ImdexLeadingBrandLogo

AMC COREWELL™: A game changer in core recovery

Core in tray

AMC’s new COREWELL fluid system has recently demonstrated its unique ability to maximise core recovery and minimise costs at a geologically and logistically challenging site in Papua New Guinea (PNG).
COREWELL is a sophisticated and multifunctional system, created by AMC’s dedicated research and development team to enhance diamond coring and slim-hole drilling operations.  The system is designed to maintain the core integrity, improve side wall stabilisation and reduce circulation loss in fractured zones by forming a micro-network structure, similar to a three dimensional web, which layers out over the exposed formations encapsulating clay and shale surfaces to support and protect. COREWELL is easy to mix and does not require additional components to enhance its encapsulating and lubricating properties. AMC carried out trials with the assistance of Summit Development Ltd (Summit) and Quest Exploration Drilling (QED) at their site at Mount Kare, PNG.  The site is characterised by highly fractured unstable ground, with limited mixing and recirculation systems and massive sulphides.  Logistics also presents an additional and costly challenge.  The only access to the remote and highly elevated site is via a twenty minute helicopter flight from Tari.  The maximum load is circa 1000kg and flights are often hampered by weather conditions. Commenting on the success of the trial, AMC Product Manager for Asia Pacific, Mr. Angus Forbes, said it was a pleasure working with Summit and QED and he was really pleased with the operational and economic benefits for the customer. ‘Corewell improved the overall percentage of the core recovered and on average the runs were longer.  The product also demonstrated its ability to enhance hole stability and cuttings removal, while reducing the number and volume of products required onsite’, said Mr. Forbes. ‘The top 100 metres of the area is highly fractured and typically difficult to obtain full core recovery.  There is a high percentage of clay within this zone, which tends to get ground out or washed away.  When we used Corewell these zones were largely kept intact, which will allow more reliable core analysis and more accurate resource evaluations.’ ‘Corewell’s ability to entrap unconsolidated soils and cuttings to prevent dispersion was particularly evident in the highly friable zones with high clay content.   When drilling these sections in the past, there was a noticeable increase in torque.  This increase in torque was absent during the trial, which indicated clays were sufficiently encapsulated to control the swelling’, added Mr. Forbes. During the drilling process, the drill pipes were removed twice, once at approximately 78 metres to unblock the bit and the other at 178 metres reduce from PQ to HQ.  In both cases the pipes were pulled out on the winch with no back reaming and went back to bottom without redrilling.  Mr. Forbes said this was a significant improvement in hole stability and the overall efficiency of the operation. At the Mount Kare trialthe product costs between Corewell and the original Gel & Pac system were very similar; however the significant cost benefits come from improved efficiency and the reduction in the amount of product needed on the rig site. ‘The amount of Corewell used for the trial could have been transported to site in one or two chopper lifts.   The products used for the previous mud system would have required at 1 to 2 lifts per day, approximately 10 to 20 lifts for the hole, indicating a considerable cost saving in logistics’ said Mr. Forbes. Summit Resources Exploration Manager, Mr. Karl Jensen, was delighted with how the new product assisted their drilling program. ‘Corewell has been a game changer for our drilling program, easing the chopper logistics support that we have to rely on in difficult terrain and poor weather conditions. Drill hole management has also vastly improved as drill holes have improved in both drilling rate and recovery. We are delighted with the results of the trial and hope to continue to support this product in our drilling campaigns as we try and unlock the mineral wealth of Mt. Kare.' [jpshare]

AMC’s new COREWELL fluid system has recently demonstrated its unique ability to maximise core recovery and minimise costs at a geologically and logistically challenging site in Papua New Guinea (PNG).