Drilling Rock and Earth

DRILLING
ROCK & EARTH

DRILLING ROCK
When work on the Hoosac Tunnel first
began in the 1850s hand drills were
still the primary method used to create
holes for loading explosives in hard
rock. Charles Burleigh of Fitchburg,
Massachusetts developed the first truly
successful pneumatic drill and in 1866
it was first used in the Hoosac.

BURLEIGH DRILL

Working in
the Hoosac
Tunnel.
Courtesy of the North Adams Public Library

DRILLING ROCK

Blast holes for

removal of rock,
in a construction
excavation or
for quarrying.

CONSTRUCTION
DRILLING
Rock
anchor/bolts
in excavations
and tunnels

CONSTRUCTION
DRILLING

Tunnels

CONSTRUCTION
DRILLING

Foundation

grouting

DRILLING PRODUCTION
ESTIMATE
To begin a drilling production
estimate it is first necessary to
make an assumption about
the type of equipment that will
be used. Tables 12.7 & 12.10
provide information to guide
that first decision.

DRILLING PRODUCTION
ESTIMATE
The final equipment decision should
only be made after test drilling the
formation. Test drilling should help
to quantify:
Penetration rate
Drilling method
Bit size / Bit type

PENETRATION RATE

Penetration rate is a
function of:
The rock
The drilling method
The size & type of bit

THE ROCK
The rock properties which
effect penetration rate are:

Hardness
Texture
Tenacity
Formation

HARDNESS
A scientific definition of
hardness is a measure of a
material's resistance to
localized plastic deformation.
It is measured by the MOH
scale (Friedrich Mohs).

HARDNESS
The Moh hardness
classifications are based on
the resistance of a smooth
surface to abrasionthe
ability of one mineral to
scratch another.

HARDNESS
Mohs scale for rock hardness

HARDNESS
Hardness affects drilling speed.
HARDNESS

DRILLING SPEED

1-2

FAST

3-4

FAST - MEDIUM

MEDIUM

6-7

SLOW - MEDIUM

8-9

SLOW

TEXTURE
Texture is the grain structure of
the rock.

A loose grained structure

(porous, cavities) drills fast.

Grains large enough to be seen

individually (granite) will drill
medium.
Fine-grained rocks drill slow.

TENACITY

Describes how the rock

breaks
when
struck.

TENACITY
Shatters - into small pieces from a light
blow
Brittle - breaks easily with a light blow
Shaving - when shaved off in pieces
they break easily
Strong - resists breaking when hit hard
Malleable - flattens instead of breaking

TENACITY
Characteristic

Shatters
Brittle
Shaving
Strong
Malleable

Drills

- fast
- fast to medium
- medium
- slow to medium
- slow

FORMATION
Formation describes how the
rock mass is structured.

Solid mass - drills fast

Horizontal strata (layers) drills fast to medium
Dipping planes - drill slow
to medium

DRILLING METHOD
ROTARY
Rotary drilling uses high
push-down pressure on
the bit and rotation to
grind the rock.
Compressed air, water, or
drilling mud carry the
cutting out of the hole.

DRILLING METHOD
ROTARY
Feed pressure and rotation rate
control drilling speed.

Soft rock - use lower feed

pressure and faster rotation.

Hard rock - use high feed

pressure and slower rotation.

ROTARY DRILL
These drills are
suitable for drilling
soft to medium rock,
such as hard dolomite
and limestone, but
are not suitable for
drilling the harder
igneous rocks.

ROTARY DRILLING
Hardness

Schist
Granite
Dolomite
Limestone
Galena
Potash
Gypsum

5.0
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5
2.0
1.5

DRILLING METHOD
ROTARYPERCUSSION
The piston provides
striking energy to
the rock through
the drill steel. There is
rotation so the bit strikes
fresh rock with each blow.

ROTARY
PERCUSSION

Drill
steel

DRILLING METHOD
ROTARY-PERCUSSION
Compressed air or water is
used to flush the drill
cuttings from the hole.
Drilling penetration (speed)
decreases with depth.

PERCUSSION DRILLING
Hardness

Quartzite
Trap Rock
Schist
Granite
Dolomite
Limestone
Galena

7.0
6.0
5.0
4.0
3.5
3.0
2.5

CUTTINGS
Flush the
cuttings
from the
hole.

DRILLING METHOD
DOWN HOLE (DH)
The DH drill provides
striking energy directly to
the bit. There is rotation so
the bit strikes
fresh rock with
each blow.

DRILLING
METHOD

Down Hole Drill maintains

constant penetration rate at
all depths.

DRILLING METHOD
DOWN HOLE
Compressed air conducted
through the drill steel is used to
flush the drill cuttings from the
hole.
Performance will not decrease
as depth increases.

