THE PROJECT
A 13 mm matrix. Longer service between changes.
A gold exploration project in Türkiye put the focus on productive drilling time. Gold Rush follows the trial of HWL Legend 7 in a mixed formation where early wear and gauge loss were interrupting the work.
The conditions
Phyllite, rhyolite, andesite and local quartz were encountered in mainly solid rock with some broken zones. Target holes averaged 370 m. The previous H-size configuration used a 12 mm matrix.
The response
Ore Dynamics proposed HWL Legend 7 with a 13 mm matrix. Five consecutive trials recorded an average bit life of 221 m and 73–81 m drilled per shift.
The operational result
The field account reports one bit change per hole, compared with four or five previously, and a daily drilling record of 162 m. Fewer changes meant fewer interruptions for pulling and returning the drill string.
Why it matters
A bit change involves more than replacing the cutting tool. The drill string must be withdrawn and returned before coring resumes. Reducing these interruptions gives the crew more time to drill, while the condition of the recovered core remains part of the performance assessment.
