Control system, drilling machine, and method therein

Abstract

A method performed by a system (10) for determining one or more parameters for drilling a subsequent hole in a rock to approach a target, where the target is associated with a subsequent blast of the rock (30). The system (10) drills a first hole in a rock (30). The system collects data about the rock (30) that is collected from the drill (20) during drilling a first hole in the rock (30). The system (10) determines at least one borehole parameter based on the collected data of the rock (30). The system (10) drills a second hole in the rock (30) using at least one drilling parameter to approach the target, where the second hole is drilled at an angle that is based on the collected data of the rock (30).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The embodiments described herein relate to systems and methods performed therein. In particular, the embodiments described herein relate to improving the ability to conform to desired specifications. Background Technology

[0002] In mining, quarrying, and construction engineering, the typical workflow for rock blasting is as follows: plan the hole pattern, drill holes in the rock mass (e.g., a rock mass) according to the pattern, place explosives in the holes, and detonate the explosives. The resulting fragmented rock, such as blasted rock, is then removed. Typically, the fragmented rock needs to be further crushed to achieve the desired size. Crushing equipment can handle fragmented rock within a set size range. Having appropriately sized fragmented rock is beneficial both when it will be used directly and when it will be further crushed. This facilitates planning, increases profitability, and meets the requirements of the end product. However, the problem is that the crushed rock is not always of the appropriate size.

[0003] Furthermore, rock blasting also causes vibrations and may potentially lead to rock movement. Similar to the desired fracturing outcome, there may be expectations regarding the occurrence of specified vibrations and flyrock.

[0004] This disclosure proposes an improved and feasible solution for an efficient system for handling rock blasting. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of the embodiments described herein is to improve the ability to approach desired goals.

[0006] According to aspects of the embodiments herein, the objective is achieved by a method performed by a system for determining one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in rock to approach a target. A first hole is drilled in the rock. The system collects data about the rock, which is collected from a drilling rig during the drilling of the first hole. Based on the collected rock data, the system further determines at least one drilling parameter. A second hole is then drilled in the rock using the at least one drilling parameter to approach the target, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle based on the collected rock data.

[0007] This method begins with borehole planning and improves the planning by collecting data with the drilling rig, then uses the data to adjust drilling parameters. This improves the ability to meet desired specifications, i.e., to approach the desired goal. This is because data collected during the drilling of the first hole in the rock is used to determine (e.g., adjust) drilling parameters such as hole size, depth, and orientation. These determined drilling parameters are then used to drill subsequent holes. Furthermore, by using different angles when drilling subsequent holes, the hole spacing can vary with depth, providing a method to obtain a more uniform fracturing result after blasting the rock. Using a drilling rig for data collection is also advantageous, as performing this action could be dangerous for humans.

[0008] According to one embodiment, data about the rock can be collected from the drilling rig when the drill string is pulled up after drilling the first hole in the rock. Because data can be collected when the drill string is pulled up after drilling, the drill string can be used as a probe and thus more data can be collected, which further improves the ability to approach the desired target.

[0009] According to one embodiment, additional data about the rock can be collected from the probe, wherein the collected additional data may include information about one or more physical properties of shock wave propagation, chemical analysis, and / or material flow from the borehole, and wherein at least one borehole parameter can be determined based on the collected additional data about the rock. This is advantageous because the probe enables the collection of additional data, which can be used to determine borehole parameters and this further improves the ability to approach the desired target.

[0010] According to one embodiment, at least one initiation parameter can be determined based on collected rock data. According to another embodiment, at least one charge parameter can be determined based on collected rock data. When blasting to approach the target, at least one initiation parameter and / or at least one charge parameter can be used in conjunction with at least one drilling parameter. This is advantageous because additional parameters can be determined in addition to the drilling parameter. These can be used to simulate blasting, and drilling a second hole in the rock to approach the target can thus be more accurate.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the hardness coefficient of a rock can be determined based on collected rock data. This is advantageous because knowing the rock's hardness is useful when drilling second and subsequent holes to obtain a more uniform fragmentation result from the blasted rock, especially in cases where variations in rock hardness exist.

[0012] According to one embodiment, whether a target has been achieved can be determined based on whether the blasting result meets one or more criteria, wherein the blasting result can be based on a determined first hole and a determined second hole, and wherein the criteria can be associated with the predicted blasting result. This is advantageous because the blasting result will be improved until the target is achieved, which in turn further enhances the ability to approach the desired target.

[0013] According to one embodiment, when the blasting result does not meet one or more criteria, at least one drilling parameter can be adjusted until one or more criteria are met, and when the blasting result does indeed meet one or more criteria, drilling into the rock can continue using the determined at least one drilling parameter. This is advantageous because the drilling parameters will be improved, and drilling using the adjusted parameters can continue until the target is achieved, which in turn further enhances the ability to approach the desired target.

