#ARCTIC. #SIBERIA. THIS IS TAIMYR. The lightweight, mobile and unique device is made with a margin of safety. Now it is successfully undergoing testing in one of the Mayak mine workings.
The preventer sealer was developed by scientists from the Water Center of St. Petersburg State University. The purpose of the device is to ensure trouble-free drilling in the event of possible water and gas intrusions.
The first drilling of a geological exploration advance well for further drilling was carried out as a trial experimental sample at the Mayak mine in November 2023 by the OGK Group company as part of research and development. After the first tests, the device design was finalized and serial samples were produced, which are now showing excellent results at Mayak.
“The preventer sealer is used for trouble-free drilling of geological exploration wells during the advanced construction of workings. It helps prevent risks arising from a possible breakthrough of the rock by groundwater or gas release during the drilling process. The preventer blocks them and does not allow them to go beyond the boundaries of the massif, thereby preventing a possible emergency situation in the mine workings. At the same time, the drilling process does not stop. Previously, if during drilling they encountered underground water, the work was stopped, a plug was installed, and geological exploration was carried out in another place. Also, the invention of St. Petersburg scientists makes it possible to monitor water inflow if it opens. This complex provides for the use of hydrogeological equipment, which makes it possible to measure water pressure and flow rates using instrumental methods. Based on this data, the parameters of groundwater and gas are modeled”, said Alexander Kondratyev, project manager of the Nornickel Technical Services group for the implementation of technological projects.
After testing at a pilot well, the device can be used at other mines of the company’s Polar Branch. It is no coincidence that the Mayak mine was chosen as a pioneer in testing the new device. The mine workings here are located at shallow depths, and the aquifer is closest to them, which means that the risks of encountering groundwater during drilling are higher here.
The preventer sealer is unique. It was initially designed so that its installation could be done with little effort. Yes, and it is made with a margin of safety. The nominal pressure that was created during the tests was about 40 atmospheres, the real one was no more than six. The device can also be used at higher pressures, up to 60 atmospheres. The depth of the test well is 85 meters. The weight of the sealer is about 30 kilograms. Two people can handle the installation.
“At the first stage of testing, the preventer performed well; it maintained a pressure of 40 atmospheres for more than two hours, as provided for in the test program, and thereby convinced the management of the Polar Branch of the effectiveness of its use in mine workings where water ingress is possible. At the Mayak mine, it was tested for the first time in horizontal mine workings; in the future, it will be used when drilling vertically raised wells. Capital mining openings were specially selected for testing, where the Talnah groundwater deposit passes in close proximity to them, which means that the risk of water ingress is quite high. At the first stage, a hundred-meter well was drilled, inspected and tested. The water didn’t appear. At the second stage, we decided to test a serial sample of the device”, explained Alexander Iksanov, chief specialist of the organization and construction control department of the project office for the implementation of projects at the Komsomolsky mine and the Mayak mine of the Nornickel Polar Division.
“The project is interesting because of its novelty. The Mayak mine was the first in Russia to use equipment that has no analogues. We were interested to see how the sealer works in the fields. In addition, we were faced with the task of making it so that it could be operated by no more than two people, and in this case weight plays a big role. We also managed to make it easy to replace wearing parts without dismantling the entire seal, and the repair not to become expensive”, added Valery Trifanichev.
In general, the inventor, customer and operating company are satisfied with the know-how. In repeated tests, the modified sealer-preventer showed itself to be worthy.
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Text: Maria Sanina, Photo: Nornickel’s press service
