Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
  • E21B21/01—Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
  • E21B21/01—Arrangements for handling drilling fluids or cuttings outside the borehole, e.g. mud boxes
  • E21B21/015—Means engaging the bore entrance, e.g. hoods for collecting dust
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B21/00—Methods or apparatus for flushing boreholes, e.g. by use of exhaust air from motor
  • E21B21/06—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole
  • E21B21/07—Arrangements for treating drilling fluids outside the borehole for treating dust-laden gaseous fluids
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
  • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
  • E21B7/00—Special methods or apparatus for drilling
  • E21B7/02—Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport with their own drive, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting
  • E21B7/025—Rock drills, i.e. jumbo drills

Definitions

• the invention relates to a method for handling drill cuttings, in which method the drill cuttings are directed away from a drill hole by means of a dust collection system.
• the invention further relates to a dust collection system for a rock drilling rig, the system comprising at least a suction funnel to be placed on the mouth of the drill hole, a suction device generating suction in the system, at least one dust separator and a duct leading from the suction funnel to the dust separator.
• the invention relates yet to a changer unit for directing drill cuttings.
• known solutions are, in practice, based on detaching the dust removal system from the hole, which entails a problem that, for instance, aqueous drill cuttings slide back into the drill hole when drilling ceases, or on interrupting suction in the dust removal, which may cause a blockage of drill cuttings in a dust tube leading to the dust separator.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a novel and improved method for handling drill cuttings, a dust collection system for a rock drilling rig and a changer unit.
• the method of the invention is characterized by directing drill cuttings in the dust collection system with at least one changer unit having at least a first and a second operating position and by determining water content in the drill cuttings and directing the drill cuttings, according to the water content in the drill cuttings, in the first operating position to one or more dust separators and in the second operating position away from the dust collection system before the dust separator.
• the system of the invention is characterized by comprising at least one changer unit having at least two operating positions, in the first of which operating positions there will be provided a continuous duct from the suction funnel to the dust separator and in the second of the operating positions there will not be provided a continuous duct from the suction funnel to the duct collector, and consequently drill cuttings are directed away from the dust collection system before the duct separator.
• the changer unit of the invention is characterized by being arrangeable in at least two operating positions in the first of which operating positions there will be provided a continuous duct from an inlet duct of drill cuttings to a discharge duct of drill cuttings and in the second operating position the duct from the inlet duct to the discharge duct of drill cuttings is cut.
• the basic idea of the invention is that it is possible to select an operating position, in which drill cuttings are directed away from the dust collection system before the dust separator if the water content in the drill cuttings rises so high that it could damage the operation of the dust separator.
• This may be implemented, for instance, by arranging in the dust collection system for drilling or in connection thereof a changer wherewith it is possible to prevent access of exceedingly aqueous drill cuttings into the dust separator.
• the invention has an advantage that when water content in the drill cuttings rises excessively high, the drill cuttings may be readily directed such that they have no access to the dust separator to damage its op- eration. Further, the invention has an advantage that wet drill cuttings are prevented from blocking a dust tube leading to the dust separator.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that at least one upper limit value is set for water content in drill cuttings, and when the upper limit value is exceeded, the drill cuttings are directed away from the dust collection system before the dust separator.
• This embodiment has an advantage that selection of the operating position may be made more explicit and information on the limit value being exceeded may be conveyed to the operator of the drilling apparatus.
• determination of a limit value is generally, in practice, a prerequisite for automatic control of the selection of operating position.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that the operator of the drilling apparatus assesses water content in drill cuttings on the sensory basis and selects manually whether the drill cuttings are directed to the dust separator or away from the dust collection system before the dust separator.
• This embodiment has an advantage that it is simple to implement.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that water content in drill cuttings is determined automatically and information on the moisture of drill cuttings is conveyed to the operator of the drilling apparatus, who selects manually, whether the drill cuttings are directed to the dust separator or away from the dust collection system before the dust separator.
• This embodiment has an advantage that observation of changes in water content becomes easier and there will be less chances of human error.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that water content in drill cuttings is determined automatically and the information is conveyed to a control unit which selects an operating position on the basis of the water content in drill cuttings, whereby the drill cuttings are directed either to the dust separator or, when the water content is excessively high, away from the dust collection system before the dust separator.