[0014] According to one embodiment, when the blasting result does not meet one or more criteria, at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter can be adjusted until one or more criteria are met. And when the blasting result does indeed meet one or more criteria, drilling into the rock can continue using at least one determined drilling parameter, and blasting can be performed with at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter. This is advantageous because the drilling parameters will be improved, and drilling using the adjusted parameters can continue until the target is achieved, which in turn further enhances the ability to approach the desired target.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the objective may be associated with one or more of the following: the size and / or size distribution of one or more fractured rocks, a reduction in ground vibration, a reduction in blasting movement, a reduction in flyrock, and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. The objective can therefore be associated with different characteristics, making the method more flexible and accurate.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the collected rock data and targets can be used as input to a computational model, which can determine a set of parameters to be used when drilling a second hole. This will improve the simulation and produce more reliable results, which can then be used to correct the placement of subsequent holes.

[0017] According to one embodiment, at least one second borehole parameter can be determined based on collected rock data, and a third hole can be drilled in the rock using the at least one second borehole parameter. The result of the blasting can be based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole.

[0018] According to another aspect of the embodiments herein, the objective is achieved by providing a system configured to determine one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in rock to approach a target. The system is configured to drill a first hole in the rock. The system is further configured to collect data about the rock, which is collected from a drilling rig during drilling the first hole in the rock. The system is further configured to determine at least one drilling parameter based on the collected rock data. The system is further configured to drill a second hole in the rock using the at least one drilling parameter to approach the target, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle based on the collected rock data.

[0019] This article also provides a drilling rig, which includes a system configured to determine one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in the rock to approach a target.

[0020] The embodiments described herein are based on the understanding that a drilling rig used to drill holes in rock can be used to collect data from a first hole. This data can then be used to drill a second hole, where new data can also be collected for, for example, the proper placement of subsequent holes and drilling them at an angle to approach a desired target. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Further objects, advantages, and technical features of the invention will become apparent from the following description of one or more embodiments given with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1a This is an illustrative overview based on the embodiments described herein;

[0023] Figure 1b This is a schematic overview illustrating example scenarios according to embodiments described herein;

[0024] Figure 2 It is a flowchart depicting a method performed by a system according to embodiments herein; and

[0025] Figure 3 This is a block diagram depicting a system according to embodiments described herein.

[0026] It should be noted that the accompanying drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and the dimensions of some components may be enlarged for clarity. Specific Implementation

[0027] The invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which examples of embodiments are shown. The invention is not limited to the described examples of embodiments; rather, it is defined by the appended claims. Like numbers in the figures refer to like elements throughout.

[0028] Figure 1aThe figure illustrates a schematic overview of an embodiment of this document including system 10. System 10 includes and controls drilling rig 20, such as a mining and construction drilling rig. System 10 may be, for example, a drilling rig control system. System 10 is configured to determine one or more parameters based on a first hole drilled, for example, a wellbore. The determined one or more parameters will be used to drill subsequent holes in rock 30, for example, a rock mass, to approach a target. The target is associated with subsequent blasting of rock 30. System 10 may be, for example, a control system that can be used to perform or partially perform the methods described herein. System 10 may be located, for example, in a cloud 50. Collected data can be transmitted from drilling rig 20 to system 10 in cloud 50, and system 10 can then send updated data, such as updated borehole parameters, back to drilling rig 20. System 10 may also be placed on drilling rig 20 and then perform calculations locally.

[0029] Now refer to Figure 1b This describes an example scenario of a method performed by system 10 according to embodiments herein. System 10 may be, for example, a drilling rig control system. The method is used to determine one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in rock 30 to approach a target. Improved fracturing simulation may be desirable to improve the ability to meet desired specifications (e.g., blasted rock meeting desired specifications or a certain reduction in ground vibration, etc.). To improve this, reliable data about rock 30 needs to be collected. The collected data can then be used to improve the fracturing simulation and produce more accurate results, which can then be used for the placement of subsequent holes and the drilling of subsequent holes in rock 30 to approach, for example, the desired result of the target. According to the example scenario, there is a desired result for subsequent blasting, and data is collected by drilling rig 20 while drilling the first hole. The collected data is then used to determine one or more parameters for drilling the second hole. This is to achieve or at least approach the desired result after blasting.

[0030] Action 101: Drill the first hole in rock 30. This is to enable system 10 to collect data.

