Method and system for optimising a drilling parameter during an ongoing drilling process

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for optimising at least one drilling parameter during an ongoing drilling process, the drilling being carried out by a percussive drilling machine, the drilling machine being set to drill at an operating point, the operating point of the drilling being determined by a setting of a plurality of control parameters. The method includes determining a first plurality of drilling machine operating points, the operating points being set by the plurality of control parameters. Furthermore, percussive drilling is performed at each of the first plurality of operating points and at least one resulting drilling parameter is evaluated for each of the plurality of operating points. The method also includes determining a new plurality of drilling machine operating points.

1 . A method for optimising at least one drilling parameter during an ongoing drilling process, the drilling being carried out by a percussive drilling machine, the drilling machine being set to drill at an operating point, the operating point of the drilling being determined by a setting of a plurality of control parameters, the method comprising:
 determining a first plurality of drilling machine operating points, the first plurality of drilling machine operating points being set by the plurality of control parameters;   performing percussive drilling at each of the first plurality of drilling machine operating points;   evaluating at least one resulting drilling parameter for each of the plurality of drilling machine operating points;   determining a new plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled based on the evaluation; and   drilling the new plurality of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 continuously determining the first plurality of drilling machine operating points during ongoing drilling based on evaluation of drilled operating points; and   continuously drilling and evaluating the determined first plurality of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when evaluating at least one drilling parameter for each of the drilled plurality of drilling machine operating points, evaluating a plurality of drilling parameters for each of the first plurality of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 3 , further comprising:
 assigning different weights and/or priorities to the plurality of drilling parameters in the evaluation.   
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when determining the new plurality of drilling machine operating points:
 selecting the new plurality of operating points starting from a drilling machine operating point of the drilled plurality of drilling machine operating points being considered the most optimal drilling machine operating point of the drilled plurality of drilling machine operating points. 
   
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 continuing optimisation of the drilling machine operating point by determining a new plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled at least for as long as a more optimal drilling machine operating point is identified among the new plurality of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising:
 when evaluation of a drilled plurality of operating points does not identify a more optimal drilling machine operating point in relation to the optimal drilling machine operating point from which the drilled plurality of operating points was determined, determining at least one further plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled from a previously drilled operating point that has not formed basis for determining a new set of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to evaluating a drilling machine operating point:
 performing percussive drilling for at least a predetermined number of percussions and/or a predetermined period of time at the drilling machine operating point to be evaluated. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 8 , further comprising:
 evaluating a drilling machine operating point while the drilling machine operating point is being drilled;   determining whether drilling at the drilling machine operating point being evaluated is to be aborted; and   switching drilling to a previously drilled, or subsequent drilling machine operating point to be drilled, prior to finishing the predetermined number of percussions and/or period of time of drilling when the evaluation deems that drilling at the current drilling machine operating point is to be aborted.   
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 9 , further comprising:
 determining at least one drilling parameter by measuring a reflected stress wave caused by an incident stress wave generated by at least one percussive impact by an impact device of the drilling machine on a drill string of a drill rig.   
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising: when drilling is to be performed at a particular drilling machine operating point:
 determining control parameter settings to be used when drilling at the particular drilling machine operating point;   setting the drilling control parameters to the determined control parameter settings; and   performing drilling at the particular drilling machine operating point following setting of the drilling control parameters.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 prior to determining a plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled based on a previously drilled operating point, determining whether a difference in control parameter values between drilling machine operating points is to be increased or decreased prior to generating a new plurality of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising, when drilling is commenced:
 selecting an initial operating point as a drilling machine operating point previously being used as an optimal drilling machine operating point in an earlier drilling session, the drilling machine operating point set by an operator of a drill rig or an empirically determined drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 optimising drilling by maximising at least one drilling parameter and/or minimising at least one drilling parameter.   
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of control parameters comprises two or more from the group: rotation pressure, percussion pressure, feed pressure, and flush flow. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 when determining a plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled starting from a drilling machine operating point being considered the most optimal drilling machine operating point of a drilled plurality of operating points:
 selecting higher and/or lower values of control parameters in relation to the drilling machine operating point being considered the most optimal drilling machine operating point. 
   
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising:
 respecting maximum and/or minimum limitations of the at least one drilling parameter when determining a subsequent plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled.   
     
     
         18 . A system for optimising at least one drilling parameter during an ongoing drilling process, the drilling being carried out by a percussive drilling machine, wherein, during drilling, the drilling machine is set to drill at an operating point, the operating point of the drilling being determined by a setting of a plurality of control parameters, the system comprising:
 means for determining a plurality of drilling machine operating points, the plurality of drilling machine operating points being set by the plurality of control parameters;   means for performing percussive drilling at each of the determined plurality of drilling machine operating points;   means for evaluating at least one resulting drilling parameter for each of the plurality of drilling machine operating points;   means for determining a new plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled based on the evaluation; and   means for drilling the new plurality of drilling machine operating points.   
     
     
         19 . A rock drilling rig comprising a system for optimising at least one drilling parameter during an ongoing drilling process, the drilling being carried out by a percussive drilling machine, wherein, during drilling, the drilling machine is set to drill at an operating point, the operating point of the drilling being determined by a setting of a plurality of control parameters, the system comprising:
 means for determining a plurality of drilling machine operating points, the plurality of drilling machine operating points being set by the plurality of control parameters;   means for performing percussive drilling at each of the determined plurality of drilling machine operating points;   means for evaluating at least one resulting drilling parameter for each of the plurality of drilling machine operating points;   means for determining a new plurality of drilling machine operating points to be drilled based on the evaluation; and   means for drilling the new plurality of drilling machine operating points.