Method for simulating rock properties and mining machine and control system arranged therefore

Abstract

Disclosed is a method, mining machine (20) and control system (10) for simulating rock properties, in connection with drilling in a rock (30), performed by a mining machine (20). The method comprises drilling (200) a drill hole (31) in the rock (30); during the drilling (200) transporting (205) drill cuttings (32) out of the drill hole (31) to the mining machine (20); obtaining (207) information on position of the drill (21) at the time of when drill cuttings (32) was drilled; taking (210) by a splitter (24) at least one sample (A, B) from the drill cuttings (32); collecting (212) a first set of data (DI) relating to elemental composition of the rock (30), from the at least one sample (A, B); using (216) the first set of data (DI) and the position of the drill (21) for performing a simulation of the rock (30) and its properties.

Description

METHOD FOR SIMULATING ROCK PROPERTIES AND MINING MACHINE AND CONTROL SYSTEM ARRANGED THEREFORETechnical field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a method for simulating rock properties of a rock in connection with drilling in a rock with a mining machine. The present disclosure further relates to a mining machine and a control system arranged for performing the method.Background

[0002] In order to extract ore from a rock volume, it is important to know the composition and structure of the rock volume. To extract an ore, several steps must be performed by a mining machine. Drilling holes into the rock volume for insertion of explosives, blasting the explosives to fragment the rock, transportation of the material, and additional fragmentation of the blast stones. It is known to collect material data while drilling (MWD), such as hardness and density of the rock composition and the position of the drill. It is also known to probe an already drilled hole with a sensor probe, to collect material data, this will however need additional steps to be performed, where a sensitive sensor is lowered down into the drilled hole, by a wireline and further steps to collect the data. Further, analysis performed on samples taken from the drill cuttings is known, but this takes time since the samples are sent away to another site for analysis, for example at an external material laboratory or the like.

[0003] Thus, there is a need for improved simulation for estimating rock properties of a rock volume which is drilled by a mining machine.Summary

[0004] It is an object of the disclosure to address at least some of the problems and issues outlined above. An object of aspects of the present disclosure is to provide a method for improved simulation of rock properties of a rock volume which is drilled by a mining machine. Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a mining machine which comprises a drill rig with a drill, a return channelfor transporting drill cuttings out of the drill hole to the mining machine, a splitter arranged at the mining machine and which is arranged for taking at least one sample from the drill cuttings, preferably of the ones transported to the machine by a return channel, and finally a non-destructive analysis device arranged in connection to the return channel and arranged to analyze rock properties of the drill cuttings when passing the non-destructive analysis device. Yet another aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a control system configured to operate in connection with a mine and configured for wireless communication with a mining machine, whereby the control system is operative for performing the method according to the disclosure.

[0005] According to an aspect, a method performed by a control system for simulating rock properties, in connection with drilling in a rock, is disclosed. The method is performed by a mining machine, which may be a machine for exploration drilling, underground mining or surface mining. The method comprises drilling a drill hole in the rock, using the drill of the drill rig of the mining machine; during the drilling, transporting drill cuttings out of the drill hole to the mining machine; obtaining information on position of the drill at the time of when the drill cuttings was drilled, so that it detached from the rock; taking by a splitter at least one sample from the drill cuttings, preferably from the drill cuttings transported to the mining machine; collecting a first set of data relating to elemental composition of the rock, from the at least one sample, and finally using the first set of data and the position of the drill for performing a simulation of the rock and its properties.

[0006] By such a method, improved rock simulation is achieved, which will provide numerous benefits, such as an increased precision on where to stop the extraction of material, but also on where different materials are located more precise, how to drill a subsequent drill hole and how to blast the volume. Drill cuttings transported to the mining machine is measured / analyzed to collect data on the elemental composition of the material. This data is used for simulating the rock volume, and the analyze is preferably done with an arrangement arranged in line with the flow of drill cuttings (stone chips / material). Thus, the method provides real time data which may be used more or less instantly while drilling. The datarelating to the composition can then be associated with positioning data from the drill machine in order to know which position in the rock that has a certain composition, wherein a far better and more precise way of performing and planning drill operation by the mining machine is achieved.