[0031] Action 102: When the first hole has been drilled in rock 30, data about rock 30 can be collected. Therefore, data is collected from drilling rig 20 during the drilling of the first hole in rock 30. The collected data about rock 30 may include, for example, one or more of the following measurements: rock mass characteristics, presence and / or volume of water, geological characteristics, joints, geological modeling, rock face stability, hardness coefficient, joint spacing rating, and joint orientation and / or angle. The collected data about rock 30 may further include the presence and / or amount of material flow, which is return drill flow and may also be referred to as drill-cut flow, drill flow, or material return. Data collected from drilling rig 20 during the borehole data collection period may be, for example, measurement-while-drilling (MWD) data.

[0032] Action 103: Data collected from the rock 30 related to the first borehole is used to determine at least one drilling parameter. This drilling parameter will then be used when drilling a second hole in the rock 30. The drilling parameters may include, for example, one or more of the following: borehole pattern, borehole diameter, borehole depth, borehole deviation, rock 30 inclination, subdrilling, and step height. Other parameters, such as charge parameters and detonation parameters, may also be used. When used herein, charge parameters may include one or more of the following: amount of explosive material, type of explosive material, explosive energy, borehole pattern design, charge method, charge design, and charge length. Detonation parameters may include, for example, one or more of the following: detonator system, delay time, delay mode, clean face, and multiple free faces. In addition to collecting data during drilling, supplementary data for simulation may be collected by collecting data from the rock 30 with a probe. The collected supplementary data may include information on one or more physical properties of shock wave propagation, chemical analysis, and / or material flow from the borehole. At least one drilling parameter can then also be based on additional data collected from the rock 30. In some embodiments, data on the rock 30 can be collected as the drill string is pulled out of the hole. In this embodiment, the drill string can correspond to a probe, i.e., data can be collected via the drill rig 20 when the drill string is in the downhill phase, and at least a portion of the drill string can act as a probe during the uphill phase.

[0033] Action 104: Then, a second hole is drilled in rock 30 using at least one drilling parameter. The rock can be three-dimensional and can vary in rock hardness, and solutions that take this into account will be useful. The hardness of rock 30 can vary with different depths, and therefore this is advantageous not only for correcting the placement of subsequent holes but also for drilling the second hole at an angle. Drilling the subsequent hole at an angle is also advantageous. Because a different angle is used when drilling the second hole, the hole spacing can vary with depth, and this variation can enable a more uniform fragmentation result from the blasted rock mass. The hardness coefficient of rock 30 can be determined based on collected data of rock 30. Examples of hardness coefficients of rock 30 (e.g., hardness scales) can be, for example, soft, medium, and hard. Another example of the hardness coefficient of rock 30 can be a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is the softest coefficient and 10 is the hardest coefficient. Therefore, a second hole is drilled in rock 30 using at least one drilling parameter, thereby approaching the target, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle based on collected data of rock 30. For example, the angle when drilling the second hole can be based on a determined hardness coefficient of rock 30. The objective can be related to one or more of the following: the size and / or size distribution of one or more fractured rocks, reduction of ground vibration, reduction of blasting movement, reduction of flyrock, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. Because explosives emit carbon dioxide, reducing the amount of explosives can also reduce emissions. The first and second holes can be at least part of a hole pattern, for example, with spacing and row spacing. However, the first and second holes do not necessarily have to be directly continuous with each other, although they can be. An initial hole pattern based on an initial simulation can exist, and the collected data can be used for updated simulations, which in turn leads to an updated hole pattern. Data collected when drilling the first hole can produce a first set of drilling parameters and a second set of drilling parameters. When drilling the second and third holes, the first and second sets of drilling parameters can then be used, respectively. This can be extended to also apply to more than three holes, such as all remaining holes in the hole pattern. In the same way, data collected from the first and second holes can be used to determine the parameters used for drilling the third hole. The second hole and / or any subsequent holes can be intentionally drilled in a curved manner. This will improve the uniformity of the crushing results, which in turn will further improve the ability to approach the desired target.

[0034] There are different methods for drilling curved holes, i.e., intentionally obtaining curved holes. One method is to influence the vertical angle of the hole by using stabilizers. By placing one or more stabilizers, such as a first drill string stabilizer far from the drill bit and a near-drill bit stabilizer close to the drill bit, a curve that pushes the drill bit upwards can be created. Without the first drill string stabilizer, the drill bit is instead pushed downwards. To maintain a straight trajectory, the stabilizers are evenly placed.

[0035] Another principle for controlling the drilling of curved holes is the use of wedges. Also known as directional wedges, these are inserted into the hole and aligned in the correct position. To install a wedge, the drill string is pulled out, and a wedge tool is attached to the end of the drill string. The wedge is then inserted into the hole. Alignment is performed by rotating the drill string. The wedge then bends the drill string and forces the drill bit in the desired direction. The correction angle for each wedge is typically about 1.5 degrees. Drilling can continue while the direction is being corrected.

