Adaptive collaring using rock fracture indication

Abstract

A hole fracture indicator system and method for adaptively auto-collaring boreholes for a drilling machine in a rock formation is provided. The method includes the steps of initiating rotation of a drill bit of the drilling machine; receiving, in real time, measurement-while-drilling (MWD) data from one or more sensors of the drilling machine during drilling of the borehole; drilling until a fracture start in the borehole is determined; marking the fracture start; when an amount of fracture and location of the fracture in the borehole is determined, determining how much water is needed to fortify a wall of the borehole at the fracture; and initiating collaring of the borehole at the fracture start by initiating watering of the rock formation upon determination of the start of the fracture.

Images