• This embodiment has an advantage that it further reduces the chance of human errors and facilitates the work of the operator of drilling apparatus, because in conventional solutions the monitoring of the rise of the water content in the drill cuttings typically requires constant presence and high alertness of the operator of the drilling apparatus during drilling.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that automatic determination of water content employs at least one moisture detector.
• This embodi- ment has an advantage that in water content detection it is possible to use a commercially available sensor.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that excessively aqueous drill cuttings removed from the dust collection system before the dust separator are directed at a distance from the drill hole.
• This embodiment has an advantage that the excessively aqueous drill cuttings are not allowed to slide back into the drill hole after the drilling ceases, and thus make the edges or walls of the drill hole collapse.
• the dust collection system or the changer unit comprises a control unit that is arranged to select and change the operating position of the changer unit in accordance with the water content in the drill cuttings.
• This embodiment has an advantage that it enables automatic control of the operating position without the operator of the drilling apparatus having to participate therein.
• a changer unit comprises a control part, which is arranged, in the second operating position of the changer unit, in which the drill cuttings are directed away from the dust collection system before the dust separator, to direct the drill cuttings at a distance from the drill hole.
• This embodiment has an advantage that the aqueous drill cuttings are not allowed to slide back into the drill hole.
• a suction funnel serves as at least one part of the changer unit framework such that the suction funnel is connected to at least two discharge ducts and inside the suction funnel there is arranged a turning pipe with an opening on its flank, whereby the operating position may be selected by turning the pipe.
• This embodiment has an advantage that the changer unit may be implemented as a part of the suction funnel, and consequently no separate changer unit is needed.
• an inlet duct of drill cuttings is a first connecting pipe and a discharge duct of drill cuttings is a second connecting pipe and that these connecting pipes may be mutually moved such that in a first operating position there is formed a continuous duct from the first connecting pipe to the second connecting pipe, and in a second operating position the duct from the first connecting pipe to the second connecting pipe is cut.
• the changer unit comprises a cylinder by means of which the second connecting pipe may be moved in relation to the first connecting pipe to the first and the second operating positions.
• This embodiment has an advantage that it provides a reliable and automatically controllable way to move the connecting pipes in relation to one another.
• the basic idea of an embodiment is that the second connecting pipe is arranged in a slide structure, whereby the second connecting pipe may be moved linearly in relation to the first connecting pipe from the first operating position to the second operating position and vice versa.
• This embodiment has an advantage that the mutual movement of the connecting pipes is well controllable.
• the changer unit is arrangeable between the suction funnel and the dust separator in the dust collection system.
• Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a typical rock drilling rig and a dust collection system thereof
• Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a changer unit of the invention arranged in a suction funnel
• FIGS 3a and 3b show schematic side views of an embodiment of the changer unit of the invention in two different operating positions
• Figures 4a and 4b show schematic side views of a second embodiment of the changer unit of the invention in two different operating positions
• Figures 5a and 5b show schematic cross sections of a third embodiment of the changer unit of the invention, a side view in Figure 5a and a top view in Figure 5b.
• FIG. 1 shows schematically a typical rock drilling rig 1 including a dust collection system.
• Said rock drilling rig 1 comprises a mobile carrier 2, in which there may be arranged one or more movable drill booms 3.
• a drilling unit 4 which may include at least a feed beam 5 and a rock drill 6.
• the rock drill 6 may be moved on the feed beam 5 during drilling while a percussion device included in the rock drill 6 delivers impact pulses to a tool 7. Then a drill bit 8 at the distal end of the tool 7 breaks rock and the tool 7 penetrates in the rock.
• rock drilling rig In the course of drilling, there is formed broken, partly dusty rock material that may be evacuated from the drill hole 9 by feeding from a flush medium channel 10 air, mixture of air and water or some other flush medium through the tool 7 to the drill bit 8.
• the flush medium pushes drill cuttings to the mouth of the drill hole, wherefrom it may be removed by means of a collection system included in the rock drilling rig 1.
• the rock drilling rig presented here is only one example of a typical rock drilling rig and the manner to direct drill cuttings set forth in this application may be well applied to various drilling apparatuses and systems without limiting to what is presented above.
• the mixture to be removed from the drill hole and containing dust, rock and other material detached from rock during drilling, as well as flush medium, water and other material possibly mixing with rock material in the drill hole are called drill cuttings.
