Enhancing Directional Core Drilling: Four Proven Methods for Improved Results

Espen Brandslet, Global Operations Manager - Directional Core Drilling, presents at the Prospectors & Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) 2024 in Toronto on the advantages of directional drilling. Directional drilling techniques enable drillholes to be steered in a controlled direction to either drill to a pre-planned path or control natural deviation. IMDEX’s suite of directional drilling solutions allows you to reach single or multiple targets accurately and efficiently from the same borehole, with or without core capture, and in all rock formations. Espen highlights the four ways which directional drilling can be applied to bring value: Deviation control: Improve drilling precision by steering the borehole to correct for natural deviation to hit predetermined targets. Branch holes and side-tracking: Reach multiple targets from one initial drill hole. Operational Flexibility: Reach otherwise inaccessible areas, at optimal angles. Geo-technical investigation: Collect structural and geo-technical data by retrieving core samples. 00:00 – Introduction to Directional Core Drilling 01:15 – Understanding the Basics of Core Drilling 03:30 – Importance of Accurate Drilling Techniques 05:45 – Method 1: Enhancing Drilling Precision 08:00 – Method 2: Reducing Drilling Costs 10:15 – Method 3: Improving Core Recovery Rates 12:30 – Method 4: Optimizing Data Quality 14:45 – Case Studies: Real-World Applications 17:00 – Conclusion: Implementing Best Practices