Rig Technologies are engineering tools and software systems to allow real-time drilling optimisation and formation evaluation for reverse circulation (RC) drilling. Their mission is to help the mining industry transition to a remote operations environment by delivering better data, faster.
Rig Technologies, led by Tim Hopper, is a dynamic, cutting-edge Australian research and development company pioneering world-class instrumentation for the mining industry. Centered on geophysics and drilling, Rig Technologies has an unmatched ability to rapidly design, prototype, test, and manufacture products utilising new and existing technologies. Their record is six weeks from idea to downhole prototype.
Since being awarded funding for their project through METS Ignited and CRC-P, Rig Technologies has launched a number of complementary tools and systems that accelerate downhole data logging technology to help mitigate risk and evaluate opportunities.
The complementary products included form a data chain all the way from the sensor, through to QC’d and insightful data delivered into client database systems. Starting downhole, drillMAX is a downhole Logging While Drilling (LWD) tool. The tool contains instruments that measure spectral gamma, take a complete hole survey (gyro-based), and provide information about drilling dynamics. drillMAX survives 2000 – 3500 g’s of shock for days at a time and is the key carrier to convey sensitive instrumentation into a hostile environment. Drilling dynamics data can be used to calculate a qualitative rock hardness indicator. The current drillMAX prototypes are battery-powered and store data to on-board memory.
At surface drillHUB is a rig-based system that collates data from a local sensor network and downhole drillMAX tool. It is rig-agnostic, and may be integrated into existing instrumented rigs. Edge computing is used to calculate relevant answer products at the drill rig to provide feedback to the drillers
Measurements collated by drillHUB are automatically and securely streamed to drillINFO, where the data is analysed and transmitted directly to client’s database systems. drillINFO is a cloud-based data insight system that processes and delivers drillHUB and drillMAX data. drillINFO hosts basic data processing, but also hosts advanced data science driven algorithms built specifically for clients to make the most of the data acquired, and deliver it in real time.
The latest offering, drillCOM, takes the system to a true live system creating a two way link between the end user and the downhole tool. This will allow geologists to remotely view and interpret live geophysical data from directly behind the bit during the drilling operation.
The team has just started commercial operations with a major Iron Ore company with field trials scheduled for later in the year across the major players in Western Australia.
