WO2011154919A2

WO2011154919A2 - A drill, related drilling arrangement and/or methods therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2011154919A2
Application number: PCT/IB2011/052531
Authority: WO
Inventors: Patrick John Cooper; Paul Henry Berend; Dougal John Fergus
Original assignee: Ocean Technologies Limited
Priority date: 2010-06-10
Filing date: 2011-06-10
Publication date: 2011-12-15
Also published as: WO2011154919A3; ZA201208810B

Abstract

There is provided a drilling rig for drilling into a particulate surface such as a sea floor. The drilling rig includes a drilling arrangement that fluidises particles in the particulate surface using high pressure water jets, and conveys them to the sea surface by use of the buoyancy of air bubbles that are bubbled into a conveyancing conduit. The drilling rig includes buoyant air bags that assist in removing the drilling arrangement from the seabed, and buoyant air bags that assist in floating the rig to the surface for loading onto a vessel.

Description

A DRILL, RELATED DRILLING ARRANGEMENT AND/OR METHODS

THEREFOR

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a drill rig, drilling arrangement and related methods.

More particularly but not exclusively it relates to a drilling arrangement for use in a drilling rig for taking geological mineral samples.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Geological sampling of the seabed, or of the bottom of lakes and rivers (hereinafter referred to as "the sea bed"), is known throughout the world for the purposes of minerals exploration and minerals resource definition.

It normally involves drilling a hole into the sea bed, and recovering the material that is drilled out at each meter of depth of the hole as samples. It is particularly important in such sampling that sediment drilled out at a particular depth for one 1 meter sample not be contaminated by sediments from a different depth, since the analysis of the samples found at the varying depths are used to create geological models for the estimation of minerals reserves.

Currently, one method of such undersea sampling involves the use of a "Vibracore"™ drilling rig.

Such sampling is typically carried out by drilling into the seabed..

The Vibracore™ drilling rigs includes a vibrating tube that is inserted into the seabed for purposes of taking samples. However, this process takes time to vibrate the tube down into the seabed .. Effective penetration of the seabed is not always possible as this system provides poor penetration in compacted sands, gravels, clay or sea shells.

When the tube has been vibrated to a suitable depth, the entire tube is pulled out and raised to the surface, where it is cut up into 1 metre segments as samples. Accordingly the tubes are not reusable, and while being made of relatively cheap material, will limit the number of samples drilled to the number of tubes carried on the support vessel. Furthermore the vibration of the tube creates eddies within the tube, which may entrain particles within the tube and cause cross contamination of particles from various depths, which effectively means that the accuracy of the samples obtained may not be good.

Currently, such undersea drilling rigs are carried on ships to the drilling site, where they are dropped overboard and sink to the bottom at the correct destination. A cable is trailed from the rig to the ship. Once the rig has completed drilling, the drilling member is pulled free from its drilled depth by means of the cable. This cable is also used to pull the entire drill rig on board again. However, in order for this operation to be carried out in a manner that reduces the potential for the drilling member to be damaged the ship must be located substantially above the drilling rig. Where strong currents, winds or other

environmental conditions are acting on the ship to prevent its accurate location above the drilling rig, this may cause the drill member to be damaged when it is pulled from its drilled depth.

Reverse Cycle (RC) drilling is known on land and involves the use of a drilling shaft and drilling head. The drilling head has cutting bits on it that cuts at a drilling zone, and a drilling shaft. The drilling head and shaft rotate to cut into the soil. The drilling shaft comprises a pair of coaxial cylindrical tubes, namely inner tube and an outer tube. Compressed air is fed down between the outer tube and the inner tube, and through holes in the inner tube and up the inner tube. The flow of compressed air up the inner tube conveys drilled soil from the drilling zone.

The RC drilling process is inherently unsuited to undersea sample drilling, since the spinning drilling head and drilling shaft would cause too much turbulence within the sample stream removed from the drilling zone, resulting in cross contamination of samples from various hole depths.

In this specification, where reference has been made to external sources of information, including patent specifications and other documents, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the present invention. Unless stated otherwise, reference to such sources of information is not to be construed, in any jurisdiction, as an admission that such sources of information are prior art or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "sea bed" or "subsea surface" shall be construed to mean any solid underwater surface, regardless of whether the surface is under a lake, river, sea or ocean surface, or otherwise.

For the purpose of this specification, where method steps are described in sequence, the sequence does not necessarily mean that the steps are to be chronologically ordered in that sequence, unless there is no other logical manner of interpreting the sequence.

For the purposes of this specification, the term "fluidised" is defined to mean one or more selected from the process of fluidising loose particles and the process of loosening attached particles from a mass of particles. OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a drill rig, drilling arrangement and/ or methods therefor that overcomes or at least partially ameliorates some of the abovementioned disadvantages or which at least provides the public with a useful choice.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a drilling arrangement suitable for drilling into a substantially particulate surface such as a seabed, said drilling arrangement comprising;

· a conduit (herein after "liquid conduit"), to contain and deliver a flow of liquid to a drilling zone, said liquid conduit being restricted at one end to accelerate the flow of liquid at the drilling zone for impinging on the particulate surface to fluidise the particles at or from the surface;

• a conveying conduit via which the removed particles can be conveyed from the drilling zone.

Preferably, the accelerated flow of liquid facilitates the fluidisation of particles in the particulate surface to facilitate transportation of said fluidised particles from the drilling zone.

Preferably, the drilling arrangement further comprises a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas to the drilling zone, said gas conduit being configured and adapted to release gas into the conveying conduit.

Preferably, the liquid conduit is one or more selected from an annular conduit or tubular conduit.

Preferably, the conveying conduit is located at least partially within the gas conduit. Preferably, the gas conduit is located at least partially within the liquid conduit.

Preferably, the conveying conduit is a tubular conduit.

Preferably, the gas conduit is one or more selected from an annular conduit and a tubular conduit.

