Aquirian Limited has reported that its manual Collar Keeper® System is now adaptable across both Epiroc and Sandvik track rigs, significantly expanding its applicability across drilling platforms, as well as indicating that an automated version of the system could be commercialised in the near term.
The Collar Keeper System is a combination of Aquirian-developed, retrofittable drilling apparatus combined with its existing Collar Keeper. The technology represents a step change in managing blasthole quality and is targeted to provide a unique solution to a range of different blasting environments with global applications, the company says.
The initial focus for the technology is on mines operating in Western Australia with smaller-diameter holes in challenging ground conditions, where high-cost collar piping is traditionally used.
“The traditional method of collar piping has not changed in over 40 years and introduces significant hazards as well as cost, time and quality issues, and poor blast outcomes for clients,” the company says. “In addition, the poor blasting outcomes lead to further downstream costs in load and haul, and the processing of mined material.”
In the latest market update, Aquirian said that adoption rates of its patented Collar Keeper product continued to grow, particularly with owners/miners who recognise the critical link between blasthole quality and downstream fragmentation performance. “We are also making progress on a biodegradable variant of the Collar Keeper and look forward to updating shareholders and customers on this opportunity in the coming quarter,” it added.
The Sandvik and Epiroc track drills adapation milestone is significant for the company, but the trialling of a production-ready version of the automated Collar Keeper System is also exciting. Aquirian said the system was in the final stages of workshop testing and was on track for deployment in a production environment within the coming weeks.
The automated Collar Keeper System is designed to:
- Improve drill operator conditions and safety;
- Offer path to drill automation in difficult ground;
- Increase drill hole quality;
- Reduce plastic waste in blasting; and
- Enhance predictability in blast outcomes.
The ability to protect the blasthole from fall-back and re-drill, without requiring the operator to leave the cab, represents another significant step toward realising Aquirian’s Bootless Bench® vision, which aims to transform safety, efficiency and productivity in drill and blast operations, the company noted.