US3791255A - Method of filling boreholes with viscous slurried explosives - Google Patents

Method of filling boreholes with viscous slurried explosives Download PDF

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US3791255A
US3791255A US00216431A US3791255DA US3791255A US 3791255 A US3791255 A US 3791255A US 00216431 A US00216431 A US 00216431A US 3791255D A US3791255D A US 3791255DA US 3791255 A US3791255 A US 3791255A
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borehole
viscous
explosive
hose
mixing
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English (en)
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R Fox
D Williams
A Wisinski
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Orica Ltd
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ICI Australia Ltd
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    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F42—AMMUNITION; BLASTING
    • F42D—BLASTING
    • F42D1/00—Blasting methods or apparatus, e.g. loading or tamping
    • F42D1/08—Tamping methods; Methods for loading boreholes with explosives; Apparatus therefor
    • F42D1/10—Feeding explosives in granular or slurry form; Feeding explosives by pneumatic or hydraulic pressure
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21B—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS
    • E21B43/00—Methods or apparatus for obtaining oil, gas, water, soluble or meltable materials or a slurry of minerals from wells
    • E21B43/25—Methods for stimulating production
    • E21B43/26—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures
    • E21B43/263—Methods for stimulating production by forming crevices or fractures using explosives
    • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
    • E21—EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; MINING
    • E21F—SAFETY DEVICES, TRANSPORT, FILLING-UP, RESCUE, VENTILATION, OR DRAINING IN OR OF MINES OR TUNNELS
    • E21F5/00—Means or methods for preventing, binding, depositing, or removing dust; Preventing explosions or fires
    • E21F5/18—Impregnating walls, or the like, with liquids for binding dust
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10S—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10S149/00—Explosive and thermic compositions or charges
    • Y10S149/11—Particle size of a component
    • Y10S149/114—Inorganic fuel

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 18, 1971 Australia 3736/71
  • a method of filling a void with a viscous product prepared by mixing two or more free flowing materials [52] U.S. Cl. 86/20 C, 149/19, 149/21, which method comprises firstly supplying separate 149/22, 149/44, 149/92, 149/114 streams of said free flowing material to the required [51] int. Cl. C061) 119/00, C06b 19/04 position in a void and secondly mixing the separate [58] Field of Search 149/44; 86/20 C streams at said required position to form the said viscous product in situ within said void.
  • Apparatus used [56] I References Cited in the operation of the method is also described.
  • a viscous slurried explosive such as a crosslinked slurried explosive composition.
  • the crosslinked material is preferable in such operations because it has a greater resistance to leaching by underground water.
  • Another major advantage of highly viscous slurried explosives is that the explosive will not flow under the force of gravity and therefore the slurry will be selfsupporting and stay in position in boreholes which are either horizontal, inclined at an angle upwardly or even run vertically upwardly into the roof of a mine.
  • Such upwardly inclined holes are known as up-holes.
  • we provide a method of filling a void with a viscous product prepared by mixing two or more free flowing materials which method comprises firstly supplying separate streams of said free flowing material to a required position in a void and secondly mixing the separate streams at said required position to form the said viscous product in situ within said void.
  • viscous product we mean any material which is too viscous to be pumped through a conventional hose from the pump into the void and which may be formed by mixing two or more free flowing materials as defined hereinbelow.
  • Our invention is of particular use when the viscous product is formed quickly on mixing the free flowing materials. In the past it has been particularly hard to handle mixtures of interacting free flowing materials if the viscosity rises substantially within a few seconds of mixing.
  • free flowing materials we mean throughout this specification materials which may be pumped through conventionally constructed hoses inserted into the void to be filled and which, on mixing, will interact to form a viscous product.
  • Suitable viscous products are, for example, crosslinked slurried explosives, polyurethane foam, epoxy resin, polymeric material prepared by mixing, for example, a monomer such as methyl methacrylate with a catalyst such as benzoyl peroxide and polymeric material prepared by mixing a polymer with a crosslinking agent.
  • Suitable voids are, for example, blast-holes in mining operations, tubes, cartridges, cavities in buildings, holes and cracks in masonry and rocks, and the voids left in rocks by underground mining operations.
  • Our invention may also be employed in filling voids such as foundations with quick setting cement, in manufacturing and laying sealant strips in large concrete structures such as dams and also in laying long strips of explosive charges by the known technique of mole ploughing.
  • mole ploughing with explosives highly sensitised, highly viscous ammonium nitrate slurry can be laid safely if the sensitising agent, e.g., aluminium powder, is added by the apparatus of our invention to the slurry at the point of mixing and laying the charge. The danger of a premature explosion of a preformed highly sensitive explosive slurry is thereby minimised.
  • a further embodiment of our invention is in the production of foams for fire-fighting purposes in confined areas.
  • Slurried explosives normally comprise at least one oxygen releasing salt selected from the group consisting of inorganic nitrates, and perchlorates and mixtures thereof, a thickening agent, a fuel and water.
  • oxygen releasing salt selected from the group consisting of inorganic nitrates, and perchlorates and mixtures thereof, a thickening agent, a fuel and water.
  • additives for example agents increasing sensitivity and fuel content, may be added.
