* Drilling is to be conducted only during the dry season.
* Drilling will be performed during daylight hours only.
* The hole is to be stabilized and kept open for logging after drilling is completed.
* Fire fighting equipment will be carried and maintained in good working condition.
Checks are made to ensure that the required standards are being or have been met. For example;
* Hole vertically may be checked using a wire line survey method.
* The position of the changes in formation may be checked by electric logging.
* Sample volume and variation will be randomly checked throughout the program.
Every job has a different drilling objective consisting of statements, standards, conditions and checks. The examples given should provide an understanding on how to document any drilling objective.
If more drilling details were written around the above guidelines, there would be less problems, as all on-site personnel would have through knowledge of the requirements.
With the advances in technology that have taken place in the drilling industry, it is now possible to drill a hole in any material, get the required information from it and achieve the drilling objectives. Each objective can only be achieved if it is matched with the appropriate skills, equipment, tools and materials. To ensure the driller satisfies the job requirements he must be able to select and use the most suitable drilling equipment along with the best hole making and stabilizing method. If the driller has done so while recognizing what's happening, he can be reasonably sure of completing the job successfully.
All these things cost money. If a agency asks for some particular result or information, a driller must be able to explain; what is involved in achieving the result of gaining the information, how much the required skills and equipment will cost and how long it will take.
The driller is concerned with the three objectives highlighted. He should recognize that other objectives have contributed to this, but must achieve his objective while keeping the other objectives in mind. Drilling forms some of the contributing objectives and clearly they are critical ones contributing to a final project objective.
Used in conjunction with the driller's knowledge, skills and equipment, almost any objective can be achieved, provided that the objective is clearly and concisely written. This ensures that all personnel have a thorough knowledge of the requirements and that the driller can use his equipment and skills to carry out an efficient and economical drilling operation.
Most drillers will agree that they are not too interested in “theory”. As we proceed through the text we should be asking “What can I get out of this that will help me in my work?” This is concerned with making our drilling operations more efficient by ensuring that we are:
Using the most suitable, available machine for the job we have to do, and Operating the machine in the best way possible.
To do this we need practical knowledge of the types of drilling available and we must develop some practical thinking on the way we will operate the machine.
It gives you some ground work to consider:
1. When your division starts a new job, do you match the machine to do job?
2. Often you may have only one machine available. Do you check if the machine can operate in a different way so that the type of drilling is the most suitable?
We must also consider if the type of drilling, the hole making and the hole clearing methods are suitable for large or small holes, for shallow holes or deep holes. By examining other methods of classification we can compare one type of drilling with another.
The aim is to be select the appropriate type of drilling for the job in hand. We must learn to recognise which features of a certain type of drilling add to its suitability and which features don't.
