THE PROJECT
More useful cutting time in difficult ground.
On a gold exploration project in Türkiye, the drilling team was working through phyllite, rhyolite, andesite and quartz, with partly broken intervals. Premature wear and gauge loss meant several bit changes within an average 370 m hole.
The challenge
The original H-size bit used a 12 mm matrix. Even with a suitable matrix selection, frequent rod pulls interrupted production and added time to every hole. The team needed a more durable configuration for its actual conditions.
An engineering response
Ore Dynamics proposed an HWL Legend 7 bit with a 13 mm matrix height. Five consecutive field tests were used to examine bit life and shift performance in the operating context.
What the field trials showed
The field account reports 221 m average bit life and 73–81 m drilled per shift. During the campaign, bit changes fell from four or five per hole to one.
Why it matters
The lesson is a system lesson: matching the crown, matrix and ground can reduce interruptions as well as material use. Results depend on the formation, rig and drilling practice in each project.
