Geological engineering and mining is safer due to the use of geotechnical tools
Geotechnical tools combine hard on-site tooling with state of the art technologies for use in the geological engineering, mining and oil exploration industries. Their use improves the predictive nature of exploration and production processes, making them more cost-effective. The principle technologies used to collect data are "wireline", gamma ray, measurement while drilling and X-ray diffraction. Back in the office, results are analyzed and plotted as 3-dimensional models using sophisticated computer software.
Wireline Tools
Advanced wireline technology has been used for many years in the oil exploration industry. Acoustic wireline tools measure compression and shear velocities to derive the porosity, permeability, and mechanical properties of rock layers. Ultrasonic borehole imagers and seismic tools combine to construct high resolution images around a borehole. Nuclear magnetic resonance technology measures reservoir fluid and hydrocarbon characteristics. Elemental capture spectroscopy measures pressure and temperature in real time, and resistivity m
easurements determine true formation resistivity. These logging tools combine to give an accurate account of extreme down hole environments.
Gamma Ray
Gamma ray measurements give a visual identification of the formations as they are drilled. By measuring gamma counts and plotting them over depth, it is possible to identify underground rock layers. By studying the cross sections of formations, the well path can be adjusted to allow drilling with greater precision.
Measurement While Drilling Tools
Geotechnical tools are widely used in the oil exploration industry.
MWD tools combine mechanical and electronic engineering with software design for a complete systems approach to down hole drilling. Components from one system may be re-used to convert to another type of tool. To convert from mud pulse telemetry to electromagnetic (EM) transmission, the user need only to unscrew the top tool section and attach the alternative transmitter section. Vertical drilling tools can be interchanged to sophisticated logging while drilling tools by adding extra sensor sections.
XRD Analysis
Analytical X-ray solutions cover a wide range of exploration and exploitation in mineral processing. X-ray analysis of polycrystalline mineral samples for the mining industry provides information to increase yield during processing and reduce operating costs. X-ray diffraction (XRD) is used to analyze crystalline composition, and X-ray fluorescence (XRF) is the key technique for characterizing the element composition of all geological materials.
Software-Based Geotechnical Tools
Data computerized to create a 3D landscape
Typical software-based geotechnical tools allow users to set up and input data to build a structural database. Structures can be digitized onto the screen and dragged or rotated to match features by using image registration tools. Data can be viewed in 3D on the screen, or in the form of a plotted graph. Geotechnical analysis tools also help to improve mine safety by computing slope movement or predicting zones of weakness or other potential points of failure. Engineering applications include slope aspect analysis, display vector maps and drainage maps.
Tags: tools combine, down hole, drilling tools, engineering mining, exploration industry