Preferably, one or more selected from the liquid conduit, conveying conduit and gas conduit are defined by members of cylindrical cross section.

Preferably, the conveying conduit is located radially inwardly of the gas conduit. Preferably, the gas conduit is located radially inwardly of the liquid conduit.

Preferably, the gas conduit, liquid conduit and conveying conduit are coaxial along their longitudinal length. Preferably, the drilling arrangement includes an outermost cylindrical tube, an intermediate cylindrical tube disposed within and coaxial with the outermost cylindrical tube, and an innermost cylindrical tube disposed within and coaxial with the intermediate cylindrical tube.

Preferably, the liquid conduit is defined at least partly between the outermost cylindrical tube and the intermediate cylindrical tube.

Preferably, the gas conduit is defined at least partly between the intermediate cylindrical tube and the innermost cylindrical tube.

Preferably, the conveying conduit is defined within the innermost cylindrical tube Preferably, the liquid is accelerated at said drilling zone by at least one or more spray nozzle(s) disposed at an end of the liquid conduit.

Preferably, the spray nozzle(s) are disposed at an end of the cylindrical liquid conduit.

Preferably, the spray nozzle(s) are disposed at an end of the outermost cylindrical tube.

Preferably, the gas conduit is in fluid communication with the conveyancing conduit by way of at least one or more apertures in the conveyancing conduit.

Preferably, the apertures are restrictor holes.

Preferably the gas conduit is configured and adapted to deliver gas to said conveying conduit via apertures between the gas conduit and the conveying conduit.

Preferably, the liquid conduit is in fluid communication with an array of spray nozzles at a drilling zone for impinging jets of liquid on a particulate surface for removing particles from the particulate surface. Preferably, the gas conduit releases compressed gas into the conveying conduit, which gas then migrates upwardly, thereby causing the removed particles to be conveyed upwardly in said conveying conduit.

Preferably, the drilling arrangement further comprises a concentrating arrangement adapted for removal of the removed particles in the conveying conduit from water in the conveying conduit.

Preferably, the concentrating arrangement is a cyclonic separator.

Preferably or alternately, the drilling arrangement comprises a suction mechanism for suctioning the freed particles via the conveying conduit from the drilling zone. In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a drilling rig consisting at least in part of a drilling arrangement as described above.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly be a drilling rig suitable for drilling into a sea bed and conveying them to a concentrating arrangement, said drilling rig comprising

• an elongate drilling shaft;

• a drilling head disposed at or towards an end of the drilling shaft;

• a rig frame for supporting the drilling shaft;

• a retractor for moving the drilling shaft away from the sea bed once the drilling shaft has been drilled into the sea bed.

Preferably the retractor is a hydraulic retraction arrangement.

Preferably, the drilling rig further comprises an inserting means for moving the drilling shaft towards the sea bed.

Preferably, the inserting means is a hydraulic insertion arrangement.

Preferably, sea bed comprises a particulate surface.

Preferably, sea bed comprises a particulate surface of loose particles.

Preferably, one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes a control system.

Preferably, the control system is controllable remotely.

Preferably, one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes at least one hydraulic accumulator.

Preferably, one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes at least one hydraulic winch.

Preferably, the hydraulic winch operates by means of a hydraulic ram. Preferably, one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes at least one pulley.

Preferably, the drilling rig further comprises a weighting arrangement for weighting the drilling shaft towards the sea bed for drilling.

Preferably, the drilling rig further comprises a shaft buoyancy arrangement for assisting in withdrawing the drilling shaft and drilling head from the drilled hole.

Preferably, the shaft buoyancy arrangement comprises a pneumatic extraction bag.

Preferably, the drilling rig further comprises a rig buoyancy arrangement for floating the drilling rig to the surface when drilling has been completed.

Preferably, the rig buoyancy arrangement comprises a pneumatic extraction bag. Preferably, the drilling rig further comprises at least one camera arrangement whereby at least one or more selected from the shaft buoyancy arrangement, rig buoyancy arrangement, hydraulic retraction arrangement, and hydraulic insertion arrangement can be controlled remotely while viewing their operation.

Preferably, the drilling rig comprises a drilling arrangement as described above.

Preferably, the drilling rig comprises a liquid feed conduit from a high pressure liquid source of high pressure liquid to the drilling rig.

Preferably, the high pressure liquid is water.

Preferably, the high pressure liquid is sea water.

Preferably, the high pressure liquid source is a pump.

Preferably, the drilling rig comprises a compressed gas conduit from a high pressure gas source of high pressure gas to the drilling rig.

Preferably, the high pressure gas is compressed air.

Preferably, the high pressure gas source is one or more selected from a compressor and a pneumatic power pack unit.

Preferably, the drilling rig comprises a conveying conduit for conveying drilled matter from the drilling rig to a concentrating arrangement.

Preferably, the drilling rig comprises a concentrating arrangement.

Preferably, the concentrating arrangement is a cyclonic separator.

In another aspect the present invention may be said to broadly be a method of drilling, suitable for drilling into a surface of a sea bed using a drill head located towards an end of a drill shaft and a retraction arrangement, said method comprising the steps of

• locating said drilling rig at a suitable location on a surface to be drilled;

• drilling a hole into the surface to be drilled with the drill head and drill shaft; and

• retracting the drill head and drill shaft from the hole by means of the

retraction arrangement.

Preferably, the method includes the step of

• actuating a flotation device for assisting in retracting the drill head.

Preferably, the method includes the step of

• actuating a flotation device for floating the drilling rig to the water surface. Preferably, the method includes the step of:

• winching the drilling rig to the water surface for loading aboard a vessel. Preferably, the retraction arrangement is hydraulically powered.

Preferably, the drilling rig comprises a rig frame and the retraction arrangement is mounted to the rig frame.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of

· controlling the drilling of the hole in the sea bed by means of an insertion arrangement.