[0007] According to a disclosure, the collecting of the first set of data relating to elemental composition of the rock, comprises a non-destructive analysis of the drill cuttings. The non-destructive analysis means that a number of different such methods may be used, methods which does not affect the drill cuttings (chips) in a destructive way, as for example by using different kinds of X-ray equipment. In most prior art solutions, drill cuttings are transported away from the production site (for example the mine) to a laboratory or the like, where the drill cuttings / chips are further crushed and analyzed according to their particle setup / combination. By using a non-destructive analysis of the drill cuttings, the arrangement performing the analyze may be arranged directly in the “flow” of passing drill cuttings and a lot of time is saved, and a direct result is at hand. The data may be used more or less instantly, instead as in prior art solutions, after being analyzed in a distant laboratory.

[0008] According to a disclosure, the collecting of the first set of data relating to elemental composition of the rock, comprising transmitting radiation towards the at least one sample and detecting radiation emitted from the at least one sample as a result of the radiation transmitted towards the at least one sample of drill cuttings. Transmitting radiation is a non-destructive analysis method for analyzing the drill cuttings and for example X-ray transmission (XRT) or X-ray fluorescence (XRF) may be used.

[0009] According to a disclosure, the collecting of the first set of data relating to elemental composition of the rock, comprising PFTNA analysis of the drill cuttings. PFTNA (Pulsed Fast Thermal Neutron Activation) is a method which now is disclosed in connection with an in-flow and instant analysis of the drill cuttings from the drilling operation, passing a PFTNA analyzer (device) used to collect data on the elemental composition of the material. PFTNA technology rely on activation of material by neutrons, and the instantaneous emission of gamma rays fromnuclei which have absorbed neutrons. Capitalizing on the unique gamma ray spectrum associated with each element, the instrument can perform an analysis on the composite spectrum to determine the overall elemental composition of the material. The data relating to the composition can then be associated with positioning data from the mining machine (like a drill machine) in order to know which position in the rock that has a certain composition. By that, it is possible to instant and better analyze the rock volume and further to simulate the composition of the rock volume, while drilling. As mentioned, the PFTNA device provides a pulsed flow of neutrons which interacts with the nuclei of the atoms in the passing drill cuttings. In response to this, the atoms emit gamma rays at characteristic energy levels, wherein the gamma rays are measured with detectors, to collect the spectrum of emitted gamma rays. The spectra are interpreted, and the elemental concentrations of different material are determined. Advantages like quick determination of material composition with high accuracy of the data is achieved together with time and cost savings due to the in-flow arrangement and direct result, which is incorporated into the simulation models of the rock composition, for better planning etc.

[0010] According to a disclosure, the method further comprises, after transporting drill cuttings out of the drill hole to the mining machine and before the taking of the at least one sample from the drill cuttings transported to the machine, treating the drill cuttings according to a specification defined by a non-destructive analysis device arranged to analyze the elemental composition of the rock, from the at least one sample. The treating may be additional steps like crushing, sorting etc. of the drill cuttings before the sample / samples is / are taken for further transportation and / or analyzation.

[0011] According to a disclosure, after the step of using the first set of data, the method further comprises planning the drilling of a subsequent drill hole to be drilled, based on simulation of the rock and its properties, simulated from the data from the drilling of at least one preceding drill hole.

[0012] According to a disclosure, the planning of the drilling of a subsequent drill hole to be drilled, is updated continuously during drilling of at least one preceding drill hole.

[0013] According to a disclosure, the method further comprising collecting a second set of data relating to rock properties of the rock, which second set of data is based on data obtained by the drill rig while drilling with the drill in the rock. This is, within the field, often mentioned as MWD (Measure While Drilling), and the combination of MWD data from the second set of data with the first set of data (described above), a much better precision and planning of extracting ore from a rock is achieved.