  • the nature of the fuels in such compositions is determined by t he requirements that they burn in the presence of oxygen or an oxygen containing gas and that their physical nature is such that they may be incorporated in such compositions in a manner so as to be substantially uniformly distributed throughout the compositions.
  • Such fuels are well known in the art and they may be organic or inorganic and may also be derived from animals and plants.
  • the fuels employed in such compositions can be, for example, self-explosive fuel, non-explosive carbonaceous, non-metallic and metallic fuels or mixtures of the aforementioned types of fuels. They can be varied widely provided that, in the composition in which any particular fuel is used, the fuel is stable, that is, prior to detonation, during preparation and storage, the fuel is chemically inert to the system.
  • selfexplosive fuels include one or more organic nitrates, nitro compounds and nitramines such as trinitrotoluene, cyclotri (or tetra) methylene tri (or tetra)- nitramine, tetryl, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, explosive grade nitrocellulose and nitrostarch.
  • organic nitrates such as trinitrotoluene, cyclotri (or tetra) methylene tri (or tetra)- nitramine, tetryl, pentaerythritol tetranitrate, explosive grade nitrocellulose and nitrostarch.
  • the self-explosive fuel can be for example in any of the well-known flake, crystalline or pelleted forms. In general up to 35 percent and preferably from 10 to 30 percent by weight based on the weight of composition of self-explosive fuel is used.
  • Suitable water soluble fuels are organic water soluble substances, for example urea, carbohydrates such as sugars or molasses, water soluble alcohols or glycols, glues or mixtures of these.
  • the proportion of water soluble fuel in such compositions should be at least 0.8% w/w and may be as high as 8% w/w of the total composition.
  • Suitable water insoluble or sparingly water soluble fuels may be chosen from inorganic materials for example sulphur, aluminium, silicon, magnesium, titanium, boron, mixtures thereof and mixtures of aluminium with ferrosilicon or organic materials for example finely divided charcoal, anthracite, gilsonite, asphalt, cellulosic materials such as sawdust, or cereal products for example flours, dextrins or starches.
  • inorganic fuel is a metal it is preferably in powder form ranging in particle size from very fine, for example a powder passing a 200 8.8.8. sieve, to coarse, for example a powder retained on a 30 B.S.S' sieve. In particular aluminium powder passing a 300 B.S.S.
  • sieve for example paint fine aluminium having a hydrophobic coating
  • the proportion of water insoluble or sparingly water soluble non-metallic fuels in such compositions should be in the range from 1% w/w to 10% w/w of the total composition.
  • the proportion of metallic water insoluble fuels, such as aluminium, when present in such compositions may be as high as 25% w/w and amounts in the range from 1% w/w to 15% w/w of the total composition are preferred.
  • the proportion of water in such compositions should be sufficient to dissolve at least part of the water soluble fuel when present, and part of the oxygen releasing inorganic salt, say from 5% w/w up to 35% w/w, but not be in excess of the explosive limit of the composition.
  • the water be in the range from 5% w/w to 25% w/w of the total composition and more preferably in the range from 8% w/w to 15% w/w of the total composition.
  • thickening agents which have been employed with varying degrees of success, either alone or in combination, in water-bearing explosive slurries. amongst these may be mentioned galactomannan polysaccharides such as guar gum, Tara and Paloverde gums, pregelatinised starches, hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose, tamarind seed flour and hydrophilic vinyl polymers such as polyacrylamide.
  • galactomannan polysaccharides such as guar gum, Tara and Paloverde gums
  • pregelatinised starches hydroxyethylcellulose, carboxymethylcellulose
  • tamarind seed flour tamarind seed flour
  • hydrophilic vinyl polymers such as polyacrylamide.
  • the most widely used of these thickening agents have been the galactomannans, particularly guar gum.
  • the final viscosity increase must be made in situ by mixing two or more free flowing components.
  • compositions comprising polysaccharides such as guar gum are mixed with appropriate cross-linking agents, the viscosity of the composition is increased.
  • crosslinking agents conventionally employed for galactomannans can be used including potassium and sodium dichromate, sodium tetraborate, borax, certain transition metal salts and certain soluble antimony and bismuth compounds.
  • alkali metal dichromates for example sodium and potassium dichromates, are especially preferred.
  • the proportion of polysaccharide and conventional cross-linking agent used in preparing the thickening agent component of the viscous slurried explosives can vary over quite wide limits depending on the agent used as is well known in the art.
  • the proportion of guar gum may vary from 0.1 to 5% w/w of total composition and the proportion of zinc chromate may vary from 0.01 to 3% of total composition.
  • a viscous cross-linked slurried explosive for example the explosive slurry comprising water, fuel, an oxidising compound and a galactomannan is pumped in one stream down a borehole and a stream comprising a suitable cross-linking agent is pumped down in a separate second stream and mixed in the borehole to form a rapidly gelling composition.
  • Explosive slurries may also be thickened by the in situ polymerisation of monomers or mixtures of monomers.
  • Examples of monoethylenically unsaturated monomers which are suitable for use in accordance with this embodiment of our invention include amides such as acrylamide, methacrylamide and N-methylacrylamide and hydroxyalkyl derivatives such as alpha,2-hydroxyethylacrylamide and alpha-hydroxymethylacryl-amide; acids such as acrylic acid and methacrylic acid; salts of acrylic acid such as sodium, potassium or ammonium acrylate; and soluble salts of monovinylpyridines, particularly and preferably the nitrate salts of the 4- vinylpyridine.