Preferably, the insertion arrangement is hydraulically powered.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of

• transporting the drill rig to a suitable location by a water borne vessel; and · lowering the rig overboard to locate at a suitable location on the sea bed.

Preferably, the retraction of the drill head and drill shaft from the hole is controlled remotely.

Preferably, the drilling of the hole in the sea bed is drilled using one or more selected from a drilling arrangement and a drilling rig as described above.

Preferably, the method includes the steps of

• actuating a high pressure liquid flow for cutting into the sea bed.

Preferably, method further comprises the step of

• guiding the high pressure liquid flow through nozzles to create high

pressure jets of liquid for cutting into the seabed.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a method of creating a sample of drilling debris created by an action of a drill (preferably a water jet) at a drilling zone onto a subsea surface, said method comprising providing a conduit at or proximate said drilling zone and introducing a gas into said conduit proximate said drilling zone to draw, for migration towards a sample collection zone, drilling debris into said conduit.

Preferably the drill includes at least one water jet.

Preferably, the drill includes a plurality of water jets.

Preferably the conduit includes a mouth opening at or proximate said drilling zone into which said debris can pass.

Preferably the conduit is filled with water (eg the sea water).

In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a drilling arrangement suitable for collection of samples for seabed mineral resource definition, comprising a drill configured and adapted for fluidising particles from a particulate surface at a drilling zone;

a conveying conduit open at or near said drilling zone for conveying the fluidised particles from the drilling zone,;

a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas into the conveying conduit at or near the drilling zone, said gas conduit being configured and adapted to release gas into the conveying conduit to establish a rising flow of bubbles in the conveying conduit.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a method of taking a sample of particles from a seabed comprising, presenting an opening of a water containing conduit at or near a location of the seabed at where particles are fluidised, the conduit containing a rising flow of gas that causes the particles to be drawn upwards and to or towards a location of the conduit where the particles are removed for sampling.

Preferably the flow of gas is established by introducing a gas into said conduit at or near the opening.

In yet a further aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a device for taking a sample of particles from a seabed comprising, a conduit with an opening to be presented at or near a location of the seabed at where particles are fluidised, the conduit capable of receiving gas to establish a rising flow of gas inside the conduit that causes the particles to be drawn upwards and to or towards a location of the conduit where the particles are removed for sampling.

In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a drilling arrangement suitable for collection of samples for mineral resource definition, comprising

· a drill configured and adapted for drilling a hole and to fluidise particles from a particulate surface at a drilling zone;

• a conveying conduit for conveying the particles from the drilling zone;

• wherein the conveying conduit is disposed within a drilling shaft for drilling into said surface.

Preferably, the drilling shaft has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 1 meter.

Preferably, the drilling shaft has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 200 millimetres.

Preferably, the drilling shaft has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 100 millimetres. In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a conveying arrangement for use in sampling for a mineral resource definition, said drilling arrangement comprising

· a conveying conduit for conveying particles from a drilling zone; and

• a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas at or near the drilling zone, into the conveying conduit.

Preferably, the drilling arrangement comprises drilling means for drilling a hole to fluidise particles from a surface at a drilling zone.

Preferably, the drilling arrangement further comprises a liquid conduit for delivering a flow of liquid to a drilling zone, said liquid conduit being restricted at one end to accelerate the flow of liquid at the drilling zone prior to impinging on a particulate surface to fluidise the particles.

Preferably, the liquid conduit is accelerated by nozzles to form jets of liquid.

Preferably the particles are the particles to be sampled.

Preferably the drilling arrangement is to be used for taking particle samples on or at a seabed.

Preferably the conveying conduit is at least partially submerged in water, the conveying conduit being at least partially flooded with said water.

In another aspect the present invention may broadly be said to be a drilling arrangement for use in sampling for a mineral resource definition, said drilling arrangement comprising

• a drill configured and adapted for drilling into a particulate surface and fluidising particles at a drilling zone;

• a conveying conduit for conveying the particles upwards from a drilling zone; and

• a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas into the conveying conduit at or near the drilling zone to at least facilitate the conveying of the fluidised particles to a sampling zone.

Preferably, the sampling zone includes a concentrating arrangement.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings. As used herein the term "and/ or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/ or singular forms of the noun.

The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of. When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

The entire disclosures of all applications, patents and publications, cited above and below, if any, are hereby incorporated by reference.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the drawings in which:

Figure 1: shows an end view of a drilling head;

Figure 2: shows a schematic view of a drilling arrangement;

Figure 3: shows a schematic view of a drill rig;

Figure 4: shows a schematic view of a drill rig using a hydraulic ram and hydraulic accumulator;

Figure 5: shows a perspective cutaway end view of a drilling arrangement in a drill rig frame; and

Figure 6: shows a perspective cutaway side view of a drilling arrangement in a drill rig frame, showing jets of water being accelerated form the nozzles. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT (S)

With reference to the above drawings, in which similar features are generally indicated by similar numerals, drilling arrangement according to a first aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numerals 100, and a drilling rig according to a further aspect of the invention is generally indicated by the numerals 1000. In one embodiment now described, there is provided a drilling arrangement 100 for use in a drilling rig 1000, for use especially in drilling into the seafloor at relatively shallow depths of up to 200m.

The drilling rig 1000 and drilling arrangement 100 are intended for use in drilling into the sea bed 3000 up to around 5-10 meters deep (although it is envisaged that it may be able to drill to deeper depths than that). The main functionality of such a drilling rig 1000 and drilling arrangement 100 is expected to be in the use of taking samples of the sea bed at small hole depths, as part of a geological mineral resources definition sampling project, although use of the drilling rig 1000 merely to create a suitable bore in the seafloor is also envisaged, as well as possible use of the drilling rig 1000 on land based drilling projects. The drilling

arrangement 100 comprises a hollow outermost cylindrical tube 110, a hollow intermediate cylindrical tube 120 disposed within and coaxial with the outermost cylindrical tube 110, and a hollow innermost cylindrical tube 130 disposed within and coaxial with the intermediate cylindrical tube. There is a space between the outermost cylindrical tube 110 and the intermediate cylindrical tube 120 to define a high pressure liquid conduit 140. Another space between the intermediate cylindrical tube 120 and the innermost cylindrical tube 130 defines a gas conduit 150. Finally, the space within the cylindrical tube 130 defines a conveying conduit 160.

