more quickly find the optimal position for the scanner relative to the respective drill core.

In the compartment shown marked A, the bottom part of the compartment is arranged with an upwardly facing, V-shaped surface 17 which centers a loaded drill core in the compartment. In the compartment shown marked B, the sides of the compartment are arranged with a pair of centering blocks 18, which can be easily released for optimal centering and tolerance absorption. In the compartment shown marked C, the compartment is provided on its one side with a pressure plate 20 prestressed by means of a spring 19 which positions the drilling sample at the opposite side wall 21 of the compartment and in the compartment shown D marked D a moldable medium 22 is placed at the bottom of the compartment. for example sand or a piece of foam material or the like. 534 606 Fig. 6 shows a partial construction of a second example of a device according to the invention, which example is shown without walls. In the following, reference will be made to “upwards” and “downwards”, in which case the corresponding is meant in fi guren and in also in normal use mode. The device includes a truss with a bottom frame 24, side supports 25 and a top frame 26. In the volume defined by the truss there is a substantially U-shaped beam 27 which is set up in the upper part of the truss with the mouth downwards. The legs of the beam have inwardly facing edges at their lower edges, one of which 23 is designed as a rack on the upper side. In the U-beam 27, the upper part of a scanning unit 28 is installed. The upper part of the shielding unit 28 is provided with wheels (not shown) on either side, of which wheels at least one is a gear which is adapted to the rack and cooperates with it, while other wheels can roll on top of the inwardly facing edges of the U-beam. With the aid of the gear wheel and a fourth servomotor unit (not shown) connected to it, as well as other wheels, the scanning unit 28, controlled by a central electronics unit, can be moved along the U-beam in the longitudinal section of the truss, ie. and Y-led.

The shielding unit is provided with a housing 31 which is attached via a bracket 29 to a blank 30. In the tower there is a fifth servomotor unit (not visible) with a linearly reciprocating, vertically arranged displacement member. At this displacing means the bracket 29 is arranged, and thus the housing 31, controlled by the electronics unit, can be displaced upwards and downwards on the blank, in the Z-joint of the truss. From the housing 31 of the scanning unit 28, an X-ray source 32 extends down towards a box 33, intended for drill cores (not shown) to be screened. In order to detect the reflected radiation from the drilling samples, which the X-rays from the source 32 give rise to, the detecting unit has a detector 34 arranged on two struts 35 extending from the housing 31. At the scanning unit there is also arranged a non-contact distance meter (not visible) which is arranged to measure the distance down to the box 33 and the samples intended to lie in the compartment 36 of the box 33. The distance meter is connected to the electronics unit which by means of output in an output signal from the distance meter controls the servomotor unit arranged in the blank 30 so that the height of the scarming unit is predetermined optimal in relation to the measuring objects, ie. the drill cores, as described above. The optimal distance is determined by the scanner's measuring range and properties.

The box 33 is placed on top of a platform 37 (largely obscured by the box 33), which is provided with an operating bracket 38 at its left end in the figure. By means of the jumper, the platform can be pulled out through a hatch 39 or pushed in from or to a scanning end position for the box 33 loaded on the platform with drilling samples (not shown). For this purpose, the platform is slidably mounted in the Y-joint on runners 40, 41 and 42. The runners 40 and 42 are in turn arranged on separate slide rails 43, while the runner 41 is provided with a through hole with an interior made therein. thread, which is arranged to cooperate with a threaded rod extending rotatably arranged through the hole, a screw 44. The screw 44 is connected to a sixth servomotor unit 44a which is controlled by the electronics unit to surface the runner 41 and thus the one on the runners 40- 42 resting the platform 37 in a direction transverse to the longitudinal direction of the U-beam 27, i.e. in the X-direction, by rotating the screw 44 in one direction or the other.

The clock also shows that the device includes a space, a box 45, which contains space for e.g. the electronics unit and a data storage unit. Furthermore, an air conditioning system is included, symbolically shown with a ventilation unit 46. 534 606 From the clock it appears that the box 45 and the ventilation unit 46 are located so that the platform 37 with the box 33 containing drill samples is partially slidable under the box and the climate unit, while the scanning unit 28 with its movement The U-beam 27 can pass next to them for scanning in the Y-direction along the entire length of the box 33.

The platform 37 with the box 33 is displaceable in the X-direction so that the scanner unit 28 can, by stepwise displacement of the platform 37, by repeated runs in the Y-direction scan all compartments of the box with samples contained therein.

At the left gable are schematically shown connections 47 for e.g. electric power, heating, cooling and telemetry.

With the packing of the components described in more detail in the example above, the space in the housing is optimally utilized and the device according to the invention can be constructed so smoothly that it can easily be transported out into the field, to the drilling site, to perform automatic analyzes there. In other words, the device is mobile. Typical dimensions for a device according to the invention can be about 2x1xl meters.

The results from the analysis are stored in a secure database in the data storage unit cooperating with the electronics unit, which is set up to be accessible only by a competent person. The data stored includes in the analysis of the scarming unit traces of the base and compositions found as well as the exact position of the corresponding measuring point on the drill core and which drill core it. The position is given by sensors cooperating with the servo units their respective drawer compartments.