• the dust collection system of the rock drilling rig includes one or more suction devices 11 , wherewith it is possible to provide a necessary suction for sucking drill cuttings from a suction funnel 12 at the mouth of the drill hole 9 along a suction duct 13 to a dust separator 14.
• a dust separator 14 There may be one or more dust separators 14.
• the suction duct 13 is a flexible hose.
• the suction funnel 12 may be a tubular piece at the upper end and lower end of which there are openings such that a tool 7 may be fitted to pass through the suction funnel 12.
• In the flank of the suction funnel 12 there may be at least one connecting pipe 18 or another corresponding structure to which the suction duct 13 may be connected.
• the dust collection system may further include at least one control unit 15, by means of which the operation of the suction device may be controlled, for instance.
• the travel direction of the drill cuttings in the dust collection apparatus is indicated by arrow A.
• the solution of the invention enables selection of the direction of drill cuttings in the dust collection system such that drill cuttings whose composition is ordinary are directed from the drill hole 9 to the dust separator 14 by means of a dust collection system. Instead, when water content in the drill cuttings is excessive in view of the reliable operation of the dust separator, the drill cuttings are diverted to bypass the dust separator 14 away from the dust collection system, whereby blocking of both the dust separator 14 and the dust hose will be prevented.
• Direction of the drill cuttings may be implemented, for instance, by means of a changer unit in accordance with the invention, some embodiments of which are shown in Figures 2 to 5b.
• FIG 2 shows schematically a changer unit 16 of the invention arranged at the mouth of the connecting pipe 18 of the suction funnel 12.
• the changer unit 16 includes a connecting part 17 wherewith a suction duct 13 may be connected to the changer unit 16.
• a similar changer unit is shown in Figures 4a and 4b and the operating principle of the changer unit is explained in more detail in connection with the description of said figures.
• the changer unit may also be arranged inside the actual suction funnel, as will be set forth later on in Figures 5a and 5b, or at another point in the dust collection system appropriate for the use between the drill hole 9 and the dust separator 14.
• FIGS 3a and 3b show schematically a changer unit 16 of the invention in two different operating positions.
• the changer unit 16 of the figure includes a first connecting pipe 19, wherewith the changer unit 16 may be connected to the inlet line of drill cuttings, in the embodiment of Figure 2 to the connecting pipe 18 of the suction funnel 12, a second connecting pipe 20, wherewith the changer unit 16 may be connected to the discharge line of drill cuttings, in the embodiment of Figure 2 to the suction duct 13, and planar connecting and guiding pieces constituting a slide structure, wherewith the first connecting pipe 19 and the second connecting pipe 20 may be arranged movably to one another.
• the second connecting pipe 20 is further provided with a connecting part 17 for connection to the discharge line of drill cuttings.
• the changer unit may include other parts necessary for the structure, operation, use and the like, such as support structures and various connecting parts.
• the changer unit 16 may also include components and actuators necessary for moving the connecting pipes 19 and 20 in relation to one another for instance hydraulically or pneumatically.
• the changer unit 16 may also include a control unit for controlling the operating positions of the changer unit 16.
• the changer unit 16 may yet include automatic detectors, such as a moisture detector 28, for automatic detection of water content in the drill cuttings.
• first and the second connecting pipes are each arranged in the planar connecting piece 22, 23 in the direction of the end surface of the pipe and the mutual movement of these connecting pieces in the direction of their interface is implemented with an actuator 24 included in the changer unit, for instance with a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
• actuator 24 included in the changer unit, for instance with a hydraulic or pneumatic cylinder.
• the mutual arrangement of the first connecting pipe and the second connecting pipe movably in relation to one another may also be implemented in other manners within the scope of the claims.
• the changer unit of Figures 3a and 3b has two operating positions: the first and the second operating position.
• the first connecting pipe 19 is coupled fixedly to the inlet duct of drill cuttings.
• the second connecting pipe 20, which is on the discharge side and coupled to the discharge duct of drill cuttings, such as suction duct 13, may be moved by means of a slide structure linearly in relation to the first connecting pipe 19 in the direction of arrow B.
• the transfer direction B may also be other than that shown in Figures 3a and 3b, being substantially in the direction of drilling, transverse or oblique to the direction of drilling.
