Six Common Mistakes In Operation Exploration Drilling Rigs And Their Avoidance Solutions

After many engineering contractors and mining construction teams purchase brand-new exploration drilling rigs and put them into on-site operation, they often encounter rapid wear and tear of the rigs, low drilling efficiency, and in severe cases, safety hazards. Many problems are not due to quality defects of the equipment, but rather the long-term non-standard operation habits of the operators. Exploration drilling rig manufacturers remind all construction parties that if they want to extend the service life of drilling rigs and ensure construction progress, they must be vigilant against the following six types of high-frequency operation misunderstandings.

First. What risks will arise if a comprehensive inspection is omitted before starting the drilling rig?

1. Which components must be checked before starting up?

Some construction workers, in order to catch up with the construction schedule, directly started the exploration drilling rig and skipped the pre-inspection process upon startup. The tightness of the hydraulic pipeline, the level of lubricating oil, the degree of wear of the drill pipe, and the braking system are all inspection items that cannot be ignored.

2. Can last-minute rush work simplify the pre-inspection process?

The answer is clearly no. The working conditions of field exploration sites are complex, and the rock and soil layer environments are changeable. The faults caused by the lack of inspection links often lead to longer shutdowns. Formal exploration drilling rig factories will all provide standardized start-up inspection lists when delivering equipment, and operators should strictly follow them.

 Second. How will forced overloading drilling damage exploration drilling rigs?

1. How to determine if the drilling rig is in an overloaded working state?

When encountering hard rock strata, many operators continuously increase the pressure to force drilling, ignore the rated load of the drilling rig. When the machine body vibrates violently, the power system makes abnormal noises, or the oil temperature rises rapidly,it is a warning signal of equipment overload. Long-term overloading will significantly shorten the service life of power components and drilling tools.

2. How should the hardness of rock strata exceed the equipment parameters and be properly handled?

The drilling speed and propulsion pressure should be adjusted, and a suitable drill should be used for layer-by-layer drilling. If the formation conditions continue to exceed the design range of the equipment, the exploration drilling rig supplier will recommend replacing the model or matching auxiliary drilling tools. When Xinaho Drilling Rig undertakes overseas projects, it often recommends matching models based on the geological survey reports of customers to avoid long-term overloading operation of equipment.

 Third. What faults are prone to occur if the disassembly and assembly operation of drill pipes is not standardized?

1. What are the most easily overlooked details when disassembling and assembling drill pipes?

The cleaning of drill pipe threads, application of thread grease, and alignment of drill pipe joints are the three core points. Direct connection of threads mixed with sand and gravel will cause thread wear and jamming, making subsequent disassembly difficult. In severe cases, the drill pipe may break and remain at the bottom of the hole, resulting in high salvage costs.

2. Can drill pipes still be used if they show slight deformation?

Drill pipes that are slightly bent or have damaged threads should not be put into drilling operations any longer. The continuous use of damaged drill pipes not only reduces the quality of hole formation but also constantly impacts the rotary mechanism of the drilling rig, causing more associated damages.

Forth. What chain problems can arise from neglecting the daily maintenance of the hydraulic system?

1. How often is it most reasonable to change the hydraulic oil?

For exploration drilling rigs operating in dusty outdoor environments, the cleanliness of the hydraulic oil is of vital importance. The hydraulic and filter elements need to be replaced regularly according to the working conditions. Dust continuously entering the oil circuit will wear out the hydraulic pump and motor, and the cost of maintenance and replacement of parts is extremely high.

2. Should the hydraulic system be shut down immediately when leakage occurs?

发现渗油现象需要及时停机排查，不要依靠补充液压油继续施工。持续渗漏会导致压力不足，钻进动力下降，也是野外作业常见安全隐患。

If oil leakage is detected, the machine should be stopped immediately for inspection. Do not rely on replenishing hydraulic oil to continue construction. Continuous leakage can lead to insufficient pressure and a decrease in drilling power, which is also a common safety hazard in field operations.

 Fifth. What potential risks exist when drilling RIGS are parked and placed randomly on the site?

1. What are the standards for choosing parking locations in field exploration sites?

Some construction teams directly parked the exploration drilling RIGS on slopes and soft soil layers. After rainfall, the foundation settles, which can easily cause equipment to tilt and slip. The parking area needs to be leveled and compacted, and anti-slip and anti-collapse measures should be taken.

Some construction teams directly parked the exploration drilling rigs on slopes and soft soil layers. After rainfall, the foundation settles, which can easily cause equipment to tilt and slip. The parking area needs to be leveled and compacted, and anti-slip and anti-collapse measures should be taken.

2. What protective measures should be taken for drilling RIGS after a long-term shutdown?

Before long-term idleness, clean the mud off the drilling tools, carry out anti-rust treatment on the metal parts, drain the accumulated water in the pipelines, and provide dust-proof covers to reduce rust damage to the equipment during the idle period.

Sixth. Will it affect the construction efficiency if the operators are not familiar with the model parameters?

1.Can the operating parameters of different models of exploration drilling RIGS be used interchangeably?

The rated speed, propulsion force and drilling depth parameters of drilling rigs from different manufacturers and of different models are significantly different, and the same set of operation habits cannot be applied. Blindly copying operation methods can easily reduce construction efficiency and accelerate equipment wear and tear.

2. After purchasing a new drilling rig, is it necessary to conduct operation training?

When overseas engineering teams purchase equipment from exploration drilling rig manufacturers, they can simultaneously apply for operation guidance services to hep operators quickly familiarize themselves with the equipment performance and establish standardized operation procedures. Xinhao Drilling Rig targets global purchasing customers and supports the provision of technical data related to the operation of basic equipment.

Conclusion: Standardize operations to reduce the long-term usage cost of exploration drilling rigs

The comprehensive cost of exploration projects not only includes the cost of equipment procurement, but also the losses from later maintenance and shutdowns should not be underestimated. Avoiding the above six types of common operational errors and establishing standardized operation procedures can effectively extend the service life of exploration drilling rigs and stabilize the project construction progress.

If you are looking for a reliable exploration drilling rig factory that requires drilling rig products suitable for geological exploration and mine drilling projects, and supports parameter customization and bulk supply, you can contact a professional exploration drilling rig supplier to discuss solutions. Xinhao Drilling Rig, relying on its mature production line, provides stable and reliable exploration drilling equipment to global engineering purchasers.