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AMC TORQUE GUARD™ delivers improved drilling performance in Kalgoorlie

A field trial of AMC’s TORQUE GUARD™, along the experienced technical support on site, enabled a project in the Goldfields of Western Australia to progress and improve production significantly.

AMC TORQUE GUARD™ achieved:

  • improved penetration rate up to 40%
  • improved torque reduction up to 31%
  • increased drilling production up to 20%
  • enhanced operational efficiency and productivity

Trial Overview

DateNovember 2014
LocationGoldfields, Western Australia
Drill hole informationHQ casing to 500m
The lip was cut at 690m
Navi 100m +/- with dog legs averaging 7 degrees
Bore informationDeep directional drill hole with a depth of 1,243m
Mud informationAMC TORQUE GUARD™ at 1.0 - 2.0L / 1,000L and AMC CR 650™® at 0.75 - 1.5L / 1,000L
WaterMix water was mildly brackish with a treatable level of hardness; chlorides 2650mg/L, total hardness 720mg/L, calcium 200mg/L magnesium (calculated) 318mg/L and pH 7.5
GeologyFormation was competent dolerite basalt with intermittent quartz banding
MineralVolcanogenic Massive Sulphides (VMS) deposit
ActivityDeep directional drilling

Background

AMC was invited to trial a new high performance lubricant at a project site in the Goldfields, Western Australia. The trial gave AMC an opportunity to evaluate the impact of AMC TORQUE GUARD™, a new, readily dispersible and extreme pressure lubricant, and assess results on site.

Increased Drilling Production by up to 20%

Prior to AMC’s mud engineeers entering the site, drilling progress was extremely consistent averaging between 28 - 30 metres per 12 hour shift. AMC recommended using TORQUE GUARD; a high performing, extreme pressure lubricant, used to improve the lubricating qualities of a drilling fluid through advanced adhesion and filming characteristics. When AMC’s torque guard was introduced into the system, a vast improvement was noticed. In a standard 12 hour shift the operators were able to core 36 metres. The increase of 20% resulted in a more efficient operation, allowing the hole to be completed sooner.

Torque reduction between 20 - 30%

Torque rotation at the site was reaching between 190 - 210 bars whilst running the previous system consisting of AMC EP BIT LUBE™ and AMC CR 650™®. AMC’s TORQUE GUARD™ is designed to allow more torque to be distributed to the bit AMC’s experienced technical personnel recommended AMC TORQUE GUARD would be introduced to combat the high rotational torque. Once AMC TORQUE GUARD™ was introduced, the rotational torque was reduced to 145 - 185 bars delivering an improved torque reduction of up to 31%.

Up to 40% Improvement in Rate of Penetration (ROP)

AMC’s TORQUE GUARD™ works to enhance productivity by increasing the rate of penetration where high rotational torque slows a holes advancement. With the existing system, consisting of AMC EP BIT LUBE™ and AMC CR650®, the hole was averaging 3.2 inches per minute. When the AMC TORQUE GUARD™ was introduced to the system, the hole advancement jumped to an average of 4.63 inches per minute. This equates to a production improvement of 40% at it’s peak.

Environmentally Friendly

AMC TORQUE GUARD™ is an environmentally acceptable, vegetable oil based lubricant, making it ideal to use on site. AMC TORQUE GUARD™ is considered to be biodegradable, of low toxicity and has a minimal impact on the environment. AMC delivered improved results without compromising the integrity of the environment at the Goldfields site in Western Australia.

Project Outcome

AMC’s TORQUE GUARD™ facilitated the progression of the borehole, increasing the rate of penetration and improving the production time.

The drill crew noticed significant improvement with drilling becoming smoother, water presssure stabilsing and bit weight being consistent and cutting more freely. When the rods were pulled to the surface there was also a noticeable greasing on metal surfaces. The noticeable improvement in drilling performance was recognised by drill crews who were able to complete the drill hole sooner.

For more details on this successful project, contact [email protected]

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