Tests of a new drilling complex for directional drilling of ultra-long wells have begun at the Taimyrsky mine. The project is being implemented by Nornickel in cooperation with developers from DMTechnologies and the FID group.
The equipment is designed to work in hard rock and is expected to drill wells up to 1500 meters long with precise targeting, which is critical for backfilling operations and accessing hard-to-reach areas of workings.
Until now, the company's mines used percussion-rotary type installations, which only allow drilling straight wells up to 80–100 meters long without trajectory control. This approach proved insufficient for backfilling tasks, where hitting a target at a distance of 350–400 meters is required.
The new RS3-41-10 complex changes the very principle of drilling: it uses a controlled bottom-hole assembly and a telemetry system that transmits data to the operator in real time via drill rods through an electrical communication channel.
The developers note that the installation is capable of operating in both rotary and directional modes. This allows for correcting the direction directly in the drilling zone without rotating the entire drill string.
The platform is track-mounted and adapted for confined underground workings, and its modular design allows for forming complex trajectories, including sidetracks.
The complex is currently undergoing pilot industrial tests. Nornickel specialists and developers are adjusting drilling modes and tools to the actual conditions of the mine. If the accuracy and productivity are successfully confirmed, the technology is planned to be refined and adapted for further implementation at other facilities of the Zapolyarny Branch.
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