[0014] According to a disclosure, the collecting of the second set of data comprises determining a position of a drill bit of the drill of the mining machine. By that, the exact position (not only the position of the mining machine) of from where in the rock volume, the drill cuttings are taken, wherein the sample taken for analyze can be combined with that position. A high precision is achieved.

[0015] According to a disclosure, the collecting the second set of data comprises determining a density of the rock. This is performed by MWD technique for determining the density of the rock.

[0016] According to a disclosure, the collecting the second set of data comprises determining a hardness of the rock, determined by MWD technique.

[0017] According to an aspect, a mining machine is disclosed. The mining machine may be a machine for exploration drilling, underground mining or surface mining. The mining machine comprises a drill rig which comprises a drill, for drilling a drill hole in a rock; a return channel fortransporting drill cuttings out of the drill hole to the mining machine; a splitter, arranged at the mining machine and arranged for taking at least one sample from the drill cuttings transported to the machine by the return channel; and a non-destructive analysis device, arranged in connection to the return channel and arranged to analyze rock properties of the drill cuttings when the drill cuttings passes the non-destructive analysis device. Bysuch a mining machine, the inventive method described above may be performed with all advantages described above.

[0018] The splitter may also be arranged directly on the mining machine wherein the drill cuttings transported to the machine is split into different samples at the mining machine. As mentioned above, the splitter may be arranged in connection to the return channel, which in turn may be arranged before, on or after the mining machine.

[0019] According to a disclosure of the mining machine, the non-destructive analysis device is arranged to transmit radiation towards the at least one sample and further arranged to detect radiation emitted from the at least one sample as a result of the radiation transmitted towards the at least one sample. Advantages are described above in relation to the method.

[0020] According to a disclosure, the non-destructive analysis device is a PFTNA-analyzer. The PFTNA-analyzer may be arranged as a part of the splitter or be positioned after the splitter, as a separate part.

[0021] According to a disclosure, the mining machine further comprises a treating device, arranged upstream the non-destructive analysis device and arranged to treat the drill cuttings according to a specification defined by the nondestructive analysis device.

[0022] According to an aspect, a control system configured to operate in connection with a mine and configured for wireless communication with a mining machine, is disclosed. The control system comprises a processing circuitry and a memory, said memory containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry, whereby the control system is operative for performing the method described above.

[0023] Further possible features and benefits of this solution will become apparent from the detailed description below.Brief description of drawings

[0024] The invention is now described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0025] Fig. 1 shows an example of a mining machine according to the invention.

[0026] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart showing a method performed by a control system, for simulating rock properties, according to the invention.

[0027] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of the method of Fig. 2 with further disclosures compared to Fig. 2.

[0028] Fig. 4 shows a schematic figure of a control system operative for performing the method according to the invention.Detailed description

[0029] In the following, a method, a mining machine and a control system, according to the invention, is exemplified. The method and mining machine disclosed herein may be realized in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the examples set forth herein. Like numbers in the drawings refer to like elements throughout.