• the first and the second connecting pipe 19, 20 may also be arranged to move mutually in relation to a fixed pivot point in the direction of the rotational movement from the first operating position to the second operating position and vice versa, or the second connecting pipe 20 may be connected to the first connecting pipe 19 with a joint structure, by means of which the second connecting pipe 20 may be arranged in the first operating position to the mouth of the first connecting pipe 19 and away therefrom.
• the changer unit is shown in a normal operating position of the dust collection system, in which drill cuttings exiting the drill hole 9 along with a flush medium are sucked with a suction device 11 through the changer unit 16 into the dust collection system.
• the first connecting pipe 19 and the second connecting pipe 20 constitute either alone or together with other components of the changer unit a continuous line that enables, on one hand, transmission of suction from the suction device 11 through the changer unit 16 to the suction funnel 12 and, on the other hand, conveyance of drill cuttings from the first connecting pipe 19 of the changer unit 16 through the second connecting pipe 20 of the changer unit 16 towards the dust separator 14.
• the operating position concerned is called the first operating position.
• FIG. 3b shows the second operating position of the changer unit 16, in which, when water content in drill cuttings rises excessively in view of faultless operation of the dust separator, the second connecting pipe 20 is displaced from the mouth of the first connecting pipe 19 by means of an actuator 24 such that transmission of suction into the suction funnel 12 is stopped and drill cuttings will have no access to the second connecting pipe 20 and therethrough to the dust separator 14.
• aqueous drill cuttings are then discharged directly from the first connecting pipe 19 or an extension thereof in the direction of arrow C outside the dust collection system, which does not generally cause here dust problems thanks to high water content in the drill cuttings.
• the control of the operating positions in the changer unit may be implemented in various embodiments of the invention in the most appropriate manner, for instance, manually, with the control unit 15 of the dust collection system or with a specific control unit to be arranged in the changer unit.
• FIGS 4a and 4b show, from different directions, schematic side views of a second embodiment of a changer unit in accordance with the invention having a structure and a principle that are very similar to those in Figures 3a and 3b and the preceding description.
• the discharge side of the changer unit 16 is provided with a control part 25 by means of which the drill cuttings to be directed to bypass the dust separator 14 are directed at a suitable distance from the drill hole 9 so that the aqueous drill cuttings will not be able, even when the drilling has ceased, to slide back into the drill hole 9 and thus to make the edges or walls of the drill hole collapse.
• the control part 25 may be either a rigid part arranged fixedly to the changer unit 16 or it may be a joint structure, like the connecting pipes 19, 20, whereby it is possible to couple to the changer unit 16 a separate discharge duct, such as tube or hose, which allows the aqueous drill cuttings to be directed farther away from the drill hole 9. How far away from the drill hole 9 the drill cuttings are to be directed in order to avoid problems, depends on a plurality of factors, such as drilling conditions and environment.
• FIGS 5a and 5b show schematically a third embodiment of the changer unit in accordance with the invention, in which the suction funnel 12 of the dust collection system serves as at least one frame component of the changer unit 16.
• the suction funnel 12 of the dust collection system is provided with at least one connecting pipe 18 that may be connected to a duct, such as suction duct 13, connected to the dust separator 14.
• the suction funnel 12 is then provided with at least one control part 25, by means of which drill cuttings may be directed to bypass the dust separator 14, advantageously at a distance from the drill hole.
• the operating positions of the changer unit 16 are based on a turning pipe 26 arranged inside the suction funnel 12, on the flank of which pipe there is an opening 27.
• This turning pipe may be turned inside the suction funnel 12 such that as the pipe is turned the opening 27 may be placed in different positions at the mouth of the connecting pipe 18 or of the control part 25.
• the positions of the turning pipe form the at least two operating positions of the changer unit, of which the first-mentioned operating position directs drill cuttings to the dust separator 14 and the second operating position directs the drill cuttings to bypass the dust separator 14.
• the changer unit is shown in the normal, i.e. the first operating position, in which the drill cuttings are directed through the connecting pipe 18 to the suction duct 13 and therefrom along the dust collection system to the dust separator 14.
• the handling method of drill cuttings and the dust collection system of the rock drilling rig in accordance with the invention it is possible to select the operating position for drill cuttings in a variety of ways.