[0036] Another method for drilling curved holes is to use an electric motor. For example, a mud drill motor can be a downhole motor that converts hydraulic flow into mechanical rotation to turn the drill bit. By having curved sections (sometimes called doglegs) on the drill string, the wellbore can be steered in the desired direction.

[0037] Another method for drilling curved holes is to use a rotary steering system (RRS) to adjust the drilling direction in the hole. This allows the drill string to continue rotating during drilling. The RSS has integrated position measurement capabilities, which enable real-time position recording and orientation correction from the surface. The two main steering principles are known as point-the-bit and push-the-bit.

[0038] Another concept that can be used for pilot holes is the use of a down-the-hole hammer (DTH) with an asymmetrical drill bit. When drilling straight, the entire drill string rotates as usual, but when the hole needs to be deviated, the drill bit is positioned in a specific tool face and then swings back and forth.

[0039] Furthermore, drilling parameters and the diameter of the drill bit, which is related to the diameter of the hole, can also affect the curvature of the hole because the drill bit is curved and rests against the surface of the hole for support. This is similar to the principle of a wedge or shim. When the drill bit is driven downward slightly, even a slight tilt in the direction of the drill bit will have a corresponding effect, i.e., using the angle at which the drill bit contacts the hole wall.

[0040] Based on the embodiments described herein, reference will now be made to Figure 2 The flowchart depicted describes method actions performed by system 10 to determine one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in rock 30 to approach a target, wherein the target is related to subsequent blasting of rock 30. The actions need not be performed in the order stated below but can be performed in any suitable order. Actions performed in some embodiments are marked with dashed boxes.

[0041] Action 201, for example, the system 10 of the drilling rig 20 drills the first hole in the rock 30. This action is related to action 101 above.

[0042] Action 201a: System 10 collects data about rock 30, which is collected from drill rig 20 during drilling the first hole in rock 30. This action is related to action 102 above.

[0043] Action 201b: System 10 can collect data about rock 30, which is collected from drill rig 20 when the drill string is pulled up after drilling the first hole in rock 30.

[0044] Action 201c, system 10 can collect additional data about rock 30, which is collected from the probe, wherein the collected additional data may include information about one or more physical properties of shock wave propagation, chemical analysis and / or material flow from the borehole, and wherein at least one borehole parameter can be determined based on the collected additional data about the rock.

[0045] Action 202: System 10 determines at least one borehole parameter based on the collected rock data 30. This action is related to action 103 above.

[0046] Action 203, System 10 can determine at least one charge parameter based on the collected data of rock 30, wherein at least one charge parameter can be used when blasting is approaching the target.

[0047] Action 204: System 10 can determine at least one detonation parameter based on the collected data of rock 30, which can be used when the blasting approaches the target.

[0048] Action 205, System 10 can determine the hardness coefficient of rock 30 based on the collected data of rock 30.

[0049] Action 206: System 10 drills a second hole in rock 30 using at least one drilling parameter to approach the target, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle based on collected data from rock 30. This action is related to action 104 above. The first and second holes can be at least part of a hole pattern. The target can be related to one or more of the following: for example, the size and / or size distribution of one or more fragmented rocks from blasting, reduction of ground vibration, reduction of blasting movement, reduction of flyrock, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The collected data from rock 30 and the target can be used as input to a computational model, wherein the computational model can determine a set of parameters to be used when drilling the second hole. The second hole and / or subsequent holes can be drilled in a curved manner.

[0050] Action 207, System 10 can determine whether the objective has been achieved based on whether the blasting result meets one or more criteria. The blasting result can be based on a determined first hole and a determined second hole. The criteria can be correlated with the predicted blasting result.

[0051] According to some embodiments, when the blasting result does not meet one or more criteria, at least one drilling parameter can be adjusted until the one or more criteria are met. When the blasting result does meet one or more criteria, drilling of the rock 30 can continue by using the determined at least one drilling parameter.

[0052] According to some other embodiments, when the blasting result does not meet one or more criteria, at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter can be adjusted until one or more criteria are met. When the blasting result does meet one or more criteria, drilling of the rock 30 can continue using at least one determined drilling parameter, and blasting can be carried out with at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter.

[0053] Action 208, System 10 can determine at least one second borehole parameter based on the collected rock data.

[0054] Action 209, System 10 can use at least one second drilling parameter to drill a third hole in the rock. The result of the blasting can be based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole.

[0055] The embodiments described and illustrated herein, such as those described above, will now be further described and illustrated. The following text applies to any suitable embodiments described above and may be combined with any suitable embodiments described above. The embodiments described herein relate to collecting data with drill rig 20, performing simulations with the collected data, and, for example, correcting subsequent holes. The collected data may be used to refine the simulation, for example, by using machine learning (ML) models and / or artificial intelligence (AI) models to refine the results from the simulation.