  • Acrylamide is a particularly preferred monomer because of its low cost and rapid polymerisation in the aqueous phase of the blasting compositions.
  • the concentration of acrylamide used ranges from 0.3 to percent and especially from 0.5 to 5 per cent.
  • the explosive slurry comprising water, fuel, an oxidising compound and a monomer or mixture of monomers is pumped in one stream down a borehole and a stream comprising a free radical polymerisation promoter or initiator is pumped in a separate stream and mixed in the borehole to form in situ a rapidly gelling composition.
  • Suitable promoters include sodium, potassium and ammonium salts of inorganic peracids such as persulphates, perborates and pervanadates; hydrogen peroxide; and organic peroxide and azo catalysts such as azobis(isobutyronitrile), alpha, alpha'-azobis(alpha, gamma-dimethylgamma-methoxyvaleronitrile), tertiary butyl hydroperoxide, methylvinyl ketone peroxide, benzoyl peroxide and peracetic acid.
  • Persulphates are usually preferred.
  • Redox systems that utilise a source of persulphate ion (S 05) as one component throughout a range of concentrations of inorganic persulphate salt, can be used alone in the solution of inorganic oxidising salt to promote the copolymerisation reaction or an added reducing agent can also be employed to form a redox couple.
  • Reducing agents that can also be used if desired include nitrogen bases such as hydroxylamine, carbohydrazide and, particularly, hydrazine. If needed, higher rates of polymerisation are achieved at lower temperatures when the polymerisation system also includes a minor amount of metal ion, usually a Group 18 metal ion.
  • metal ions are introduced as soluble inorganic or organic salts, e.g., as the nitrates, sulphates or acetates.
  • Other useful persulphate couples are HSO (S O,;) and Fe (S O and S O (S O and nitro-trispropionamide (S O)
  • the total amount of promoter used varies with the particular promoter and monomers, and increases proportionately with the desired speed of polymerisation, but usually is at least 0.002 percent and preferably within the range of about from 0.002 to 3 percent based on the total weight of aqueous phase containing monomers to be polymerised, large excesses of promoter having no detrimental effect on the gel structure.
  • the optimum concentration of the preferred persulphate ions, based on total monomers, i.e., both monoand polyethylenically unsaturated, can vary considerably depending on the particular polymerisation system, the desired consistency of the gel, and the presence or absence of supplementary promoter components, but in general will be about from 0.005 to 2 percent by weight of the aqueous phase.
  • Such explosives have the disadvantage of not being waterproof; they cannot, therefore, be used in wet holes. Also their explosive power is lower than that of viscous slurried explosives.
  • Another conventional method of charging narrow boreholes hitherto has been to fill them by pushing cartridges of explosive down the hole,
  • a new composite structure comprising a rock structure contiguous with a continuous column of a viscous slurried explosive as hereinafter defined, said column being less than 3 inches in diameter and greater than 10 feet in length.
  • the columns of viscous slurried explosive may be horizontal, vertical or inclined at an angle.
  • the columns are of particular practical use when they are inclined upwardly into the rock structure.
  • the rock surrounding the column of viscous slurried explosive is in intimate contact with the walls of the column.
  • a method of manufacturing a composite structure comprising a rock structure contiguous with a continuous column of a viscous slurried explosive which method comprises firstly, drilling into a rock structure a narrow borehole of less than 3 inches in diameter and more than 10 feet in length, secondly, supplying separate streams of at least two free flowing components of viscous slurried explosive to the required position in the borehole and thirdly, mixing the components thoroughly at the required position in the borehole so as to obtain in situ a column of viscous slurried explosive completely filling the cross-sectional area of the borehole.
  • the free flowing components of the viscous slurried explosive are any combination of components which are capable of being pumped into narrow boreholes but on mixing form a viscous slurried explosive.
  • an apparatus for filling voids with a viscous product prepared by mixing two or more free flowing materials which apparatus comprises a means of supplying separate streams of free flowing material to the required position in a void in combination with a means of mixing said streams at said required position in the void.
  • the means of supplying separate streams of free flowing material may be any means known in the art, for example a combination of pumps and hoses.
  • the hoses may be rigid but for many purposes flexible'hoses are more convenient.
  • the hoses must be of such size that they may all be inserted together into the void without undue difficulty and should also be of sufficient diameter to allow the free flowing material to be pumped easily along their length.
  • the pumps are designed so that the free flowing material may be pumped easily along the length of the hoses. The particular hoses and pumps to be used are thus interdependent.
  • hoses carrying the separate streams of material in an outer casing or hose.
  • the hose carrying the major component of the viscous product is used to encase the hoses supplying the streams of the minor components of the viscous product.
  • a single hose may be used comprising two or more conduits.
  • the mixer is of the type known in the art as an interfacial surface generator mixer.
  • Such a mixer is characterised by having no moving parts, but the mixer comprises a plurality of interfacial surface gener- 5 ators. It is also characteristic of such mixers that they may be made in any suitable external diameter.
  • a suitable mixer for example, is the Static Mixer" manufactured by the Kenics Corporation of the U.S.A.