[0030] Fig. 1 shows an example of a mining machine 20, which may be a machine for exploration drilling, underground mining or surface mining, and which comprises a drill rig 22 arranged with a drill 21 for drilling a drill hole 31 in a rock 30. At an outer end of the drill 31 , a drill bit 21 a is arranged. When drilling the hole 31 , drill cuttings 32 from the drilling operation is evacuated by the return flow and is captured and transported via a return channel 23. The return channel 23 (and evacuation device) is / are arranged fortransporting the drill cuttings 32 out of the drill hole 31 to the mining machine 20, and further to a so called splitter 24. The splitter 24 is in the preferred embodiment arranged at the mining machine 20 and the splitter 24 is arranged for taking at least one sample A, B from the drill cuttings 32 transported to the machine 20, by the return channel 23. The sample / samples A, B, according to prior art solutions, is / are removed from the construction site / themine to an external laboratory or the like, where the samples are analyzed to determine the rock properties of the drill cuttings 32. Based on this, the ore body is theoretically determined, and a drill plan is estimated, based on the rock properties. This is a rather slow method and a method which also may not be particularly cost-effective, since the drill plan is not precise, why decisions like when to stop the extraction of material or where different materials are located gets may be incorrect. Further, information on how to drill a subsequent drill hole and how to blast the volume and the total planning of the drilling, is to rough, which may be cost driving. The invention has now solved this by that the mining machine comprises a non-destructive analysis device 25, which is arranged in connection to the return channel 23, i.e. arranged somewhere in the flow of drill cuttings 32, wherein the non-destructive analysis device 25 is arranged to analyze rock properties of the drill cuttings 32 when passing the non-destructive analysis device 25. The non-destructive analysis device 25 is according to the preferred embodiment a PFTNA-analyzer 25, which is arranged to analyze the rock properties of the drill cuttings 32 when passing the PFTNA-analyzer 25. The PFTNA-analyzer 25 is arranged to transmit radiation towards the at least one sample A, B and is further arranged to detect radiation emitted from the drill cuttings 32 of the at least one sample A, B, as a result of the radiation transmitted towards the at least one sample A, B / the drill cuttings 32. The non-destructive analysis device 25 / the PFTNA-analyzer 25 may be arranged anywhere in the material flow of the drill cuttings 32, and in the preferred embodiment, the PFTNA-analyzer 25 is arranged on the mining machine 20. The PFTNA-analyzer 25 may be arranged as a part of the splitter 24, as shown in Fig. 1 or be positioned after the splitter 24. Upstream the non-destructive analysis device 25 / the PFTNA-analyzer 25, a treating device 26 may be arranged. The treating device 26 is a device arranged to treat the drill cuttings 32, according to specifications of the nondestructive analysis device 25 / the PFTNA-analyzer 25 and is used if the analyzer has certain demands on for example fraction or the like. The treating device 26 may be arranged as a part of the splitter 24, as shown in Fig. 1.

[0031] Fig. 2 shows a flow chart showing a method performed by a control system 10, for simulating rock properties, in connection with drilling in a rock 30.The drilling is performed by the mining machine 20, described above. The method comprises drilling 200, a drill hole 31 in the rock 30, using the drill 21 of the drill rig 22 of the mining machine 20; during the drilling 200, transporting 205 drill cuttings 32 out of the drill hole 31 to the mining machine 20; obtaining 207 information on position of the drill 21 at the time of when the drill cuttings 32 was drilled so that it detached from the rock 30; taking 210, by a splitter 24, at least one sample A, B from the drill cuttings 32; collecting 212 a first set of data D1 , relating to elemental composition of the rock 30, from the at least one sample A, B; and finally using 216 the first set of data D1 and the position of the drill 21 for performing a simulation of the rock 30 and its properties.

[0032] By this inventive method, improved rock simulation is achieved, which provides benefits like increased precision on when and / or where to stop the extraction of rock material and information on where different materials are located more precise in the rock 30, and this more or less instantly while drilling. This may also be used to make a drill plan or update the existing drill plan continuously and fluent, while drilling, and the information may also be used for example how to blast the rock volume etc. The drill cuttings 32 transported to the mining machine 20 are measured / analyzed, and collected data gives the elemental composition of the rock material, and the data is used for simulating the rock volume. As mentioned, the analyze is done with an arrangement - the non-destructive analysis device 25 / the PFTNA-analyzer 25 - arranged in line with the flow of drill cuttings 32 (stone chips / rock material). The data D1 relating to the composition can then be associated with positioning data from the mining machine 20 in order to know which position in the rock 30 that has a certain composition, wherein a far better and more precise way of performing and planning drill operation by the mining machine is achieved. Thus, the method provides real time data to be used instantly while drilling for detailed data and for better planning of the drilling operation and other activities of the mining.

