August 23, 2010

The Dos & Donts of LP Drilling

1) Before bolting on LP Drill, blow out any debris from the entire air system. From the outlet of the air compressors, through the manifold, air hoses, swivel, or any other drill string components. This is also a good time to adjust the oiler and double check that oil is being injected into air stream. Should see at least a mist of oil. NOTE: check this with a piece of wood, held into the the airstream. Do not put your hand into the airstream. ( gal. / 1000 cfm. / drilling hour)

2) When bolting up the LP Drill, take care not to drop any bolts or nuts into the bore hole! If you do, if at all possible, remove them before drilling. Torque all bolts to spec. If it has been a while since the tools have been used, it is a good idea to re-torque all the bolts after 30 minutes of drilling.
Socket Socket Head Cap Head Cap Screw Screw Oiled Dry Oiled 9 14 11 10 16 13 18 29 23 20 33 26 35 49 39 40 54 44 55 76 61 60 85 68 80 113 90 90 126 100 110 163 130 130 181 144 170 230 184 180 255 204 280 400 320 320 440 350 460 640 510 500 700 560 680 980 780 740 1060 845 8

2 Bolt Dia. Thread/inch 1/4 20 1/4 28 5/16 18 5/16 24 3/8 16 3/8 24 7/16 14 7/16 20 1/2 13 20 1/2 9/16 12 9/16 18 5/8 11 5/8 18 3/4 10 3/4 16 7/8 9 7/8 14 1 8 1 12 Dry 4 6 9 12 16 22 24 34 38 52 52 71 98 115 157 180 210 230 320 350

2 Oiled 3 4 7 9 12 16 17 26 31 42 42 57 78 93 121 133 160 177 240 265

5 Dry 8 10 17 19 30 35 50 55 75 90 110 120 150 180 260 300 430 470 640 710

5 Oiled 6 7 13 14 23 25 35 40 55 65 80 90 110 130 200 220 320 360 480 530

7 Dry 10 12 21 24 40 45 60 70 95 100 135 150 140 210 320 360 520 580 800 860

7 Oiled 8 9 16 18 30 35 45 50 70 80 100 110 190 160 240 280 400 440 600 666

8 Dry 12 14 25 29 45 50 70 80 110 120 150 170 220 240 380 420 600 660 900 990

3) Always crack the air valve before lowering the LP Drill into the bore hole. This will eliminate plugging bits if the tool is set down into mud/cuttings lying on the bottom.

4) Prior to lifting the tool off the bottom, close air valve 80% and confirm that air pressure has dropped. This will solve 2 major problems. All down hole hammers occasionally will run off the bottom. This will eliminate it from happening. Reducing air flow will also ensure the cuttings stay in the calyx basket. When in hard rock, the cuttings are generally very fine. Dragging the LP Drill/calyx basket through a column of water with the air on full will flush some of the cuttings out of the calyx. 5) Select the proper hoses, fittings, and valves for the project. Do not use any components not properly rated for air pressure. The best practice is never use any schedule 40 fittings anywhere in the air system. Always use Whip Checks at all hose connections. When selecting hose sizes, make sure they are adequate for the planned system. All fittings, valves, and connections must have adequate flow, such as full port valves. Do not spend money for a large diameter air hose and then choke it down at a fitting or a ball valve. 6) Quick Reference for Hose Size Selection: Hose Size 2 1/2 3 4 6 # of 1,600 cfm./150 compressors 1 2 3 6

7) Weight on Bit: As most drilling equipment has a weight indicator, the best method is to determine the drill string weight with the tools suspended just off the bottom with the air on full and record the indicated weight. As tools are lowered to the bottom, add weight, (reduce the amount held back) until desired weight is achieved. This process should be repeated several times during the course of drilling the shaft. (See chart for recommended weight.) The chart is a reference to obtain a starting weight. To fine tune the weight, slowly reduce the hook load until maximum air pressure is achieved. Do not add weight on bit beyond this point. As a verification of correct weight, slowly add hook weight (reduce weight on bit) until air pressure starts dropping. The goal is to keep the weight adjusted to maintain maximum air pressure without exceeding the proper weight on bit. When starting a rock socket, it may be necessary to start with lighter weight until the tools have drilled through the loose or uneven rock. If the rock is extremely uneven, it may take some time before flattening of the bottom of the shaft occurs. At this time, you can start increasing weight on bit until reaching desired weight. A good indicator is watching the air pressure. As the high spots are gradually drilled off, the air pressure will gradually increase. Air pressure will continue to increase until maximum pressure is reached. This is the best indication that all of the hammers are on the bottom and cutting rock.