  • the casing of the interfacial surface generator mixer is flexible and most preferably the interfacial surface generators are built directly into the end of the hose and the hose thus forms the casing for the generators.
  • Flexible mixers are advantageous because boreholes often are not straight but have a slight spiral twist due to movement of the drill during boring operations. A flexible mixer can follow curves in the path of the borehole.
  • the hose and mixing means should be withdrawn from the hole at, or approximately at, the rate at which it is being filled; however, it is, of course, impossible to observe the rate of charging visually and recourse must therefore be taken to indirect control, such as empirical operation or at tempts to synchronise the linear rate of withdrawal with the linear rate of filling calculated from the pumping rate. As a rule this is a coarse approximation only and often maloperation results; if the hose is withdrawn too slowly, it becomes embedded in the material and is likely to leave a columnar gap or cavity on being withdrawn or may even become permanently embedded in the slurry by excessive friction or blockages.
  • Withdrawal apparatus is defined as apparatus comprising a tube which is sealingly connected to the smaller opening of a truncated conical mantle made of a material sufficiently rigid or reinforced to be incapable of inversion, which mantle is mounted coaxially with, on and around said tube at or near its lower end and the wider opening of which mantle is nearer to the bottom end of said tube, and a flexible hose connecting the inlet end of said tube to the mixing means.
  • the tube is either sealingly attached to the mixing means or may itself be the outer case of the mixing means.
  • the purpose of the truncated conical mantle is to seal the hose against the wall of the borehole; thereby the cavity into which the blasting agent is being discharged is sealed, ingress of water into it is minimised and the fluid discharge pressure of the pump is exerted against the enclosed end of the hole thus producing upward thrust against the seal formed by the hose and the surrounding truncated conical mantle. Consequently the pump pressure aids or effects the raising of the hose synchronously with the rate of charging.
  • said conical mantle can be folded axially, downwardly but not upwardly towards the axis of said tube, so as to envelop it at least partly; in this folded down position, not unlike an inverted, folded-up umbrella, said assembly of tube and mantle may readily be inserted into the hole and subsequently on withdrawal of the hose the mantle is unfolded into its conical shape.
  • the material of construction of the mantle is not critical, but it must be strong enough to withstand upward thrust into the cone of up to several hundred pounds without collapsing, without being inverted upwardly and without tearing; its ability to resist upward inversion is critical and determines the choice of material,
  • the thickness and its reinforcement may be made of rigid material, e.g., a metal or plastic sheet or, preferably, of flexible material of sufficient thickness, e.g., a rubber or polyethylene terephthalate sheet; preferably the sheet is pretreated to facilitate the operation of folding it downwards, centrally around the tube, e.g., by providing axial folds in the rubber sheet or by making the cone of a number of metal vanes slideable against each other and capable of being unfolded into a progressively wider cone.
  • rigid material e.g., a metal or plastic sheet or, preferably, of flexible material of sufficient thickness, e.g., a rubber or polyethylene terephthalate sheet; preferably the sheet is pretreated to facilitate the operation of folding it downwards, centrally around the tube, e.g., by providing axial folds in the rubber sheet or by making the cone of a number of metal vanes slideable against each other and capable of being unfolded into a progressively wider cone.
  • flexible truncated cones are reinforced by rods or strips running along the length of the cone in several, say, 2, 3, 4 or 6 symmetrically placed positions; these strips may be made of particularly strong materials, e.g., spring steel and prevent inversion and expansion of the bottom opening of the cone beyond a predetermined size.
  • truncated cone implies that the central angle of the cone is, at all times, less than 180, in practice preferably less than 140 and most preferably less than 120.
  • the larger, bottom outlet of the truncated cone, in its fully unfolded position forms a circle or quasicircle having a diameter which approximates the diameter of the borehole, but which is characterised in that it is substantially smaller than 2 l, where 1 is the length of the conical mantle.
  • the cone can at no time be inverted upwardly without destruction since the tensile strength of the sheet resists expansion beyond its maximum diameter;
  • the term truncated cone includes cones of less regular shapes, such as bulging cones, bell-like shaped cones of somewhat irregular, quasicircular cross sections, the essential feature of the cone being that it is capable of enveloping a fluid thrust upwardly into it, without folding backward and that, inserted into a cylindrical or quasicylindrical hole, it is capable of forming against the wall of said hole a seal, or a restriction reducing the flow of liquids past it.
  • the truncated cone may be sealingly attached to the tube exactly at or near the lower end of the tube which is to be inserted into the borehole; it may be wired on, or fitted removably by means of a screw or bayonet filling; the tube may protrude into the interior of the cone or even through both the top (small) and bottom (large) opening of the truncated cone. More than one, say 2 or 3 cones, mounted in series may also be used.
  • e optionally a withdrawal apparatus as described hereinabove attached to said interfacial surface generator mixer; the dimensions of the said separate feeding lines, said chamber and said withdrawal apparatus being such that they may be inserted into the borehole to be filled.
  • the separate feeding lines may be two or more separate hoses we prefer that the separate feeding lines are encased in an outer casing; in a more preferred embodiment the hose carrying the major component of the slurried explosiveis used to encase the hoses supplying the streams of the minor components of the slurried explosive.
  • a single hose may be used comprising two or more conduits.
