Overview Sonic systems

Techniques kW input

Typical depth/diam

Vibration force

Bar/flow l/min

Forma-tions

Casing manipulator

CompactSonic (CS) type 2x5

Rotation or vibration

60 30/125 m/mm

10 ton 210 / 154

soft to medium

no

CompactRotoSonic (CRS) type 2x5

Rotation & vibration

121 50/125 m/mm

10 ton 210 / 414

all no/yes

MidSonic (MS) type 4x5

Rotation & vibration

190 100/165 m/mm

20 ton 210 / 434

all yes

LargeSonic (LS) type 2x17,5

Rotation & vibration

386 200/300 m/mm

35 ton 414 / 557

all yes

Seismic shot holes

Seismic071109 v1.03

Other SonicSampDrill products and applications

CompactSonicMast CS-P on Caterpillar

CompactSonic on one meter wide tracks (peat bog)

CompactSonicMast + Power Pack HPP for any vehicle

SonicMast CS-P + Hydraulic Power pack HPP on barge

CompactSonicMast CS-P on former Russian tank CompactSonicMast CS-T working in Koeweit

SonicSampDrill Uitmaat 10 6987 ER Giesbeek The Netherlands t +31 313 88 02 01 f +31 313 88 02 02 e sales@sonicsampdrill.com i www.sonicsampdrill.com

Seismic shot holes with the lost cone method Safety The seismic shothole tools and procedures are designed to prevent pulling up the explosive when extracting the drill casing. First, there is the geometry of the lost cone, assuring a minimum of friction when going down and a maximum of friction when the casing is pulled up, optimizing the chance that the cone stays down. Second, the weight of the full length of bentonite plugs and water column pushing on the lost cone during extraction, plus the anchor mechanism on the explosive hold the charge in place. The vigorous sonic vibrations, only used during pulling up of the first section of casing, reduce the risk of a blocked cone to zero.

Hydraulic integrity and environmental aspects After pulling up the casing, the bentonite will expand to seal the borehole left behind by the casing. After some 48-72 hours, the plugs are fully hydrated and expanded and prevent mixing of saturated zones. Even in brackish and seawater the bentonite plug is an effective seal. The lost cones are cast iron; the most abundant mineral in the earth’s crust.

Our seismic products. For the tractor mounted SonicMast CS-T see the separate brochure. For seismic research we supply three sizes of casings: GP63 mm, GP88 and GP100; all with lost cones.

Product*

Drill shoes Drill casings

Adapters to Sonic spindle

Lost cones Anchors for explosives

Seismic catcher#

Bentonite plugs Loading rods for explosives

Road crossing poles

Application Holds lost cone. Is twisted on lower casing

GP63 casing connects drill head with lost cone

Connects top of casing with drill head

Plugs casing until retrieval.

Folds out during retrieval of casing; also preventing theft

Connects explosive with lost cone (only for GP63)

Swells after wetting, repairing penetrated impermeable soil layers

Can be used to position explosive in open borehole (or casing)

Allows crossing roads with temporary cables

Tool x x x x x Consumable x x x x

*For product images also see the front page ! #Not necessary with Sonic vibration technique

The CompactSonic drill heads The most recent improvement is our CompactSonic drill heads! Now, the sonic drill heads are mounted on an all-in-one CompactSonic mast which allows a direct hook-up on a tractor. This CS-T mast vibrates down and also retrieves the casing, once it is loaded with explosives and bentonite. The Sonic vibrations create liquefaction of the soil surrounding cone and casing, which increases penetration speed significantly. Working with these tractors improves productivity. Pulling up the casing never is a problem. A tractor is extremely mobile and well accepted by farmers. The soil anchor and the bentonite seal improved working conditions and the quality of seismograms by locking the charge in place and directing the explosive energy downward. And, the bentonite seal solved the problem of aquifers leaking salt or polluted water to other aquifers or to the field surface. The superior efficiency of the CompactSonic allows seismic work to continue to be done beyond the growing season.

Setting up road crossing poles

Cones and cone holders

GP63 casing with consumables

Production of GP63 drive cones

Introduction In seismic research, certain factors are extremely important for productive field work: High-quality seismograms, high-production of the field crew, and minimal disturbance to top soil and the substrata. Of course, ergonomics and safety issues are also of primary importance. To respond to these demands SonicSampDrill developed a seismic drilling technique based on a lost cone, which is hammered or vibrated into place with a small-diameter casing. It is now the standard solution for shot hole drilling.

A little bit of history In the past, installing seismic explosives resulted in cuttings piles and disturbed soil surfaces left behind in the field and, even worse, penetration of impermeable layers allowing leakage and mixing of saline or contaminated water with clean aquifers or even flowing to the surface. To reduce the impact of the exploration work, SonicSampDrill started the development of a much neater technique based on lost cones. The first version was a narrow casing hammered down with a portable petrol powered hammer. Then came hydraulic top hammers. Next we developed a soil anchor clipped on the explosive to increase field crew safety and further increase research integrity by holding the explosive at the target depth. A pre-formed bentonite cylinder is placed above the explosive cartridge, and the casing is filled with water (or air) to create back-pressure. The casing is then pulled out; leaving behind cone, explosive and bentonite. Once the bentonite is hydrated and expanded (48-72 hrs) the explosives are detonated.

Anchor

Loading rods Installed road crossing poles