[0033] Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of the method of Fig. 2 with further disclosures compared to Fig. 2. According to this embodiment, the method further comprises that the collecting 212 of the first set of data D1, relating to elemental compositionof the rock 30, comprises transmitting 213 radiation towards the at least one sample A, B and detecting 214 radiation emitted from the at least one sample A, B as a result of the radiation transmitted towards the at least one sample A, B. This is done with the non-destructive analysis device 25, preferably the PFTNA-analyzer 25, which thus is arranged for transmitting 213 radiation towards the at least one sample A, B and detecting 214 radiation emitted from the same.Transmitting radiation and detecting radiation emitted, is a non-destructive analysis method for analyzing the drill cuttings 32 and for example X-ray transmission (XRT) or X-ray fluorescence (XRF) may be used.

[0034] The method may also comprise, after transporting 205 drill cuttings 32 out of the drill hole 31 to the mining machine 30, and before the taking 210 by the splitter 24 of the at least one sample A, B from the drill cuttings 32 transported to the machine 30, treating 206 the drill cuttings 32 according to a specification defined by the non-destructive analysis device 25 / the PFTNA-analyzer 25. The treating 206 may be additional steps like crushing, sorting etc. of the drill cuttings 32 before taking 210 the sample / samples A, B for analyzation.

[0035] The method may further comprise, after the step of using 216 the first set of data D1, planning 218 the drilling 200 of a subsequent drill hole 31 to be drilled, based on simulation of the rock 30 and its properties, simulated from the data from the drilling of at least one preceding drill hole 31. Further, the method may comprise that the planning 218 of the drilling 200 of a subsequent drill hole 31 to be drilled, is updated continuously during drilling of at least one preceding drill hole 31.

[0036] Yet according to an embodiment, the method further comprising collecting 202a second set of data D2, relating to rock properties of the rock 30, which second set of data D2 is based on data obtained by the drill rig 22 while drilling with the drill 21 in the rock 30. Within the field, this is often called MWD (Measure While Drilling), and the combination of MWD data from the second set of data D2 with the first set of data D2, gives a far better precision and planning of extracting ore from a rock 30 than previously known. According to a preferred embodiment, the collecting 202 of the second set of data D2 comprisesdetermining 203 a position of a drill bit 21 a of the drill 21 of the mining machine 20. The collecting 202 the second set of data D2 may further comprise determining 203 a density of the rock 30 and / or determining 203 a hardness of the rock 30.

[0037] Fig. 4 shows a schematic figure of a control system 10 of the machine 20 for mining or construction, for simulating rock properties, in connection with drilling in a rock 30, according to the invention. The control system 10 of the machine 20 comprises a processing circuitry 11 and a memory 12. The memory 12 contains instructions executable by the processing circuitry 11 , whereby the control system 10 is operative for performing any of the embodiments of the method, which is described above.

[0038] According to other embodiments, the control system 10 may further comprise a communication unit 14. The communication unit 14 may be considered to comprise conventional means for communication with the mining or construction machine 20, such as a wireless transmitter and receiver, for e.g., performing the method described above, for performing a simulation of the rock and its properties. The communication unit, or another communication unit (not shown) may be used for communication with any other supervising system, for example an online system, a cloud or the like. The instructions executable by the processing circuitry 11 may be arranged as a computer program 13 stored in said memory 12.

[0039] Although the description above contains a plurality of specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the concept described herein but as merely providing illustrations of some exemplifying embodiments of the described concept. It will be appreciated that the scope of the presently described concept fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and that the scope of the presently described concept is accordingly not to be limited. Reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean "one and only one" unless explicitly so stated, but rather "one or more." All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the abovedescribed embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are expressly incorporated herein by reference and are intended to be encompassed hereby. Moreover, it is not necessary for an apparatus or method to address eachand every problem sought to be solved by the presently described concept, for it to be encompassed hereby. In the figures, a broken line generally signifies that the feature within the broken line is optional.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Method performed by a control system (10) for simulating rock properties, in connection with drilling in a rock (30) performed by a mining machine (20) comprising a drill rig (22) comprising a drill (21), the method comprising:drilling (200) a drill hole (31) in the rock (30) using the drill (21), during the drilling (200) transporting (205) drill cuttings (32) out of the drill hole (31) to the mining machine (20),obtaining (207) information on position of the drill (21) at the time of when the drill cuttings (32) was drilled so that it detached from the rock (30),taking (210) by a splitter (24) at least one sample (A, B) from the drill cuttings (32),collecting (212) a first set of data (D1) relating to elemental composition of the rock (30), from the at least one sample (A, B),using (216) the first set of data (D1 ) and the position of the drill (21 ) for performing a simulation of the rock (30) and its properties.