  • Our apparatus may be used to fill boreholes with a viscous slurried explosive.
  • a withdrawal apparatus as hereinbefore described attached to said interfacial surface generator mixer; said method comprising i. inserting the said feeding lines, said chamber, said interfacial surface generator mixer and optionally said withdrawal apparatus into a borehole so that the said mixer is at the toe of the borehole;
  • the process and apparatus of our invention may also be used for filling tubes such as for example, narrow plastic tubes, with explosive slurry in the manufacture of explosive cartridges.
  • FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 are schematic illustrations depicting a cross section of the components of apparatus according to this invention and suitable for filling voids with a viscous product prepared by mixing two or more free flowing materials.
  • FIG. 2 is an isometric sketch of a typical interfacial surface mixer used to mix free flowing materials.
  • a first free flowing liquid is supplied to a pumping means 2 and pumped in a stream through a pipe or hose 4 to a mixing chamber 6.
  • a second free flowing liquid is supplied to a pumping means 1 and pumped in a stream through a pipe or hose 3 to a mixing chamber 6.
  • the first and second free flowing liquid streams are mixed in a chamber 6 by mixing means not shown and the resultant viscous product is transferred from chamber 6 to a void by means of the pumping pressure within the apparatus.
  • FIG. 2 depicts an interfacial surface generator mixer 7 comprising a plurality of interfacial surface generators 9 enclosed in a casing 8 which may be either rigid or flexible and is very suitably a flexible hose.
  • a first free flowing liquid is supplied to a pumping means 2 and pumped in a stream through a hose 13 to an interfacial generator mixer 7 located in a borehole l7 and having attached thereto at its extremity more remote from the pumping means 2 a withdrawal apparatus 16 as hereinbefore described and being connected at its extremity less remote from the pumping means 2 to hose 13.
  • a second free flowing liquid is supplied to a pumping means 1 and pumped in a stream through hose 12 to interfacial generator mixer 7.
  • Hose 12 is located at least in part within hose 13 and the ratio of the external diameter of hose 12 to the internal diameter of hose 13 should be suitably chosen such that the flow of the first free flowing liquid through hose 13 is not unduly impeded.
  • the first and second free flowing liquids are mixed in the interfacial generator mixer 7 and the resulting viscous liquid is transferred to the borehole 17 by means of the pumping pressure within the apparatus.
  • the withdrawal apparatus 16 As the borehole 17 is filled with the viscous liquid the withdrawal apparatus 16, the attached mixer 7 and hoses l2 and 13 are Withdrawn from the borehole 17 at a suitable rate.
  • EXAMPLE I This example describes a suitable apparatus of our invention for use in filling boreholes with explosive slurry.
  • a inch internal diameter high pressure nylon tube 120 ft. in length was threaded through a 1 inch internal diameter high pressure PVC loading hose I20 ft. in length.
  • the nylon tube was attached by means of a hook arrangement to the entrance of an interfacial surface generator mixer of conventional design comprising 16 X 2% inch auger elements alternately pitched to the right and left hand and fixed so that the leading edge of one element was at right angles to the trailing edge of the abutting element.
  • the mixer was housed in a metal tube of internal diameter l inch and length 3 feet, said metal tube being attached to the PVC hose.
  • the nylon tube was attached to one head of a pneumatically driven dual headed diaphragm metering pump capable of delivering two separate streams, and the PVC hose was connected to a high speed rotary mixer which was in turn connected to a Mono pump fitted with a screw feed (Mono is a registered trade mark for a constant displacement pump).
  • the other head of the diaphragm metering pump was connected to the high speed rotary mixer.
  • a withdrawal apparatus as hereinbefore described was attached to the tube encasing the interfacial generator mixer.
  • a cap was provided both to prevent material escaping from the mixer and to hold the mantle of the withdrawal apparatus together while it was being inserted into a borehole.
  • EXAMPLE 2 This example describes the manufacture of a composite structure comprising a rock structure contiguous with a continuous column of viscous slurried explosive using the apparatus of Example I.
  • Boreholes were drilled into a rock structure comprising a chalcopyrite ore body using conventional percussion drills. These boreholes were filled with a viscous slurried explosive in the following general manner.
  • the interfacial surface generator mixer attached to the PVC hose was pushed to the toe of the borehole to be filled.
  • a mixture of ammonium nitrate 720 parts, water 125 parts, sugar 50 parts, guar gum 3.5 parts, sulphur 30 parts, atomised aluminium 50 parts and paint fine aluminium 20 parts was pumped with the Mono pump through the high speed rotary mixer at the rate of 100 lb/minute.
  • a solution of potassium antimony tartrate (1.5 lb/IOO lb water) was injected at a rate of 270 ml/minute into the high speed rotary mixer using one head of the dual headed diaphragm metering pump and mixed with the ammonium nitrate mixture therein.
  • the resultant composition leaving the high speed rotary mixer was passed through the PVC loading hose.
  • sodium dichromate solution (l0 lb/l00 lb water) was metered down the nylon tube at a rate of 270 ml/minute using the second head of the dual headed diaphragm metering pump.
  • the separate streams from the PVC loading hose and the nylon tube were mixed by the interfacial surface generator mixer. From laboratory tests it was known that the resultant mixture would become viscous after about seconds.
