15 JANUARY 2025 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Exploration and Blasthole by Ronald B. Peterson, Drilling Fluids Specialist Happy New Year! Hopefully you all had an enjoyable and relaxing holiday break, you got lots of rest, and are ready to get back to work, turning to the right and perforating the earth. Welcome back! This month, we will talk about exploration and blasthole drilling. Drilling in either of these disciplines is arguably some of the most difficult conditions in the drilling industry. Exploration drilling is usually targeted to areas where there has been little or no previous drilling, so there are minimal drilling records to review and determine the best equipment or what drilling fluid will be the most effective. Normally, some surface and geophysical work has been done to determine the best locations to drill that will verify the desired potential mineralization to justify moving the project ahead. These preliminary holes may be drilled with any type of drilling rig, but in recent years, dual tube reverse circulation seems to be the preferred weapon of choice. Lew Eklund, founder of Eklund Drilling, out of Carlin, Nevada, was a pioneer in this industry and instrumental in developing the Cyclo Blower, which improved the ability to separate the microscopic Carlin Trend gold. This is responsible for the magnitude of the gold mining industry in what is known as The Silver State. Lew Eklund was the first drilling contractor to drill for microscopic gold. Blasthole drilling is a method used in mining, quarrying, and sometimes in construction operations. The initial hole into which the explosives are packed is known as the “blasthole.” A hole is drilled into the rock, which is already very broken, then loaded or packed with explosive material - usually small aggregate called prill - and detonated. The aim of this technique is to induce cracks in the geology of the surrounding rock to facilitate associated mining activity. Surface blasthole drilling is, for want of a better term, production drilling on steroids. The rig is normally moved with the mast up. This is typically a no-no in most drilling operations. The formations being drilled have usually been drilled and blasted previously; therefore, the formation is already broken and friable. Fortunately, the holes are usually relatively shallow, but they still have to remain open and stable long enough to pack the hole or place the charge. Thank-you to all of the dedicated and professional members of the drilling industry. Without you and your efforts, mankind would be in bad trouble since water is one of the three components needed to sustain life. Always remember, “A man has to know his limitations,” but he doesn’t have to be defined by them. He can raise the bar. Working together, it is amazing where we can go. Let’s enjoy the trip! If you have any questions on drilling fluids or if you have another topic you would like addressed, please remember this column is ours. Your input helps me make it of value to you. It needs to be an interactive tool. I need your feedback. Please send your suggestions to Michele (below) and she will get them to me. Ron Ron Peterson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com EXB
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