The house in which the device according to the invention is arranged is weatherproof and provided with auxiliary units (not shown) which in a known manner can regulate the climate and environment inside the house.

This is to ensure that the equipment works in the best way.

The device according to the invention also advantageously includes a marking unit (not shown) which is arranged to follow the scarm and at or after measurement mark through a color line or corresponding to the measuring line which the scanner has followed, advantageously the start and end points of the measuring distance. The marking unit can also be of such a nature that it can be used to identity mark the drill core and / or the box with drilling samples.

This provides very good, complementary information to the results in the database.

The invention is not limited to the embodiment described above and shown in the drawings. Eg. the device can be set up so that the platform can receive more than one box at a time. It is also possible to analyze drill cuttings instead of drill cores.

The drill cuttings are then suitably placed in boxes with corresponding compartments with arrangements in the order in which the cuttings were taken out of the borehole.

The platform does not have to be an entire platform in the true sense, but can consist of a framework that in a well-defined way can receive the box with drilling samples in a stable manner.

The position of the measuring point / measuring line can also be obtained by position sensors which are arranged to sense the position of the scanning unit without cooperating with the servo units. 534 606 The X, Y and Z directions of movement do not have to be orthogonal, even if the position calculations become simpler.

In the above, analysis of drill cores has been described, but it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that with a device according to the invention, cuttings can also be analyzed.

The device and the method are not limited to above ground but can also be used in e.g. mines.

The shielding unit can for other purposes be of a type other than XRF, eg with a laser as the radiation source.

It is also conceivable that the scanner unit when finished scanning a drill core does not return to its initial position but scans the next core in the other direction. This is then taken into account in the storage of data.

Claims (10)

534 B06 ID Patent Claim Device for analyzing samples taken during the exploration of natural resources such as ore, oil and gas, which device comprises a receiver (2,37) for at least one sample (l2a-d) and an analysis unit (5,28) for scanning of the sample, the analysis unit being arranged for non-contact scanning of the sample and the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample being movably arranged relative to each other, characterized in that the receiver of the sample is movably arranged by means of a first positioning means for movement in a first joint, X and that the analysis unit is movably arranged by means of a second and a third positioning means for moving the analysis means in a second and a third direction, Y-direction and Z-direction, respectively, that the relative position between the analysis unit (5,28) and the sample ( 12a-d) is adjustable by means of an electronics unit and the positioning means (44a) controlled by the electronics unit and that the device is provided with measuring means (13) for determining the r the relative position between the analysis unit (5,28) and the receiver (2,37) and a sample located at the receiver, the electronics unit being arranged to control the positioning means on the basis of output from the position measuring means (13) so that the desired relative position between the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample, i.e. The desired, optimal scarming position, where the measuring point of the scanner is optimized to the highest portion of the sample closest to the scanner, is maintained during scanning. 2. The device according to claim 1, characterized in that the position measuring means is arranged to continuously read a portion of the sample surface on either side of the measuring point so as to give lateral deviations of the position of the highest point of the drill core relative to the receiver signals to the electronics unit. positioning means. Device according to Claim 2 or 2, characterized in that the position measuring means is of a type which measures without contact. Device according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the position measuring means is arranged together with the analysis unit. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device is enclosed in a housing (1), characterized in that the device inside the housing, next to a path defined by a range of motion of the analysis unit and a path defined by a range of motion of the receiver with its sample is provided with a space (45) that can be used for auxiliary equipment such as the electronics unit and a climate control unit. 534 605 ll Device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein fl your, elongate samples (12a-d) are arranged substantially parallel to each other in a magazine (3,33) located on the receiver (2,37) with the extent of the samples in the Y-direction, characterized in that the electronics unit is arranged to, when changing samples for scanning, control the first positioning means predetermined stepwise in the X-direction without controlling the output of the position measuring means, the step substantially corresponding to mutual distances between the parallel samples. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronics unit is arranged to cooperate with a data storage unit. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the device is provided with a marking equipment which is arranged to mark the points on the sample which have been scanned and stored in the data storage unit present with the device. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the receiver is arranged with compartments for your samples, characterized in that in the compartments of the receiver there are arranged means (17-22) for holding the samples in a well-arranged position in the coordinate system XYZ. Method for analysis of samples taken during exploration of natural resources, such as ore, oil and gas, with an analysis device comprising a receiver for one or fl your samples and an analysis unit For scanning the sample or samples comprising the method steps to place at least one sample in a receiver, the sample or samples to be analyzed are scanned by the analysis unit while the analysis unit and the receiver with the sample or samples move relative to each other, characterized in that the relative movement between the receiver with the sample or samples and the analysis unit is controlled by an electronics unit controlled positioning means. of the analysis device the relative position between the analysis unit and the receiver or between the analysis unit and the sample or samples in the receiver is determined by a position measuring means of the analysis device desired relative position between the receiver with the sample or samples and the analysis unit is maintained by the electronics unit. the device controls the positioning means.