  • the loading hose was slowly withdrawn from the borehole at such a speed that the mantle of the withdrawal apparatus was always just level with the surface of the advancing column of slurry. After the borehole was filled the loading hose remained full of material and could be capped in a conventional manner and reused to fill a further borehole.
  • EXAMPLE 3 This is a further example of a suitable apparatus of our invention for use in filling boreholes with explosive slurry.
  • a V8 inch internal diameter high pressure nylon tube 100 ft. in length was threaded through a 1 inch internal diameter semi-rigid polythene hose (class D).
  • One end of the polythene hose was connected to a Mono pump with a special adaptor for bringing out the A; inch nylon hose from the interior to the exterior of the polythene hose, thence connected to a metering pump.
  • the elements of the static mixer as described in Example 1 were inserted inside the hose, such that a close tolerance fit was achieved.
  • the 76 inch nylon tube terminated in a jet which was attached to the static mixer element furthest from the end of the hose. Screwed to the end of the hose was a loading cone having an aluminium holder and a flexible rubber truncated cone. The aluminium holder for the cone held the static mixer elements within the polythene hose.
  • EXAMPLE 4 The apparatus described in Example 3 was used to manufacture a composite structure comprising a continuous column of viscous slurried explosive contiguous with a rock structure.
  • Boreholes having a nominal diameter of 2 V; inches were drilled in a chalcopyrite ore body in a manner consistent with the long hole ring drill technique for open stoping.
  • the boreholes were filled with viscous slurried explosive in the following general manner.
  • the priming charge consisting of the detonator and booster were placed into the cap for the loading come.
  • the cap was then fitted to the cone and the loading hose inserted to the toe of the borehole.
  • a mixture of ammonium nitrate 600 parts, sodium nitrate 130 parts, water 136 parts, sugar 50 parts, sulphur 30 parts, aluminium 70 parts, guar gum 4 parts, gilsonite parts, potassium antimony tartrate 0.2 parts was pumped by the Mono pump into the 1 inch polythene loading hose at a rate of 70 lbs/min.
  • a solution of sodium dichromate (1 lb/9 lb water) was pumped by the metering pump at (150 mls/min.) into the via inch nylon tube and injected through the jet into the slurry stream before the latter passed through the static mixer and out of the loading hose. From laboratory tests it was known that the slurry issuing from the hose rapidly increased in viscosity and that after 10 15 seconds a stiff cohesive gel would be formed.
  • the initial slurry issuing from the hose pushed the cap off the loading cone and located the primer in the toe of the hole. Freed from its cap, the loading cone expanded to seal the borehole. The operator could then readily feel the thrust of the slurry against the loading cone and could adjust the withdrawal rate of the hose to create a continuous column of the slurry blasting agent. After the desired quantity of explosive had been loaded into the borehole, the pumps were shut off, the loading hose retracted from the hole and recapped for insertion into the next borehole.
  • EXAMPLE 5 Using the apparatus described in Example 3 and the method described in Example 4, a series of 4 vertical upholes ranging in length from 60 80 ft. were charged with slurry explosive. After standing 2 weeks the slurry was still retained in the holes and the charge fired satisfactorily.
  • EXAMPLE 6 A loading hose of an apparatus as described in Example 3 was inserted into the toe of a polythene tube 2 inches in diameter and 3 ft. long closed at one end. The loading hose was 20 ft. in length. A mixture of the explosive slurry used in Example 4 was pumped through the Mono pump at a rate of 8 lbs/min. Simultaneously a 10% w/w solution of sodium dichromate (1 lb. in 9 lbs. water) was pumped at 7 mls/min. through the 9 8 inch nylon tube and injected into the slurry. The polythene tube was filled with viscous slurry. The package of slurry was used for secondary breaking.
  • a method of filling a borehole inclined upwardly into a rock structure with a viscous slurried explosive prepared by mixing two or more free flowing materials comprises firstly supplying separate streams of said free flowing material to the required position in the borehole and secondly mixing the separate streams at said required position within said borehole to form the said viscous slurried explosive in situ within said borehole, wherein the viscosity of the mixture rises substantially within a few seconds of mixing and wherein the mixing is carried out entirely within the borehole.
  • a method of manufacturing the composite structure comprising a rock structure contiguous with a continuous column of a viscous slurried explosive which method comprises firstly, drilling into a rock structure a narrow borehole ofless than 3 inches in diameter and more than 10 feet in length, secondly, supplying separate streams of at least two free flowing components of hole.