The liquid conduit 140 extends to a lower end of the outermost cylindrical tube 110 where the space between the outermost cylindrical tube 110 and the intermediate cylindrical tube 120 is closed off by an end wall 142. An array of nozzles 144 are located in apertures in the end wall 142. Pressurised sea water is fed from a pump 4100 on a surface vessel 4000 at between 125-3000psi (or about 862KPa-20.6Mpa) into the high pressure liquid conduit 140. The nozzles 144 accelerate the high pressure liquid, within the high pressure liquid conduit 140 to form jets 146 of liquid at a drilling zone 170 for impinging said jets 146 of liquid on a surface of particles (such as the sea bed) to free the particles (not shown) from the surface. The jets of water impinging on the sediment will not only cut into the particulate surface to loosen the particles, but will fluidise the loosened particles for convenient transportation away from the drilling zone 170 as explained below. It is envisaged that in another embodiment the nozzles 144 could be mounted on a rotating platform (not shown). However, it is preferable not to create too much turbulence within the drilling zone, to prevent particles of sediment from differing depths contaminating the samples of the currently drilled depth. It will be appreciated that the nozzles could be any form of restriction of the cross sectional area of the liquid conduit 140. High pressure gas, preferably in the form of compressed air at about 125psi (or approximately 860KPa) , is fed into the gas conduit 150 from a pneumatic power pack 4200 or compressor on the surface vessel 4000 for conveying compressed gas towards the drilling zone 170, from a compressed air line from a supporting surface vessel 4000 at the surface. It is envisaged that such pressurised gas could also be fed from pressurised tanks (not shown) mounted on the associated drilling rig 1000, or located proximate the drilling rig 1000. It is also envisaged that the pressurised gas could be any other suitable gas.

The end of the gas conduit 150 is sealed between the intermediate cylindrical tube 120 and the innermost cylindrical tube 130 by an end wall 152. The pressurised gas is forced through small apertures in the form of restrictor holes 154 in the innermost cylindrical tube 130 towards it lower end, to escape into the inside of the innermost cylindrical tube 130.

The innermost cylindrical tube 130 is open at its lower end. When the pressure on the compressed gas is released within the innermost cylindrical tube 130 it starts expanding and forming bubbles within the innermost cylindrical tube 130. The expanding gas starts to rise, and as it does so, it will expand further. The rise of the expanding gas creates a vacuum effect, drawing particles that have been freed by the jets 146 of water from the nozzles 144 into the conveying conduit 160 in a sample stream shown as Arrow A in Figure 2. Further, freed particles that have already been drawn into the conveying conduit 160 will be held (or entrained) by the water surface tension of the rising bubbles, and made buoyant by the buoyancy of the bubbles, thereby causing a flotation effect. The physical engagement of the particles with the bubbles ensures that they are not held back in vortexes and / or eddy currents within the conveying conduit. This effect, together with the fact that the bubbles create strong vacuum effect, means that the particles do not linger in the conveying conduit, where they can contaminate later samples.

It is also envisaged that the vacuum effect of the bubbles can be controlled by restricting or opening the restrictor holes 154.

The use of this flotation effect only necessitates the pumping of compressed gas down the depths required, and negates the necessity of providing a suction effect at the lower end of the conveying conduit 160 to draw the freed particles into the conveying conduit 160 and onwards to the surface. However, it should be appreciated that this need not necessarily be the case, and another vacuum or suction-type mechanism (not shown) could be utilised to the same purpose.

It is envisaged that the conveying conduit 160 could be of any shape or cross section, as could the liquid conduit 140 and the gas conduit 150, as long as the high pressure liquid is delivered to the nozzles 144 for impinging onto the surface to be drilled. However, a cylindrical tubular shape allows for the most buckle resistance.

For example, the liquid conduit 140 may be an annular ring (not shown) supplied by a high pressure hose (not shown). The gas conduit 150 could be a high pressure hose that extends to a single outlet at the lower mouth of the conveying conduit. If the rising air bubbles are used to provide the flotation and/ or suction effect on the freed particles, then the conveying conduit 160 must be of a suitable cross sectional shape and dimension so as to allow the flotation and suction effect of the rising air bubbles to occur to remove the freed particles from the drilling zone 170. However, if another vacuum or suction type mechanism is used then the conveying conduit 160 could be of any other suitable shape or cross section, bearing in mind that it will be required to extend down the drilled hole to a depth of some 5- 10 metres.

Where the preferred embodiment of the drilling arrangement 100 described is used as the drilling shaft 1100 and drilling head 1200of a drilling rig 1000, it allows for a reasonable amount of resistance to buckling of the drill shaft, while allowing for the unhindered flow of gas and liquid to the drilling zone 170, and of freed particles and air from the drilling zone 170. Preferably, the drilling shaft 1100 has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and lmeter. Even more preferably, the drilling shaft 1100 has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 200 millimetres. Even more preferably, the drilling shaft 1100 has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 100 millimetres.

In a preferred embodiment, the drilling arrangement 100 can further comprise a concentrating arrangement 180 adapted for removal of the freed particles from the sample stream A. In one preferred embodiment, the concentrating arrangement is a cyclonic -type separator or concentrator such as a cyclone 182. However, it is envisaged that many other types of concentrator-type mechanism could be used for the removal of the particles from the sample stream A. The use of a cyclone 182 is preferred as it allows for the chronological sequencing of the particles, for storage in samples corresponding to the drilling of 1 metre depth increments.