[0056] The size of the broken blasting rocks can be controlled by system 10 to achieve the desired blasting effect. The desired blasting effect can, for example, depend on the amount of explosive placed in the holes (also known as boreholes). Many parameters exist that can affect the shape and size of the resulting blasting rocks. If the holes are densely packed and have a small blasting effect, the broken blasting rocks can produce uniform sizes, but many holes may be required. If the holes are sparsely spaced, the rock 30 near the holes can be blasted into smaller rock fragments compared to the rock 30 farther from the holes.

[0057] Different explosives can produce different explosive effects per unit volume. The aperture may then need to be set depending on the explosive used and the desired explosive effect. The properties of the rock 30 and the explosive action within the hole can affect the hole spacing. The hole position and thus the hole spacing can be determined by the hole pattern.

[0058] To plan the borehole pattern, it may be necessary to understand the properties of rock 30 and simulate its fragmentation. Fragmentation simulations can be performed by estimating the composition of rock 30, how the boreholes are placed, and the blasting effect. This can be repeated until the fragmentation simulation indicates that the blasted rock falls within a set specification. This specification can be a sufficiently large proportion of the blasted rock within an acceptable size range. The collected data can be used to refine the simulation, for example, by using ML models and / or AI models to refine the results from the simulation.

[0059] How rock is blasted can be influenced by factors such as its composition, the presence of cracks, and the characteristics of those cracks. Understanding this can affect the accuracy of the blasting simulation. However, it may be difficult to gather information about the shape and size of the blasting rock before it is blasted.

[0060] As described above, the drilling rig 20, which drills holes in the rock 30, can be used for data collection. Signals from the drilling rig 20 can control the system and provide the system 10 with real-time information about various subsystems of the drilling rig, such as hydraulics and power. The signals can also provide the system 10 with direct information about the rock 30 being drilled by the drilling rig 20, or information after signal processing. The system 10 can filter data from the control system of the drilling rig 20, which can generate detailed rock information. An example of this information is the resistance encountered by the drill bit during drilling. This information, along with other parameters, can describe the composition of the rock 30 being drilled. Combined with knowledge of the drill bit's location, such as the location of the inlet hole, the orientation of the hole, and the depth already drilled, the system 10 can map the volume of the rock 30, especially when data collection is performed from several holes. This allows the creation of a reliable three-dimensional image of the rock 30. In addition to hardness, the presence of cracks can also be determined by the system 10. By detecting crack patterns and rock hardness between several holes, intermediate volumes can be interpolated, and different crack surfaces can also be detected. An example of mapping the volume of rock 30 could be: V=B S BH N, where V is the volume, B is the row spacing, S is the interval, BH is the step height, and N is the number of holes.

[0061] The collected data can then be used by system 10 to improve the crushing simulation and produce more reliable results. The results can then be used to correct the placement and geometry of subsequent holes.

[0062] As mentioned above, because rock hardness can vary with depth, it can be advantageous not only for correcting the placement of subsequent holes but also for drilling subsequent holes at an angle. Rock hardness can be determined based on collected data from rock 30, for example, rock hardness can be calculated from MWD data. By using different angles during drilling, the hole spacing can vary with depth. This variation provides a method for obtaining more uniform fracturing results from blasted rock 30, which exhibits variations in rock hardness, such as rock masses.

[0063] In principle, rock fragmentation 30 can depend on its hardness and blasting force. To compensate for harder rock 30, the explosive power can be increased. However, increasing the explosive power can result in smaller fragmentation sizes near the blast hole. This is because more energy will be released there. Therefore, placing the holes closer together can be beneficial, thereby increasing the blasting force in the rock 30. Due to variations in rock hardness, the requirements for different blasting forces and hole spacing can vary with depth. Using borehole geometries other than perpendicular borehole geometries allows for further approach to optimal fragmentation.

[0064] To further improve the uniformity of fracturing results from rocks with varying hardness, subsequent holes can also be curved. By using these additional geometries, a closer match to the calculated optimal values ​​can be achieved.

[0065] By measuring the actual composition of the rock 30 using the drill rig 20, a more precise fragmentation analysis can be performed by the system 10. This can be used during ongoing work to correct, for example, hole patterns, hole locations, and / or explosive charges, to achieve an improved approach to ensure that the dimensions of the blasted rocks meet the established specifications.

[0066] As more and more holes are drilled, more information about the rock can be collected and further improvements can be made, such as hole patterns in hole images, hole locations, hole geometry, and / or blasting plans.