• the selection of the operating position may be made by the drill operator, for instance. In that case the operator monitors water content in drill cuttings during the drilling on the sensory basis, for instance, and as the water content is excessive in view of the operation of the dust separator 14, the operator may change the operating position of drill cutting control.
• a change in the operating position may be arranged for being carried out directly mechanically with structures in connection with the changer unit 16, with a control device intended for operating position control or in some other appropriate manner.
• water content monitoring of drill cuttings utilizes automatic detection.
• the manner of detection or measuring may be direct, as when using a moisture sensor, or indirect, as when using an acoustic sensor, for instance.
• the moisture detector 28 may be a sensor that measures water content directly or indirectly, such as e.g., in addition to those mentioned above, a mass flow sensor or an optic sensor, a monitoring system based on a camera or image processing, or a combination thereof. Measurement and/or detection information from the moisture detector 28 may be transmitted by means of a data transmission connection 29 to the control unit of the device.
• the data transmission connection may be wired or wireless.
• the control of the operating position of the changer unit 16 may be advantageously automated.
• at least one upper limit value is set for the water content in the drill cuttings, the exceeding of which value prompts the drill cuttings to be directed to bypass the dust separator 14.
• the control may thus take place, for instance, by connecting the moisture detector 28 and the control of the actuator changing the operating position of the changer unit 16 to a control unit, which may be, for instance, the control unit 15 of the dust collection system, a specific, sepa- rate control unit of the changer unit or another available control unit.
• a control unit which may be, for instance, the control unit 15 of the dust collection system, a specific, sepa- rate control unit of the changer unit or another available control unit.
• the selection of the operating position of the changer unit 16 may also be implemented mechanically, of course. In that case, the automatic water content detection may be advantageously connected to an alarm device informing about the limit value being exceeded.
• both the limit values of the water content in drill cuttings and the operating positions of the changer unit 16 may be more than those presented above, when necessary.
• the above-described automatic detection of water content in drill cuttings may also be implemented separately from the method for handling of drill cuttings, the dust collection system in rock drilling and the changer unit 16 described in the present application.
• the water content in the drill cuttings may be implemented by direct or indirect detection of water content utilizing various sensors, camera and image processing or another applicable method or a combination thereof as described above, but in this case the drill cuttings control is not affected on the basis of the water content.
• the water content in the drill cuttings may be utilized, when desired, only informatively by combining it, for instance, with a meter or other indicator the user may observe, with a signal or alarm to be given to the user or by making the user aware of the detected water content in some other manner.
• the user may react to the water content of the drill cuttings, depending on the situation, for instance by closing the suction in the dust collection system or by removing the suction funnel 12 from the mouth of the drill hole 9.
• the information on the automatically determined water content in the drill cuttings may also be linked to the control unit 15 of the dust collection system or to another appropriate control, by means of which it is also possible to implement automatic reaction to a rise in the water content of the drill cuttings.
• this may be implemented by setting at least one upper limit value for the water content in the drill cuttings, and when this value is exceeded, for instance the suction in the dust collection system is cut, the suction funnel 12 of the dust collection system is removed from the mouth of the drill hole 9 or access of drill cuttings to the dust separator 14 is otherwise automatically prevented.
• it is possible to react to a rise in water content in drill cuttings by controlling directly the pressure or flow of the flushing air or other drilling parameters, such as the impact power of the drill, the feed force or speed of the drill and the rotating pressure or speed of the drill.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Geology (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Environmental & Geological Engineering (AREA)
• Fluid Mechanics (AREA)
• General Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Geochemistry & Mineralogy (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Earth Drilling (AREA)
• Processing Of Stones Or Stones Resemblance Materials (AREA)
• Drilling And Exploitation, And Mining Machines And Methods (AREA)

Priority Applications (4)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=39852238

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Cited By (7)

Families Citing this family (3)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (3)

• 2008
  • 2008-09-10 FI FI20085848A patent/FI20085848L/fi not_active Application Discontinuation
• 2009
  • 2009-09-09 CN CN2009801351233A patent/CN102149897A/zh active Pending
  • 2009-09-09 WO PCT/FI2009/050721 patent/WO2010029216A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2009-09-09 JP JP2011523432A patent/JP5289570B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2009-09-09 AU AU2009290778A patent/AU2009290778A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2009-09-09 EP EP09812742.6A patent/EP2321490B1/en active Active

Patent Citations (3)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events