WeightOnBit(WOB)recommendation(1,000'slb)
Numberofhammers 100 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20
5.0 6.2 7.5 8.7 9.9 11.2 12.4 13.7 14.9 16.2 17.4 18.6 19.9 21.1 22.4 23.6 24.9

Operatingpressure(psig) 125 150 175

5.9 7.4 8.8 10.3 11.8 13.3 14.7 16.2 17.7 19.2 20.6 22.1 23.6 25.0 26.5 28.0 29.5 6.8 8.5 10.2 11.9 13.6 15.3 17.0 18.7 20.4 22.1 23.8 25.5 27.2 28.9 30.6 32.3 34.0 7.7 9.6 11.6 13.5 15.4 17.3 19.3 21.2 23.1 25.0 27.0 28.9 30.8 32.8 34.7 36.6 38.5

200
8.6 10.8 12.9 15.1 17.2 19.4 21.5 23.7 25.8 28.0 30.1 32.3 34.4 36.6 38.7 40.9 43.0

8) Air pressure gauge in plain view of operator: This is a must, as it is the first indicator of several of the following potential problems: If air pressure starts to drop while drilling: Confirm all compressors are running and making full air. Check for air leaks, swivel, hose connections etc. Confirm correct weight on bit. Check for any hammer not operating. (Blow tube) If air pressure starts to climb, (above normal) Check for bad air hose. Hose liner may have failed Check for plugged hammer or bits. Confirm all control valves are open. Confirm correct weight on bit. 9) Main on/off control air valve. Should be within operator reach. Operator should be able to feather the control. Ease it on or off.

10) Rotation Speed for LP Drills: Should be as slow as possible and still maintain smooth rotation. Penetration rates do not increase by rotating faster. Alternating between RH and LH rotation will aid in drilling vertical holes. It may be necessary to increase RPM through rough areas, but as soon as rotation becomes smooth, reduce RPM. See Chart for recommended RPM.

Penetrationrate(ft/hr) 2 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 6 7 8 9 10 12 14 16 18 20

Slow
0.4 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.4 1.6 1.8 2.1 2.5 2.8 32 3.2 3.6

RPM Ideal
0.5 0.7 0.8 0.9 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.2 3.7 4.3 4.8 48 5.3

Fast
1.1 1.3 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.4 2.7 3.2 3.7 4.3 4.8 5.3 6.4 7.5 8.5 9.6 96 10.7

11) If water is present in bore hole, it is a good idea to check for leaks as the LP Drill is lowered. Check the 4 pipe plugs and the bolt flange as they just pass under the surface of the water. If there is a leak, it will be instantly visible. Stop and tighten. During this process, the air valve should be slightly open (20%). If 4 plugs are leaking, remove, clean, and reinstall using blue thread locker. REMEMBER! If air can leak out, water and abrasive fines can leak in!

12) Once drilling has started, it is helpful if the following items are recorded early in the project: Air pressure off bottom Air pressure when contacting bottom. (All hammers may not be running.) Air pressure after achieving flat bottom. (All hammers running.) Weight on bit to start hole. Weight on bit after flat bottom is achieved. RPM and Torque Penetration rate 13) Over the length of the project, compare above notes from the start of the project to current. Drop or rise in air pressure, higher than normal torque, very erratic rotation, slow down in penetration rate, are all indicators that something has changed. 14) Make sure bits are kept in good condition. If flats on buttons are across, it is time to change them. Penetration rate drops 20-30% with flat spots. If not addressed, penetration rate continues to drop and button failure will occur. Eventually the bit will be rendered unrepairable (junk). Check blow tube for damage. If it is broken, cracked, or loose in bit, change it! If gauge bits have more than one broken gauge carbide, REPLACE IT, or rotate it into one of the center hammer positions. Continuing to drill with broken carbide on gauge bits will soon render the bit UN-REPAIRABLE!

15) When changing bits, you are half way to having the hammer disassembled. Dont stop there. Remove the backhead, and all internal parts and inspect them. The top of the check valve should be intact and smooth. Check valve spring - it should not have any flat spots on the OD of the spring wire.

16) Check to see if piston is free to move in hammer. Look for any signs of galling or bluing. 17) Check for wear between the bit shank and chuck. With the bit shoulder on the chuck, the side-to-side movement should not be more than 3/32 of an inch (.0937). Rebuild chuck if over this dimension.

18) LP Drill Canister: Keep up with hard facing! If the high wear areas are hard faced when needed, the life of the outer skin and bottom plate will be lengthened dramatically.

19) Periodically inspect hex openings for wear.

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