[0067] To further improve the accuracy of the fracturing simulation, system 10 can collect additional information about rock 30, such as: seismic measurements of how waves generated during drilling propagate in rock 30, which can typically occur outside the borehole; and seismic measurements of how waves generated during blasting propagate in rock 30, which can typically occur at a distance from the blast. Seismic measurements can be used to more accurately determine the location of the drill string on drilling rig 20. This can be performed by inserting a probe into the hole to perform measurements. These measurements can, for example, concern the composition of rock 30 and the orientation of the hole. System 10 can analyze the blasted rock to measure the actual fracturing distribution. This can be done, for example, visually using a drone equipped with a camera or a still camera.

[0068] In addition to improving fragmentation, it can also optimize other properties. For example, it can minimize the presence of scattered blasting debris, enable better vibration prediction, and / or predict changes in the stability of nearby rocks after blasting with greater accuracy.

[0069] The embodiments described herein may relate to the type of drilling performed on the ground (e.g., in an open-pit mine), but underground applications are also possible.

[0070] The computation can also be performed in one or more different locations. For example, on the local drilling rig 20, on a separate unit adjacent to the drilling rig 20, on the overall control system for the mine, on a central server, or on a cloud server. The computation can be performed in one place or distributed across various computing units.

[0071] Typical rock parameters may include one or more of the following: geology, joints (spacing and occurrence), rock mass properties, presence of water, geological modeling, rock wall stability, hardness coefficient, joint spacing rating, and joint occurrence / angle.

[0072] Typical wellbore parameters may include one or more of the following: borehole diameter, borehole pattern, borehole depth, over-depth, inclination, step height, and borehole deviation.

[0073] For example, typical blasting parameters for detonation may include one or more of the following parameters: type of explosive, explosive energy, charging method, charging design, charging length, delay mode, and amount of explosive.

[0074] Figure 3 The block diagram illustrates a detailed, but non-limiting, illustrative example of how system 10 can be constructed to implement the solutions described above and their embodiments. Where appropriate, system 10 can be configured to operate according to any of the examples and embodiments employing the solutions described herein. System 10 is shown as including a processor "P", a memory "M", and communication circuitry "C" having suitable means for sending and receiving data, information, and messages in the manner described herein.

[0075] The communication circuit C in the control system 10 therefore includes devices configured to communicate using appropriate communication protocols depending on the implementation. Data communication links between different parts of the system 10 (e.g., between the drilling rig 20 and the system 10 in the cloud 50, or between the drilling rig 20 and the system 10 locally on the drilling rig 20) can, for example, utilize one or more different types of wired or wireless links such as xDSL, 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G, TCP / IP, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, WiMax, WLL, PSTN, fiber optic, or combinations thereof. However, the solution is not limited to any specific type of message or protocol. For example, the system 10 may be adapted to communicate with a control center, etc., to determine one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in the rock 30 to approach the target described herein.

[0076] System 10 is configured or arranged, for example, through units, modules, etc., to perform as follows Figure 2 The flowchart describes at least some of the actions in the process. System 10 is configured to determine one or more parameters for drilling subsequent holes in rock 30 to approach the target.

[0077] System 10 is configured to drill a first hole in rock 30. This operation can be performed by drilling module 300A in system 10, as illustrated in action 201.

[0078] System 10 is further configured to drill a second hole in rock 30 to approach the target using at least one drilling parameter, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle based on collected data from rock 30. This operation can be performed by drilling module 300A in system 10, as illustrated in action 206. The first and second holes can be at least part of a hole pattern. The target can be associated with one or more of the following: the size and / or size distribution of one or more fractured rocks, reduction of ground vibration, reduction of blasting movement, reduction of flyrock, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions. The second hole and / or subsequent holes can be drilled in a curved manner.

[0079] The collected data and targets of rock 30 can be used as input to a computational model, which can determine a set of parameters to be used when drilling the second hole.

[0080] System 10 can be further configured to drill a third hole in rock 30 using at least one second drilling parameter. The result of the blasting can be based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole. This operation can be performed by the drilling module 300A in system 10, as illustrated in action 209.

[0081] System 10 is configured to collect data about rock 30, which is collected from drill rig 20 during drilling the first hole in rock 30. This operation can be performed by collection module 300B in system 10, as illustrated in action 201a.

[0082] System 10 can be further configured to collect data about rock 30, which is collected from drill rig 20 when the drill string is pulled up after drilling the first hole in rock 30. This operation can be performed by collection module 300B in system 10, as illustrated in action 201b.

[0083] System 10 can be further configured to collect additional data about rock 30, which can be collected from the probe. The collected additional data may include information about one or more physical properties of shock wave propagation, chemical analysis, and / or material flow from the borehole. At least one borehole parameter can be determined based on the collected additional data about rock 30. This operation can be performed by the collection module 300B in system 10, as illustrated in action 201c.

[0084] System 10 is configured to determine at least one borehole parameter based on collected rock data. This operation can be performed by the determination module 300C in system 10, as illustrated in action 202.