2. Method according to claim 1 , wherein the collecting (212) of the first set of data (D1) relating to elemental composition of the rock (30), comprising a nondestructive analysis of the drill cuttings (32).

3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the collecting (212) of the first set of data (D1) relating to elemental composition of the rock (30), comprising transmitting (213) radiation towards the at least one sample (A, B) and detecting (214) radiation emitted from the at least one sample (A, B) as a result of the radiation transmitted towards the at least one sample (A, B).

4. Method according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the collecting (212) of the first set of data (D1) relating to elemental composition of the rock (30), comprising a PFTNA analysis of the drill cuttings (32).

5. Method according to any of claims 2-4, wherein after transporting (205) drill cuttings (32) out of the drill hole (31 ) to the mining machine (30) and beforethe taking (210) of the at least one sample (A, B) from the drill cuttings (32) transported to the machine (30), the method further comprising treating (206) the drill cuttings (32) according to a specification defined by a non-destructive analysis device arranged to analyse the elemental composition of the rock (30), from the at least one sample (A, B).

6. Method according to any of the preceding claims, after the step of using (216) the first set of data (D1 ), the method further comprising planning (218) the drilling (200) of a subsequent drill hole (31) to be drilled, based on simulation of the rock (30) and its properties, simulated from the data from the drilling of at least one preceding drill hole (31).

7. Method according to claim 6, wherein the planning (218) of the drilling (200) of a subsequent drill hole (31) to be drilled, is updated continuously during drilling of at least one preceding drill hole (31).

8. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the method further comprising collecting (202) a second set of data (D2) relating to rock properties of the rock (30), which second set of data (D2) is based on data obtained by the drill rig (22) while drilling (200) with the drill (21) in the rock (30).

9. Method according to claim 8, wherein the collecting (202) the second set of data (D2) comprises determining (203) a position of a drill bit (22) of the drill (21) of the mining machine (20).

10. Method according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the collecting (202) the second set of data (D2) comprises determining (203) a density of the rock (30).

11. Method according to any of claims 8-10, wherein the collecting (202) the second set of data (D2) comprises determining (203) a hardness of the rock (30).

12. A mining machine (20) comprising:a drill rig (22) comprising a drill (21 ) for drilling a drill hole (31 ) in a rock (30),a return channel (23) for transporting drill cuttings (32) out of the drill hole (31) to the mining machine (20),a splitter (24), arranged at the mining machine (20) and arranged for taking at least one sample (A, B) from the drill cuttings (32) transported to the machine (20) by the return channel (23),a non-destructive analysis device (25) arranged in connection to the return channel (23) and arranged to analyse rock properties of the drill cuttings (32) when passing the non-destructive analysis device (25).

13. Mining machine (20) according to claim 12, wherein the non-destructive analysis device (25) is arranged to transmit radiation towards the at least one sample (A, B) and further arranged to detect radiation emitted from the at least one sample (A, B), as a result of the radiation transmitted towards the at least one sample (A, B).

14. Mining machine (20) according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the nondestructive analysis device (25) is a PFTNA-analyzer.

15. Mining machine (20) according to any of claims 12-14, wherein the mining machine (20) further comprises a treating device (26) arranged upstream the non-destructive analysis device (25) and arranged to treat the drill cuttings (32) according to a specification defined by the non-destructive analysis device (25).

16. A control system (10) configured to operate in connection with a mine and configured for wireless communication with a mining machine (20), the control system (10) comprising a processing circuitry (11) and a memory (12), said memory (12) containing instructions executable by said processing circuitry (11), whereby the control system (10) is operative for performing the method according to any of claims 1-11.

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