Horizontal directional drilling

MAXIBOR has successfully carried out the install of 4x180m electrical conduit PN12.5 HDPE at Yancoal’s Mount Thorley mine.

The project was completed using one of Maxibor’s Vermeer 100x120 horizontal directional drilling (HDD) rigs.

The bore hole was established by reaming at progressively increased diameters of 180mm, 300mm, 400mm and ultimately to the full width of 550mm, enough to accommodate the four 180mm pipes.

The ground conditions were significantly harder than expected, with testing showing the rock strength at 61.8mpa compared to the originally anticipated 25mpa.

While this slowed the progress of the drilling operations, the works were still able to be completed within the client’s delivery window.

Fracturing of the rock in certain sections caused some loss of drilling fluids, which needed to be compensated for by an increased use of fluids to maintain optimal conditions in the bore hole for the cutters and rods.

Use of HDD on mine sites provides mine owners with solutions which are safer, are much less prone to damage by other site activity, and minimise impact on other infrastructure e.g. roads.

As many other asset owners are increasingly discovering, HDD provides a lower lifetime cost of maintaining infrastructure assets.

While the Mt Thorley bores were relatively short in distance, Maxibor’s rigs can undertake bores up 10 times as long to provide in-ground water and power infrastructure solutions.

Maxibor is more than happy to discuss with those involved in the mining sector how HDD can provide a solution to their mine site infrastructure needs.

With most Maxibor staff accredited to work on mine sites, plus the regular toolbox talks and stringent plant and equipment testing, Maxibor yet again completed a project without incident.