[0085] System 10 can be further configured to determine at least one charge parameter based on data from the collected rock 30, wherein at least one charge parameter can be used when blasting toward the target. This operation can be performed by the determination module 300C in system 10, as illustrated in action 203.

[0086] System 10 can be configured to determine at least one detonation parameter based on data collected from rock 30, which can be used when blasting approaches the target. This operation can be performed by the determination module 300C in system 10, as illustrated in action 204.

[0087] System 10 can be further configured to determine the hardness coefficient of rock 30 based on the collected data of rock 30, as illustrated in action 205.

[0088] System 10 can be further configured to determine whether an objective has been achieved based on whether the blasting result meets one or more criteria, wherein the blasting result may be based on a determined first hole and a determined second hole, and wherein the criteria may be associated with the predicted blasting result. This operation can be performed by the determination module 300C in system 10, as illustrated in action 207. According to some embodiments, when the blasting result does not meet one or more criteria, at least one drilling parameter can be adjusted until the one or more criteria are met, and when the blasting result does meet one or more criteria, drilling of the rock 30 can continue using the determined at least one drilling parameter. According to some embodiments, when the blasting result does not meet one or more criteria, at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter can be adjusted until one or more criteria are met, and when the blasting result does meet one or more criteria, drilling of the rock 30 can continue using the determined at least one drilling parameter, and blasting can be performed with at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter.

[0089] System 10 can be further configured to determine at least one second borehole parameter based on the collected rock 30 data. This operation can be performed by the determination module 300C in system 10, as illustrated in action 208.

[0090] It should be noted that Figure 3 The diagram illustrates various functional modules in system 10, and those skilled in the art can implement these functional modules in practice using suitable software and hardware devices. Therefore, the solution is generally not limited to the structure of system 10 shown, and the functional modules therein can be configured to operate as appropriate according to any features, examples, and embodiments described in this disclosure.

[0091] The aforementioned functional modules 300A to 300C can be implemented in system 10 through program modules comprising computer programs including code modules, which, when run by processor P, cause system 10 to perform the aforementioned actions and programs. Processor P may include a single central processing unit (CPU) or may include two or more processing units. For example, processor P may include a general-purpose microprocessor, an instruction set processor, and / or an associated chipset and / or a special-purpose microprocessor such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). Processor P may also include memory for caching purposes.

[0092] The computer program can be carried in the form of a memory in system 10, which has a computer-readable medium and is connected to the processor P. The computer program product or memory M in system 10 therefore includes a computer-readable medium on which the computer program is stored, for example, in the form of computer program modules. For example, the memory M can be flash memory, random access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), or electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), and in alternative embodiments, program modules can be distributed across different computer program products in the form of memory within system 10.

[0093] While the solution has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments, the description is generally intended only to illustrate the inventive concept and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the solution. For example, the terms “data,” “additional data,” “drilling parameters,” “charge parameters,” “detonation parameters,” “target,” “blasting rock,” “drill rig,” “material flow,” “hole,” “wellbore,” and “hole pattern” are used throughout this disclosure, but any other corresponding entities, functions, and / or parameters having the features and characteristics described herein may also be used. The solution is defined by the appended claims.

[0094] It will be appreciated that the foregoing description and accompanying drawings represent non-limiting examples of the methods and arrangements taught herein. Therefore, the arrangements and techniques taught herein are not limited to the foregoing description and accompanying drawings. Rather, the embodiments herein are limited only to the following claims and their legal equivalents.

Claims

1. A method performed by a system (10) for determining one or more parameters for drilling a subsequent hole in a rock (30) to access a target, wherein, The objective is related to a subsequent blasting of the rock (30), the method comprising: drilling (200) a first hole in the rock (30); collecting (201a) data about the rock (30), the data being collected from a drill rig (20) during drilling of the first hole in the rock (30); determining (202) at least one drilling parameter based on the collected data of the rock (30); and drilling (206) a second hole in the rock (30) using the at least one drilling parameter, thereby approaching the objective, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle, the angle being based on the collected data of the rock (30).

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: collecting (201b) data about the rock (30), the data being collected from the drill rig (20) when pulling up the drill after drilling the first hole in the rock (30).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: collecting (201c) additional data about the rock (30), the additional data being collected from a probe, wherein the collected additional data comprises information about one or more physical properties of shock wave propagation, chemical analysis, and / or a material flow from the drill hole, and wherein determining the at least one drilling parameter is based on the collected additional data of the rock (30).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising: determining (203) at least one charge parameter based on the collected data of the rock (30); determining (204) at least one initiation parameter based on the collected data of the rock (30), and wherein the at least one charge parameter and / or the at least one initiation parameter is used when blasting to approach the objective.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: determining (205) a hardness coefficient of the rock (30) based on the collected data of the rock (30).

6. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising: determining (207) whether the objective is achieved based on whether a result of a blasting meets one or more criteria, wherein the result of the blasting is based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole, and wherein the criteria are associated with a predicted blasting result.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein: when the result of the blasting does not meet the one or more criteria, adjusting the at least one drilling parameter until the one or more criteria are met, and when the result of the blasting does meet the one or more criteria, continuing drilling of the rock (30) by using the determined at least one drilling parameter.

8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein: when the result of the blasting does not meet the one or more criteria, adjusting the at least one charge parameter and / or the at least one initiation parameter until the one or more criteria are met, and when the result of the blast does satisfy the one or more criteria, continuing drilling into the rock (30) using the determined at least one borehole parameter and blasting with the at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter.

9. The method of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein, The first hole and the second hole are at least part of a hole pattern.

10. The method of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein, The target relates to one or more of the following: size and / or size distribution of one or more fractured rocks, reduction of ground vibrations, reduction of blast movement, reduction of fly rock, and reduction of carbon dioxide emissions.

11. The method of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein, The data collected of the rock (30) and the target are used as input to a computational model, and wherein the computational model determines a set of parameters to use when drilling the second hole.

12. The method according to any of claims 1 to 11, further comprising: determining (208) at least one second borehole parameter based on the data collected of the rock (30); and drilling (209) a third hole in the rock (30) using the at least one second borehole parameter; and wherein the result of the blast is based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole.

13. The method of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein, The second hole and / or subsequent holes are drilled in a curved form.

14. A system (10) configured to determine one or more parameters for drilling a subsequent hole in a rock (30) to access a target, wherein, The target relates to a subsequent blast of the rock (30), and wherein the system is configured to: drill a first hole in the rock (30); collect data about the rock (30), the data being collected from a drill rig (20) during drilling of the first hole in the rock (30); determine at least one borehole parameter based on the data collected of the rock (30); and drill a second hole in the rock (30) using the at least one borehole parameter, thereby approaching the target, wherein the second hole is drilled at an angle, the angle being based on the data collected of the rock (30).

15. The system (10) of claim 14, wherein, The system (10) is further configured to: collect data about the rock (30), the data being collected from the drill rig (20) when pulling up the drill after drilling the first hole in the rock (30).

16. The system (10) according to claim 14 or 15, wherein The system (10) is further configured to: collect additional data about the rock (30), the additional data being collected from a probe, wherein the additional data collected comprises information about one or more of the following: shock wave propagation, chemical analysis, and / or physical properties of a material flow from the borehole, and wherein determining the at least one borehole parameter is based on the additional data collected of the rock (30).

17. The system (10) of claim 15 or 16, wherein, The system (10) is further configured to: determine at least one charge parameter based on the data collected of the rock (30); determine at least one initiation parameter based on the data collected of the rock (30), and wherein the at least one charge parameter and / or the at least one initiation parameter is used when blasting to approach the target.

18. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein, The system is further configured to: determine a hardness factor of the rock (30) based on data collected of the rock (30).

19. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein, The system (10) is further configured to: determining whether the target is achieved based on whether a result of the blast meets one or more criteria, wherein the result of the blast is based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole, and wherein the criteria are associated with a predicted blast result.

20. The system (10) of claim 19, wherein: when the result of the blast does not meet the one or more criteria, adjusting the at least one drilling parameter until the one or more criteria are met, and when the result of the blast does meet the one or more criteria, continuing drilling into the rock (30) using the determined at least one drilling parameter.

21. The system (10) of claim 19 or 20, wherein: when the result of the blast does not meet the one or more criteria, adjusting the at least one charge parameter and / or the at least one initiation parameter until the one or more criteria are met, and when the result of the blast does meet the one or more criteria, continuing drilling into the rock (30) using the determined at least one drilling parameter and blasting with the at least one charge parameter and / or at least one initiation parameter.

22. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 21, wherein, the first hole and the second hole are at least part of a hole pattern.

23. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein, the target of the subsequent blast is associated with one or more of: a size and / or size distribution of one or more broken rocks, a reduction in ground vibrations, a reduction in blast movement, a reduction in flyrock, and a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.

24. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein, the data of the rock (30) collected and the target are used as input to a computational model, and wherein the computational model determines a set of parameters to be used when drilling the second hole.

25. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 24, wherein, the system (10) is further configured to: determine at least one second drilling parameter based on the data of the rock (30) collected; and drill a third hole in the rock (30) using the at least one second drilling parameter; and wherein the result of the blast is based on the determined first hole and the determined second hole.

26. The system (10) according to any one of claims 14 to 25, wherein, the second hole and / or subsequent holes are drilled in a curved form.

27. A drill rig (20) comprising the system (10) of any one of claims 14 to 26.

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