US-based integrated drilling services, equipment and performance tooling provider Boart Longyear has added an industry-first integrated core orientation system – TruCore – to its product range.

The system enables drillers in the mining industry to increase productivity and decrease consumables spending.

“While it is essential for mapping exploration and developing mine sites, core orientation. . . has had only incremental product improvements in terms of the drilling process and drilling equipment – until now,” says Boart Longyear global product manager Chris Lambert.

The new core orientation system design uses optical communication to send measurements to a handheld control device, which enables the drill string to stay assembled. The pocket-sized controller simultaneously controls the two core orientation instruments and enables one tool to always be in the hole, which increases productivity. In addition, flashing light-emitting diodes direct alignment, which reduces total measurement time.

The TruCore system also reduces the number of parts drill crews need to maintain a core orientation system, subsequently reducing cost, says Lambert.

He further notes that, compared with other systems, additional extensions are not needed when the integrated TruCore housing is combined with Boart Longyear’s outer tubes. This integration reduces the number of joints and high wear on outer-tube extension barrels.

“The ability to send a second TruCore tool down immediately after the first tool is retrieved, combined with wireless communication, means core readings can be taken without having to break a joint in the inner tube, which leads to a faster drill-site operation,” Lambert adds.

TruCore was officially launched at the Drill 2014 Conference, hosted by the Australian Drilling Industry Association earlier this month, which took place in Gold Coast, in Queensland. TruCore will be launched globally in 2015.

“Although the market for core orientation systems is small and, until now, the range of products has been very narrow, the company hopes that TruCore will be a welcomed addition to the market,” says Lambert. 

While TruCore is the first product in Boart Longyear’s first line of instrumentation solutions, other new products include the TruShot survey tool, which will be launched later this year, and TruProbe geophysical logging tool, which will be launched in early 2015.

“Beyond offering a more robust design and greater depth capacity, the TruShot survey tool forms the foundation for adding geophysical sensors that can be run by drillers,” explains Lambert, noting that, while it provides traditional survey measurements, it also has increased memory and processing to support other sensors.

Meanwhile, the TruProbe geophysical logging tool combines a magnetic survey tool with a total gamma sensor to create the first in a line of instruments designed to measure borehole geophysical properties.

“Boart Longyear recognises the need to acquire geophysical data from boreholes, as it helps mining clients refine site models and grade deposits.

“Expanding the use of geophysical logging tools will drive more accurate deposit models and higher yields. With simpler and more robust tools, data can be acquired by drilling contractors, thereby eliminating the need for more costly specialists on site,” Lambert emphasises.

Product Innovation
In line with its strategic focus on developing hard-rock tooling, drilling equipment and incremental enhancements to existing products to drive improved safety and productivity, Boart Longyear launched several new products earlier this year.

These include the new BLH line of down-the-hole (DTH) hammers and bits that aim to increase productivity in reverse circulation (RC) drilling and conventional DTH drilling applications. These hammers and bits can be used in almost all DTH applications, including geotechnical drilling, quarrying, mining and water wells, as well as in geothermal and mineral exploration.

“The BLH5 hammer series is. . . cutting-edge. . . rock-drilling technology, offering high performance, outstanding reliability, simplicity and low operating costs,” says Lambert, adding that the BLH5 hammer’s advanced design balances the piston and bit, and transfers more energy into the rock face and less energy and vibration into the drill string and rig.

Another new product, the LM110, is the most powerful Boart Longyear underground diamond coring drill rig to date.

Owing to the modular design of the LM drill rig family range, customers can upgrade their existing LM rig to an LM110, which provides a more cost-effective solution than buying a new rig, says Lambert.

He adds that the LM110 underground rig and new line of DTH hammer products are also available for the South African and African mining industries.

“With so much cost pressure throughout the industry, drilling contractors are receptive to any technology that increases operational efficiency.”

Boart Longyear capital equipment global product manager Gregory Guillot concludes that the technology is critical to making advances in safer equipment use drilling practices.