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  • Consolidation Of Soil By Introduction Of Solidifying Substances Into Soil (AREA)
US00216431A 1971-01-18 1972-01-10 Method of filling boreholes with viscous slurried explosives Expired - Lifetime US3791255A (en)

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BE (1) BE778210A (fr)
CA (1) CA959316A (fr)
DE (1) DE2202246C3 (fr)
GB (1) GB1344773A (fr)
PH (1) PH11042A (fr)
ZA (1) ZA72100B (fr)

Cited By (25)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3943820A (en) * 1971-12-30 1976-03-16 Nitro Nobel Ab Method for charging drill holes with explosive
US4032376A (en) * 1975-04-29 1977-06-28 Nitro-Nobel A.B. Explosive composition with tellurite gelling agent
US4036099A (en) * 1975-07-25 1977-07-19 Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. Method of loading blast hole with explosive
US4089715A (en) * 1973-09-05 1978-05-16 Metal Sales Company (Proprietary) Limited Explosive grade aluminum powder
JPS62297700A (ja) * 1986-06-17 1987-12-24 新日本製鐵株式会社 発破孔成形による発破方法
EP0182661A3 (en) * 1984-11-23 1988-01-20 Ireco Incorporated Methods of pumping and loading emulsion slurry blasting composition
WO1991012485A1 (fr) * 1990-02-16 1991-08-22 Eti Explosives Procede et composition explosive de reduction de la surcharge de trous de forage
US5233926A (en) * 1991-06-05 1993-08-10 Inco Limited Adhesive secondary blasting cone
US5465664A (en) * 1993-05-03 1995-11-14 Fey; Warren O. Fuel and explosive composition with ferric or cupric ion and reducing sugars
US5524523A (en) * 1993-04-08 1996-06-11 Aeci Limited Loading of boreholes with flowable explosives
US6557448B2 (en) * 2000-07-03 2003-05-06 Sasol Chemical Industries Limited Method of and system for delivery of water-based explosives
US6564686B1 (en) * 2000-03-28 2003-05-20 Utec Corporation, L.L.C. Continuous explosive charge assembly and method for loading same in an elongated cavity
US20040100864A1 (en) * 2000-04-20 2004-05-27 Manfred Schauerte Static mixing element
US20060188414A1 (en) * 2002-09-12 2006-08-24 Eaton Gerald B Polymerization reactant injection system
US7165614B1 (en) 2003-09-12 2007-01-23 Bond Lesley O Reactive stimulation of oil and gas wells
US20070095529A1 (en) * 2003-09-12 2007-05-03 Bond Lesley O Reactive stimulation of oil and gas wells
US7258054B1 (en) 2000-03-28 2007-08-21 Utec Corporation, Llc Continuous explosive charge assembly for use in an elongated cavity
US20080041449A1 (en) * 1998-10-14 2008-02-21 Manfred Schauerte Continuous Mixing System
US7344610B2 (en) 2003-01-28 2008-03-18 Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. Sulfur-free propellant compositions
WO2008039823A3 (fr) * 2006-09-26 2008-08-07 Parker Hannifin Corp Tuyau mixte de mine
US20090078433A1 (en) * 2007-09-25 2009-03-26 Micon Method of Controlling Mine Fires with Polymeric Gel
WO2016128382A1 (fr) * 2015-02-10 2016-08-18 Maxamcorp Holding, S.L. Suspension explosive à base d'eau
CN114485301A (zh) * 2022-01-27 2022-05-13 福建省新华都工程有限责任公司 露天矿低温环境下水炮孔充填辅助装置
US20240019235A1 (en) * 2020-11-10 2024-01-18 Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Limited End of hose mixing systems and methods
US20240361108A1 (en) * 2019-05-21 2024-10-31 Olitek Pty Ltd Triggering explosives in holes

Families Citing this family (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AU1505388A (en) * 1987-05-05 1988-11-10 Aeci Limited Method and apparatus for loading explosives into boreholes
MW1689A1 (en) * 1988-04-21 1989-12-13 Aeci Ltd Loading of boreholes with exploves
CN110284866B (zh) * 2019-07-23 2024-02-09 中国矿业大学(北京) 一种页岩压裂装置及方法
CN115536480B (zh) * 2022-10-31 2024-05-03 江南工业集团有限公司 一种火工品浇注成型装置及其工艺方法

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US3409486A (en) * 1967-12-20 1968-11-05 Gulf Oil Corp Thickened aqueous ammonium nitratehexamethylenetetramine explosive containing ammonium perchlorate as sensitivity stabilizer
US3473983A (en) * 1968-08-07 1969-10-21 Intermountain Res & Eng Slurry blasting composition containing sulfur and having high sodium nitrate content
US3523048A (en) * 1967-11-16 1970-08-04 Hercules Inc Bulk delivery of crosslinkable aqueous slurry explosive with crosslinking agent in a separate feed
US3619308A (en) * 1968-11-01 1971-11-09 Gulf Oil Corp Method of forming in place a gelled aqueous slurry explosive
US3676236A (en) * 1970-03-23 1972-07-11 Gulf Oil Corp Method of forming in place a gelled suspension explosive

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3523048A (en) * 1967-11-16 1970-08-04 Hercules Inc Bulk delivery of crosslinkable aqueous slurry explosive with crosslinking agent in a separate feed
US3409486A (en) * 1967-12-20 1968-11-05 Gulf Oil Corp Thickened aqueous ammonium nitratehexamethylenetetramine explosive containing ammonium perchlorate as sensitivity stabilizer