When the drilling arrangement 100 described above is utilised, the drilling head 1200 is moved downwards very slowly. This factor means that there are relatively few particles that are being conveyed relative to the amount of water being conveyed in the conveying conduit 160. Further, the particles are conveyed relatively quickly along the conveying conduit 160 to the cyclone 182, where they are concentrated out as they arrive. This means that there is less probability of individual particles not being conveyed, and becoming out of sequence with the chronological sequence that they were drilled from the sea bed 3000. This allows the samples to be relatively accurate.

In another aspect there is provided a drilling rig 1000 for freeing particles such as compacted sediment from a surface such as a sea, river or lake floor, and conveying them to a concentrating arrangement 180. The drilling rig 1000 comprises an elongate drilling shaft 1100 suitable for drilling into the sea bed 3000; a drilling head 1200 disposed towards an end of the drilling shaft 1100; and a rig frame 1300 for supporting the drilling shaft in a position suitable for drilling into the sea bed 3000. The drilling rig 1000 further comprises a retractor in the form of a hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 for retracting the drilling shaft 1100 from the drilled hole once the drilling shaft 1100 has been drilled into the sea bed 3000, and a hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500 for assisting in inserting the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100 into the hole in the sea bed 3000. It is envisaged that the retractor could operate by means of a wide variety of suitable mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic mechanism. However, hydraulic operation provides suitable strength, and control, especially at the depths in which the drilling rig will be operated in.

The hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 and the hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500 each include a hydraulic accumulator system (not shown). The hydraulic accumulator systems use pressure stored previously within a pressure vessel alongside a compressible nitrogen bladder to provide liquid pressurised to sufficient pressure to operate hydraulic winches 1420 & 1520 respectively. It is envisaged that either of the hydraulic winches 1420 & 1520 may operate via a pulley system (shown as numerals 1422 as part of the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400) in order to change the direction of pull of the hydraulic winch. In one preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 could include a hydraulic ram operating through pulleys 1422 as a hydraulic winch 1420.

The hydraulic winch 1520 for the hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500 is envisaged as being used to move the drilling shaft 1100 with its drilling head 1200 downwardly towards the surface of the seafloor, so that preferably the high pressure jets 146 from the nozzles 144 are disposed close enough to the sea bed 3000 to there by impinge on the sea bed 3000 to start freeing particles from it. In the scenario where the drilling arrangement 100 described above is used to penetrate into the sea bed, then the hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500 can provide additional downward pressure on the drilling shaft against the sea bed, if required to achieve an optimum speed of penetration of the drill shaft 1100 into the seabed. However, if a conventional drilling arrangement is used, utilising a rotating drill head (not shown) with an associated drill bit (not shown), then it is envisaged that the hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500 can provide such downward pressure.

In one preferred embodiment, the drilling rig 1000 comprises a weighting arrangement 1600 in the form of lead (or other suitably heavy material) weights 1610 acting downwardly on the top end of the drilling shaft 1100. The weighting arrangement 1600 is positioned for weighting the drilling shaft 1100 to push it downwards into the hole to be drilled. In this way, as the loosened and fluidised articles are removed from beneath the drilling head 1200, the weight of the weights 1610 will cause it to move down naturally. By utilising such a weighting arrangement 1600 to provide most of the downward force required for drilling, the hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500 can be used to provide additional downward force on the drilling shaft 1100 when the shaft is stuck an/ or for fine control of the downward force and/or positioning of the drill head 1200 by a control system (not shown) which is discussed below.

The hydraulic winches 1420 and associated pulley system 1422 of the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 are used for retracting the drilling shaft 1100 and drilling head 1200 from the drilled hole once drilling is completed. Such retraction by the locally located hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 results in the retraction of the drilling shaft 1100 and drilling head 1200 in a direction substantially opposite to the drilling direction, to prevent unnecessary sideways forces acting on the drilling shaft 1100, which may result in it being bent or damaged. Further, because the retracting force is provided through the localised rig frame 1300, the retracting force provided by the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 will not be affected much by environmental factors such as water currents, surface wind effects on the surface vessel 4000, and swell surge.

In a preferred embodiment, the drilling rig 1000 further comprises a control system

(not shown). It is envisaged that the control system could be configured to be operated by divers locally, or by operators on a surface vessel 4000 by remote control.

The control system will actuate suitable pneumatic and / or hydraulic valves or actuators to control movement of the hydraulic winches 1420, 1520 to control positioning of the drilling shaft. To this end, it is envisaged that the control system may employ a plurality of cameras and connecting cables (not shown) configured and adapted for sending visual signals for display to an operator locally or remotely. The cameras can be configured to provide close up views of the hole being drilled, or even down-hole views from cameras located towards the drill head 1200. This is especially possible where the drilling arrangement 100 according to the invention is used, since no rotation of the drilling head 1200 is envisaged. . In this way, potential obstacle to drilling may be assessed at an early stage and potential risk to the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100 at least partially prevented. Cameras may in addition be configured to give larger wide angle views of the drilling rig 1000 so that divers need only be deployed in critical situations.

In one embodiment, the drilling rig 1000 further comprises a shaft buoyancy arrangement 1700 for assisting in the withdrawal of the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100 from the drilled hole. It is envisaged that the buoyancy created by the shaft buoyancy arrangement 1700 will not be sufficient to completely withdraw the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100 from the drilled hole, but will provide most of the force required. The retractor in the form of the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 can then be used to supply the remaining force required, and be able to withdraw it carefully with effective control of the movement of the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100. The shaft buoyancy arrangement 1700 includes a buoyant pneumatic extraction bag 1710 that can be actuated to be filled with compressed air from a compressed air line 1800, or a local compressed gas storage unit, such as a gas bottle(not shown)

In another embodiment (not shown) the drilling rig can include a rig buoyancy arrangement (not shown) for floating the drilling rig 1000 to the water surface once drilling has been completed, and the drilling shaft 1100 and drilling head 1200 have been retracted from the hole. The rig buoyancy arrangement can include another buoyant pneumatic extraction bag (not shown) that can be filled with compressed air, to thereby float the drilling rig 1000 to the surface of the water.

