WorldWide Drilling Resource

Precision Controlled Rock Blasting Adapted from Information by Dykon Blasting Corp. Explosives are a form of energy similar to gasoline and electricity. Automotive engineers design motors to use small amounts of energy to develop usable amounts of torque. Electrical engineers design power plants to generate huge amounts of energy, whereas electrical appliances are designed to use only what is required to operate them. In each case, the available energy consumed is harnessed in precisely controlled amounts which are safe and reliable when used correctly. What if this principle was applied to explosives, and used to break rock in construction areas? This is exactly the concept behind precision blasting, which is often used to chemically fragment rock in urban or congested construction areas, safely, reliably, and economically. Small holes are drilled into the rock in a pattern, allowing the removal of a very small amount of rock from each hole. The amount of explosives needed to break the rock around the holes is calculated, ensuring only the necessary amount of explosive is placed in the holes. Each hole is detonated in a se- quence, so only a fraction of the total amount of explosive is used to fire at any one time. By control l ing the f iring sequence of each hole, rock can be moved toward a hole which has already been fired. This works much like the domino principle. Imagine lining up 50 pounds of dominos on a table, then tipping one domino so all the others will fall in a controlled sequence. This will result in the energy of the falling dominos being transfered to the table in a controlled sequence and over an extended period of time. Such is the case with precision blasting. Using a combination of precision blasting techniques and precision drilling, Dykon Blasting Corp. offers blasting services in areas where rock is encountered in urban areas, near privately owned businesses, or close to utility service lines. In one project, extremely hard rock was encountered while excavating for the Ferguson Power Plant in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Fluor, an engineering solutions company, exhausted conventional means of rock removal such as hoe ramming, relief hole drilling, and use of expansive grouts. The expansion project was inside an active power plant, so the project management team did not think blasting was even possible. Dykon was contacted to assess the feasibility of using blasting for the project. After vis- iting the site, a plan was put together to safely and efficiently blast the rock. With nearby occupied buildings, power plant, gas lines, and utilities, the project had to be designed and completed in a precise fashion. Dykon was able to safely blast all the remaining rock for the project. After completion, Fluor ’s superintendent made the statement, “rock blasting will no longer be our last resort it will be our first”. 35 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JANUARY 2019 EXB Photos of precision blasting at Ferguson Power Plant, courtesy of Dykon Blasting Corp. Oven to Slow Cooker Conversion Low = 200ºF High = 300ºF 1 Hour on High = 2-2 ½ hours on Low OVEN Slow Cooker 15-30 Minutes 1 ½ - 2 Hours on High 4-6 Hours on low 35-45 Minutes 2-3 Hours on High 6-8 Hours on Low 50-180 Minutes 4-5 Hours on High 8-18 Hours on Low