US3473983A (en) * 1968-08-07 1969-10-21 Intermountain Res & Eng Slurry blasting composition containing sulfur and having high sodium nitrate content
US3619308A (en) * 1968-11-01 1971-11-09 Gulf Oil Corp Method of forming in place a gelled aqueous slurry explosive
US3676236A (en) * 1970-03-23 1972-07-11 Gulf Oil Corp Method of forming in place a gelled suspension explosive

Cited By (37)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3943820A (en) * 1971-12-30 1976-03-16 Nitro Nobel Ab Method for charging drill holes with explosive
US4089715A (en) * 1973-09-05 1978-05-16 Metal Sales Company (Proprietary) Limited Explosive grade aluminum powder
US4032376A (en) * 1975-04-29 1977-06-28 Nitro-Nobel A.B. Explosive composition with tellurite gelling agent
US4036099A (en) * 1975-07-25 1977-07-19 Occidental Oil Shale, Inc. Method of loading blast hole with explosive
EP0182661A3 (en) * 1984-11-23 1988-01-20 Ireco Incorporated Methods of pumping and loading emulsion slurry blasting composition
JPS62297700A (ja) * 1986-06-17 1987-12-24 新日本製鐵株式会社 発破孔成形による発破方法
WO1991012485A1 (fr) * 1990-02-16 1991-08-22 Eti Explosives Procede et composition explosive de reduction de la surcharge de trous de forage
US5233926A (en) * 1991-06-05 1993-08-10 Inco Limited Adhesive secondary blasting cone
US5524523A (en) * 1993-04-08 1996-06-11 Aeci Limited Loading of boreholes with flowable explosives
US5465664A (en) * 1993-05-03 1995-11-14 Fey; Warren O. Fuel and explosive composition with ferric or cupric ion and reducing sugars
US7575071B2 (en) * 1998-10-14 2009-08-18 Tracto-Technik Paul Schmidt Spezialmaschinen Continuous mixing system
US20080041449A1 (en) * 1998-10-14 2008-02-21 Manfred Schauerte Continuous Mixing System
US7258054B1 (en) 2000-03-28 2007-08-21 Utec Corporation, Llc Continuous explosive charge assembly for use in an elongated cavity
US6722251B2 (en) 2000-03-28 2004-04-20 Utec Corporation, L.L.C. Method for loading a continuous explosive charge assembly in an elongated cavity
US6564686B1 (en) * 2000-03-28 2003-05-20 Utec Corporation, L.L.C. Continuous explosive charge assembly and method for loading same in an elongated cavity
US20040100864A1 (en) * 2000-04-20 2004-05-27 Manfred Schauerte Static mixing element
US7878705B2 (en) 2000-04-20 2011-02-01 Tt Schmidt Gmbh Static mixing element and method of mixing a drilling liquid
US20070211570A1 (en) * 2000-04-20 2007-09-13 Manfred Schauerte Static mixing element and method of mixing a drilling liquid
US6557448B2 (en) * 2000-07-03 2003-05-06 Sasol Chemical Industries Limited Method of and system for delivery of water-based explosives
US20060188414A1 (en) * 2002-09-12 2006-08-24 Eaton Gerald B Polymerization reactant injection system
US7344610B2 (en) 2003-01-28 2008-03-18 Hodgdon Powder Company, Inc. Sulfur-free propellant compositions
US20070095529A1 (en) * 2003-09-12 2007-05-03 Bond Lesley O Reactive stimulation of oil and gas wells
US7216708B1 (en) 2003-09-12 2007-05-15 Bond Lesley O Reactive stimulation of oil and gas wells
US7165614B1 (en) 2003-09-12 2007-01-23 Bond Lesley O Reactive stimulation of oil and gas wells
WO2008039823A3 (fr) * 2006-09-26 2008-08-07 Parker Hannifin Corp Tuyau mixte de mine
US20080264508A1 (en) * 2006-09-26 2008-10-30 Wallace Adamson Mine blender hose
US7861745B2 (en) 2006-09-26 2011-01-04 Parker-Hannifin Corporation Mine blender hose
WO2009042762A1 (fr) * 2007-09-25 2009-04-02 Micon Procédé de contrôle d'incendies de mine avec un gel polymère
US20090078433A1 (en) * 2007-09-25 2009-03-26 Micon Method of Controlling Mine Fires with Polymeric Gel
US8096622B2 (en) 2007-09-25 2012-01-17 Micon Method of controlling mine fires with polymeric gel
US8807661B2 (en) 2007-09-25 2014-08-19 Micon Method of controlling ventilation in a mine entry with polymeric gel
WO2016128382A1 (fr) * 2015-02-10 2016-08-18 Maxamcorp Holding, S.L. Suspension explosive à base d'eau
US10793485B2 (en) 2015-02-10 2020-10-06 Maxamcorp Holding, S.L. Water-based explosive suspension
US20240361108A1 (en) * 2019-05-21 2024-10-31 Olitek Pty Ltd Triggering explosives in holes
US20240019235A1 (en) * 2020-11-10 2024-01-18 Dyno Nobel Asia Pacific Pty Limited End of hose mixing systems and methods
CN114485301A (zh) * 2022-01-27 2022-05-13 福建省新华都工程有限责任公司 露天矿低温环境下水炮孔充填辅助装置
CN114485301B (zh) * 2022-01-27 2024-04-30 福建省新华都工程有限责任公司 露天矿低温环境下水炮孔充填辅助装置

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2202246B2 (de) 1977-09-08
DE2202246C3 (de) 1978-05-11
BE778210A (fr) 1972-07-18
DE2202246A1 (de) 1972-09-21
GB1344773A (en) 1974-01-23
PH11042A (en) 1977-10-25
ZA72100B (en) 1973-08-29
CA959316A (en) 1974-12-17

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