CRC Mining’s Intelligent Drilling Systems (IDS) project is developing advanced geophysical logging and drill rig performance systems designed to advance drilling efficiency and understanding of the geological environment for improved coal mine planning.

IDS project leader Scott Thompson said so far CRC’s research had resulted in the successful geophysical logging of an inseam borehole to 800m (density, directional gamma and acoustic calliper), an international first.

At the moment, underground inseam holes are drilled across the longwall panel to degas the seam before mining begins.

Medium-radius holes drilled from the surface can also be used to harvest coalbed methane well ahead of the actual mining. These open the way to making more use of this valuable energy resource – leading, potentially, to zero emissions.

“In Australia we drill 600km of these things every year to release the gas, and the information in them is just lost," Thompson said.

"IDS means we can now use both underground in-seam and surface bore holes to plan the mining operation better, and avoid the sort of unpleasant geological surprises that can waste millions of dollars when you encounter an unexpected structure and have to work round it while the machinery stands idle."

Development work is under way to manufacture logging tools specifically designed for Australian Medium Radius Surface to Inseam Drilling (MRD) and underground inseam drilling. In addition, annular pressure and torque/thrust sensors have been developed by the CRC and deployed in commercial MRD operations in Australia.