BIT
SIZE

BIT TYPE
Insert bit

Button bit

CARBIDE INSERT BITS

Four grades are usually available.
Increasing Hardness

Grade
Shock
Intermediate
Wear
Extra Wear

Abrasion
resistance
Fair
Good
Excellent
Outstanding

CARBIDE INSERT BITS

Susceptibility to breakage
increases with hardness.
However, abrasion resistance also
increases.
If excess insert breakage occurs, a
softer grade should be tried.

BUTTON BITS
Button bits can yield faster
penetration rates in a wide
range of drilling applications.
Fewer bit changes are required.
Most button bits are run to
destruction and never
reconditioned.

STEP 1
DEPTH OF HOLE
When drilling for blasting
it is often necessary to
subdrill the hole below the
planned final grade
elevation.
SUBDRILLING
FIG 12.3, page 339

STEP 1
DEPTH OF HOLE
DRILL DEPTH (ft) =
Height of face
+ subdrilling

STEP 2
PENETRATION RATE
The penetration rate will be an
average rate (ft/min) from the
field drilling tests based of
specific equipment, bit type
and bit size. Do not use an
instantaneous rate.

STEP 2
PENETRATION RATE
If no project specific data
is available Table 12.7
provides order-ofmagnitude guidance.

STEP 2
PENETRATION RATE
EXAMPLE

What would be the orderof magnitude direct

penetration rate in granite
for a 6 in. rotary bit
with 30,000 lb pulldown.

STEP 2
PENETRATION RATE
EXAMPLE
Table 12.7
6 in. rotary bit with 30,000 lb pulldown
Not recommended, should consider a
different bit

STEP 3
DRILLING TIME
DRILLING TIME (min) =

Drill Depth (ft)

Penetratio n rate (ft/min)

STEP 4
CHANGE
STEEL

Steel

STEP 4
CHANGE STEEL
Shank (Striking Bar)
Steel
Coupling

Bit

STEP 4
CHANGE STEEL

Steel, approximate weights:

STEP 4
CHANGE STEEL

Steel

The length of steel

for rotary drills
varies considerably,
in the range of 20 to
60 ft. These rigs
have mechanized
steel handling.

Steel

STEP 4
CHANGE
STEEL
The time to
change steel is
approximately
constant for all
diameters, but
varies with
length.

STEP 5 BLOW HOLE

After completing the drilling it is
necessary to clean out all cutting
from the hole (see discussion
page 353 and Example 12.1).
The time to clean out will be
dependent on the depth of hole.

STEP 6
MOVE TO NEXT HOLE
Travel time depends on distance, terrain, and the type
of drill mount. A discussion of travel speed is given
on page 353.

STEP 6 MOVE
May have
to lower
the mast

STEP 6
MOVE TO NEXT HOLE
If drilling for blasting operations
distance will be set by the blasting
pattern. An 8 X 10 pattern means
8 ft between rows and a 10 ft
spacing between holes. Therefore,
the travel distance moving along
the row is only 10 ft.

STEP 6
MOVE TO
NEXT HOLE
The travel
time may not
be controlled
by the drill.

STEP 7 ALIGN STEEL

Once over the hole location

it is necessary to position
the mast or steel for the
proper angle of attack. This
is usually vertically but not
always.

STEP 7
ALIGN STEEL
Time to align is
discussed on
page 353.
Outrigger for
leveling

STEP 8 CHANGE BIT

Bits, shanks,
couplings and
steel are all
high wear
items that must
be replaced
frequently.

STEP 8 CHANGE BIT

The time allowance for
replacement is a factor of both the
actual time

to remove and
replace, and the frequency of
such changes. Table 12.10
provides frequency information.

STEP 8 CHANGE BIT

CHANGE BIT TIME (min) =
DRILL DEPTH (ft)
TIME to CHANGE BIT (min)
AVE. LIFE of BIT (ft)

If you do not have any company

and rock specific data, average
life of bit data is provided in
Table 12.10.

STEP 9 TOTAL TIME

Total time (min) =
Drill (min) +
Change steel (min) +
Blow hole (min) +
Move (min) +
Align Steel (min) +
Change bit (min)

STEP 10
OPERATING RATE
OPERATING RATE =

DRILL DEPTH (ft)

TOTAL TIME (min)

STEP 11 EFFICIENCY
Experienced drillers working
under good conditions should
have a 50 min-hr efficiency on
a production job. Under
sporadic drilling conditions
efficiency may go down to 40
min-hr.

STEP 11
EFFICIENCY
Terrain is
a critical
factor
impacting
efficiency.

STEP 12 PRODUCTION
HOURLY
PRODUCTION (ft/hr) =
Efficiency (min/hr)
Operating rate (ft/min)