It is envisaged that in an alternative embodiment, the compressed air line 1800 can be connected to the gas conduit 150. In this way, the number of supply feeds to the drilling rig 1000 is reduced, together with potential risk of such feeds being snagged on anything (such as undersea rock formations, divers, etc) and causing an accident.

The control system could also configured for remote actuation of the rig buoyancy arrangement, to allow for the automated flotation of the drilling rig 1000 to the water surface once the drilling procedure and retraction of the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100 has been completed by the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400. It is envisaged that the rig buoyancy arrangement could be actuated to varying degrees of buoyancy to allow for slow, controlled liftoff from the sea bed 3000 where rock formations or other hindrances may impede the flotation of the drilling rig 1000. In addition to the compressed air line 1800, the drilling rig 1000 can include a high pressure water feed line 1900 from the surface vessel 4000, for supplying pressurised seawater to the liquid conduit 140, although in another embodiment, a high pressure water source could be provided locally on the drill rig 1000 - possibly also through the use of a hydraulic accumulator system 1410. However, the limitations of having a pressurising arrangement located locally on the drilling rig, such as exposure to the elements and corrosion, make such an arrangement unlikely. A further feed line to the drill rig may include control system control lines (not shown). Lastly, a conveying conduit feed line 2000 is provided from the drill rig 100 to the surface vessel 4000. The conveying conduit feed line 2000 is envisaged as conveying the sample stream A from the conveying conduit 160 of the drilling arrangement 100 to the surface vessel 4000 for processing in the concentrating arrangement 180.

In use, it is envisaged that the drilling rig will be transported to a desired location on a surface vessel 4000 such as a ship. It will be suspended from a crane on the vessel, and will be dropped overboard. It will be suspended so that it hangs in the orientation that it is to be lowered onto the seafloor in.

It will be lowered to the seafloor, after which the control system will be actuated to control movement of the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft 1100 to move downwardly (under action of the weighting arrangement 1600) until the sea bed is within range of the jets 146 from the nozzles 144.

Then, the flow through the gas conduit 150 is actuated by the controls system, to thereby cause a flow upwards in the conveying conduit 160. The high pressure liquid conduit 140 is actuated so that jets 146 of water start impinging on the sea bed from the nozzles 144.

As the sediment on the sea bed is abraded by the jets 146, it is sucked into the conveying conduit 160, where it is transported by the expanding gas bubbles in the conveying conduit 160 to the surface vessel 4000.

As the sediment is removed, the position of the drill head 1200 can be lowered by careful control of the hydraulic insertion arrangement 1500, until the hole has been drilled to a sufficient depth. As the sediment is removed from the hole, and transported to the surface vessel 4000 to the cyclone 182 the sediment associate with each meter depth of the hole is collected and stored together as a sample. It is envisaged that the lowering of the drilling head could be temporarily suspended until that 1 meter sample is collected, and then lowered again. In this way, such samples will provide more accurate information for geological modelling of the sea bed than samples where sediment from various depths has been mixed and/ or contaminated with sediment from other hole depths. Once the drilling of the hole is completed, the hydraulic retraction arrangement 1400 is used to carefully retract the drilling shaft 1100 and drilling head 1200 from the hole without causing damage to it from it.

Once the drilling shaft 1100 and drilling head 1200 have been fully retracted, the rig buoyancy arrangement is actuated, and starts filling up with air. The buoyancy in the pneumatic extraction bag 1710 causes the drilling rig 1000 to start floating. It is envisaged that the buoyancy provided by the pneumatic extraction bag 1710 may not be sufficient to float the drilling rig 1000 fully, but instead may be slightly less buoyant, so that control over the flotation of the drilling rig can be exerted by winches (not shown) on the surface vessel 4000. This will prevent the uncontrolled flotation of the drilling rig 1000 to the water surface where it could rise up under the surface vessel 4000.

Alternately, once the drilling head 1200 and drilling shaft have been retracted from the hole, the drilling rig 1000 may be merely winched to surface by a winch (not shown) on the surface vessel.

The drilling rig 1000 will then be winched up onto the surface vessel 4000 for transport to the next location.

The present invention can provide a very rapid flow of water, sediment and air up to the surface, without mixing of the sediment found at different depths. This allows for more accurate recordal and storage of depth samples at 1 meter intervals.

Where in the foregoing description reference has been made to elements or integers having known equivalents, then such equivalents are included as if they were individually set forth.

Although the invention has been described by way of example and with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that modifications and/ or improvements may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.

In addition, where features or aspects of the invention are described in terms of Markush groups, those skilled in the art will recognise that the invention is also thereby described in terms of any individual member or subgroup of members of the Markush group.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A drilling arrangement suitable for drilling into a substantially particulate surface such as a seabed, said drilling arrangement comprising:

a. a liquid conduit for containing and delivering a flow of liquid to a drilling zone, said liquid conduit being restricted at one end to accelerate the flow of liquid at the drilling zone for impingement on the particulate surface to fluidise or loosen the particles at or from the surface; and

b. a conveying conduit via which the removed particles can be conveyed from the drilling zone.

2. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the accelerated flow of liquid

facilitates the fluidisation of particles in the particulate surface to facilitate transportation of said fluidised particles from the drilling zone.

3. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the drilling

arrangement further comprises a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas to the drilling zone, said gas conduit being configured and adapted to release gas into the conveying conduit.

4. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the liquid conduit is one or more selected from an annular conduit and a tubular conduit.

5. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the conveying

conduit is located at least partially within the gas conduit.

6. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the gas conduit is located at least partially within the liquid conduit.

7. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the conveying

conduit is one or more selected from an annular conduit and a tubular conduit.

8. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 7, wherein the gas conduit is one or more selected from an annular conduit and a tubular conduit.

9. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 8, wherein one or more

selected from the liquid conduit, conveying conduit and gas conduit are defined by members of cylindrical cross section.

10. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 9, wherein the conveying conduit is located radially inwardly of the gas conduit.

11. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 10, wherein the gas conduit is located radially inwardly of the liquid conduit.

12. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein the gas conduit, liquid conduit and conveying conduit are coaxial along their longitudinal length.

13. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 12, wherein the drilling arrangement includes an outermost cylindrical tube, an intermediate cylindrical tube disposed within and coaxial with the outermost cylindrical tube, and an innermost cylindrical tube disposed within and coaxial with the intermediate cylindrical tube.

14. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 13, wherein the liquid conduit is defined at least partly between the outermost cylindrical tube and the intermediate cylindrical tube.

15. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 14, wherein the gas conduit is defined at least partly between the intermediate cylindrical tube and the innermost cylindrical tube.

16. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 13 to 15, wherein the conveying conduit is defined within the innermost cylindrical tube

17. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the liquid is

accelerated at said drilling zone by at least one or more spray nozzle(s) disposed at an end of the liquid conduit.

18. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any claim 17, wherein the spray nozzle(s) are disposed at an end of the cylindrical liquid conduit.

19. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 18, wherein the spray

nozzle(s) are disposed at an end of the outermost cylindrical tube.

20. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the gas conduit is in fluid communication with the conveying conduit by way of at least one or more apertures in the conveying conduit.

21. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the apertures are restrictor holes.

22. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 21, wherein the gas conduit is configured and adapted to deliver gas to said conveying conduit via apertures between the gas conduit and the conveying conduit.

23. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 17 to 22, wherein the liquid conduit is in fluid communication with an array of spray nozzles at a drilling zone for impinging jets of liquid on a particulate surface for removing particles from the particulate surface

24. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein the gas conduit releases compressed gas into the conveying conduit, which gas then migrates upwardly, thereby causing the removed particles to be conveyed upwardly in said conveying conduit.

25. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the drilling arrangement further comprises a concentrating arrangement adapted for removal of the removed particles in the conveying conduit from water in the conveying conduit.

26. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the concentrating arrangement is a cyclonic separator.

27. A drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the drilling

arrangement comprises a suction mechanism for suctioning the freed particles via the conveying conduit from the drilling zone.

28. A drilling rig consisting at least in part of a drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1-27.

29. A drilling rig suitable for drilling into a sea bed and conveying them to a

concentrating arrangement, said drilling rig comprising

a. an elongate drilling shaft;

b. a drilling head disposed at or towards an end of the drilling shaft;

c. a rig frame for supporting the drilling shaft;

d. a retractor for moving the drilling shaft away from the sea bed once the drilling shaft has been drilled into the sea bed.

30. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 29, wherein the retractor is a hydraulic retraction

arrangement.

31. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 30, wherein the drilling rig further comprises an inserting means for moving the drilling shaft towards the sea bed.

32. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 31, wherein the inserting means is a hydraulic insertion arrangement.

33. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 32, wherein one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes a control system.

34. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 33, wherein the control system is controllable remotely.

35. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 34, wherein one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes at least one hydraulic accumulator.

36. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes at least one hydraulic winch.

37. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 36, wherein the hydraulic winch operates by means of a hydraulic ram.

38. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 33 to 37, wherein one or more selected from the hydraulic retraction arrangement and the hydraulic insertion arrangement includes at least one pulley.

39. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 38, wherein the drilling rig further comprises a weighting arrangement for weighting the drilling shaft towards the sea bed for drilling.

40. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 39, wherein the drilling rig further comprises a shaft buoyancy arrangement for assisting in withdrawing the drilling shaft and drilling head from the drilled hole.

41. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 40, wherein the shaft buoyancy arrangement comprises a pneumatic extraction bag.

42. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 41, wherein the drilling rig further comprises a rig buoyancy arrangement for floating the drilling rig to the surface when drilling has been completed.

43. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 42, wherein the rig buoyancy arrangement comprises a pneumatic extraction bag.

44. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 43, wherein the drilling rig further comprises at least one camera arrangement whereby at least one or more selected from the shaft buoyancy arrangement, rig buoyancy arrangement, hydraulic retraction arrangement, and hydraulic insertion arrangement can be controlled remotely while viewing their operation.

45. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 44, wherein the drilling s rig comprises a drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28.

46. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 45, wherein the drilling rig comprises a liquid feed conduit from a high pressure liquid source of high pressure liquid to the drilling rig.

47. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 46, wherein the high pressure liquid is water.

48. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 47, wherein the high pressure liquid is sea water.

49. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 46 to 48, wherein the high pressure liquid source is a pump.

50. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 2, wherein the drilling rig comprises a compressed gas conduit from a high pressure gas source of high pressure gas to the drilling rig.

51. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 50, wherein the high pressure gas is compressed air.

52. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 50 to 51, wherein the high pressure gas source is one or more selected from a compressor and pneumatic power pack unit.

53. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 53, wherein the drilling rig comprises a conveying conduit for conveying drilled matter from the drilling rig to a concentrating arrangement.

54. A drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 54, wherein the drilling rig comprises a concentrating arrangement.

55. A drilling rig as claimed in claim 54, wherein the concentrating arrangement is a cyclonic separator.

56. A method of drilling, suitable for drilling into a sea bed using a drilling rig

comprising a drill head located towards the end of a drill shaft and a retraction arrangement, said method comprising the steps of

^■ locating said drilling rig at a suitable location on a surface to be drilled;

^■ drilling a hole into the surface to be drilled with the drill head and drill shaft; and ■ retracting the drill head and drill shaft from the hole by means of the retraction arrangement.

57. A method of drilling as claimed in claim 56, wherein the method includes the step of

^■ actuating a flotation device for assisting in retracting the drill head.

58. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 57, wherein the method

includes the step of

^■ actuating a flotation device floating the drilling rig to the water surface.

59. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 58, wherein the method

includes the step of

^■ winching the drilling rig to the water surface for loading aboard a vessel.

60. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 59, wherein the retraction arrangement is hydraulically powered.

61. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 60, wherein the drilling rig comprises a rig frame and the retraction arrangement is mounted to the rig frame.

62. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 61, wherein the method

includes the steps of

^■ controlling the drilling of the hole in the sea bed by means of an insertion

arrangement.

63. A method of drilling as claimed in claim 62, wherein the insertion arrangement is

hydraulically powered.

64. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 63, wherein the method includes the steps of

^■ transporting the drill rig to a suitable location by a water borne vessel; and

^■ lowering the rig overboard to locate at a suitable location on the sea bed.

65. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 64, wherein the retraction of the drill head and drill shaft from the hole is controlled remotely.

66. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 65, wherein the drilling of the hole in the sea bed is drilled using one selected from a drilling arrangement as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 28, and a drilling rig as claimed in any one of claims 29 to 55. .

67. A method of drilling as claimed in any one of claims 56 to 66, wherein the method

includes the steps of

^■ actuating a high pressure liquid flow for cutting into the sea bed.

68. A method of drilling as claimed in claim 67, further comprising step of

^■ guiding the high pressure liquid flow through nozzles to create high pressure jets of liquid for cutting into the seabed. .

69. A method of creating a sample of drilling debris created by an action of a drill at a drilling zone onto a subsea surface, said method comprising providing a conduit at or proximate said drilling zone and introducing a gas into said conduit proximate said drilling zone to draw, for migration towards a sample collection zone, drilling debris into said conduit.

70. A method of creating a sample as claimed in claims 69, wherein the drill includes at least one water jet.

71. A method of creating a sample as claimed in any one of claims 69 to 70, wherein the drill includes a plurality of water jets.

72. A method of creating a sample as claimed in any one of claims 69 to 71, wherein the

conduit includes a mouth opening at or proximate said drilling zone into which said debris can pass.

73. A method of creating a sample as claimed in any one of claims 69 to 72, wherein the

conduit is filled with water.

74. A drilling arrangement suitable for collection of samples for seabed mineral

resource definition, comprising

a. a drill configured and adapted for fluidising particles from a particulate surface at a drilling zone; b. a conveying conduit open at or near said drilling zone for conveying the fiuidised particles from the drilling zone,;

c. a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas into the conveying conduit at or near the drilling zone, said gas conduit being configured and adapted to release gas into the conveying conduit to establish a rising flow of bubbles in the conveying conduit.

75. A method of taking a sample of particles from a seabed comprising, presenting an opening of a water containing conduit at or near a location of the seabed at where particles are fiuidised, the conduit containing a rising flow of gas that causes the particles to be drawn upwards and to or towards a location of the conduit where the particles are removed for sampling.

76. A method of talking a sample as claimed in claim 75, wherein the flow of gas is established by introducing a gas into said conduit at or near the opening.

77. A device for taking a sample of particles from a seabed comprising, a conduit with an opening to be presented at or near a location of the seabed at where particles are fiuidised, the conduit capable of receiving gas to establish a rising flow of gas inside the conduit that causes the particles to be drawn upwards and to or towards a location of the conduit where the particles are removed for sampling.

78. A drilling arrangement suitable for collection of samples for mineral resource

definition, comprising

a. a drill configured and adapted for drilling a hole and to fluidise particles from a particulate surface at a drilling zone;

b. a conveying conduit for conveying the particles from the drilling zone;

c. wherein the conveying conduit is disposed within a drilling shaft for drilling into said surface.

79. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 78, wherein the drilling shaft has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 1 meter.

80. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 79, wherein the drilling shaft has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 200 millimetres.

81. A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 80, wherein the drilling shaft has a diameter of between 10 millimetres and 100 millimetres.

82. A conveying arrangement for use in sampling for a mineral resource definition, said drilling arrangement comprising:

a. a conveying conduit for conveying particles from a drilling zone; and b. a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas at or near the drilling zone, into the conveying conduit.

A conveying arrangement as claimed in claim 82, wherein the drilling arrangement comprises drilling means for drilling a hole to fluidise particles from a surface at a drilling zone.

84. A conveying arrangement as claimed in claim 78, wherein the drilling arrangement further comprises a liquid conduit for delivering a flow of liquid to a drilling zone, said liquid conduit being restricted at one end to accelerate the flow of liquid at the drilling zone prior to impinging on a surface of particles to fluidise the particles.

85. A conveying arrangement as claimed in claim 78, wherein the liquid conduit is accelerated by nozzles to form jets of liquid.

86. A conveying arrangement as claimed in claim 78, wherein the particles are the particles to be sampled.

87. A conveying arrangement as claimed in claim 78, wherein the drilling arrangement is to be used for taking particle samples on or at a seabed.

88. A conveying arrangement as claimed in claim 78, wherein the conveying conduit is at least partially submerged in water, the conveying conduit being at least partially flooded with said water.

89. A drilling arrangement for use in sampling for a mineral resource definition, said drilling arrangement comprising

a. a drill configured and adapted for drilling into a particulate surface and fluidising particles at a drilling zone;

b. a conveying conduit for conveying the particles upwards from a drilling zone; and c. a gas conduit for conveying and/ or introducing gas into the conveying conduit at or near the drilling zone to at least facilitate the conveying of the fluidised particles to a sampling zone.

A drilling arrangement as claimed in claim 89, wherein the sampling zone includes concentrating arrangement.