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Vertical Orientation

Revolutionary, world first vertical borehole core orientation & survey system.

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Description

The Verti-Ori™ system is primarily a core orientation tool designed for producing “magnetic north” core orientations on dead-vertical holes. As it requires an Ezy-Az™ borehole survey instrument during it’s operation, you get the added benefit of being able to take a full borehole survey at the same time.

On the front of the assembly, the patented Ori-Block™ is mounted which takes an impression of the last undrilled core-break. Above this is an automated centraliser which activates when passing through the drill-bit.

Further up the tool is a specially designed, factory aligned. water-tight pressure barrel to securely house the Ezy-Az™ borehole survey instrument. This pressure barrel also contains a handy side-viewing window which allows the survey instrument data to be read and recorded whilst securely contained within the pressure barrel assembly. This allows the whole assembly to remain in-tact during the core orientation process.

Above the pressure barrel is a secondary automated centraliser which acts to maintain the whole assembly central within the borehole. A series of aluminium extension bars are run after the centraliser to ensure there is no magnetic interference received from the drill tubes or bit.

During activation, the core impression is taken using the Ori-Block™ and at the same time a borehole survey is conducted, providing survey information such as magnetic toolface, magnetic intensity, dip, gravity roll, azimuth and other recordings associated with a borehole survey.

Once retrieved from the borehole, survey data is extracted from the survey instrument where the magnetic toolface reading is reduced from the 360° degree markings on the Ori-Block™ to provide an accurate “magnetic north” core orientation. The Ori-Block™ is then marked with this information, matched to the corebreak profile where the orientation line can then be extended across the core.

SYSTEM ADVANTAGES…

  • VERTICAL BOREHOLE CORE ORIENTATIONS
  • ORIENTATE BOTH VERTICAL AND ANGLED BOREHOLES WITH THE ONE SYSTEM
  • FULL BOREHOLE SURVEY DURING ORIENTATIONS
  • CHOICE OF SINGLE OR MULTI-SHOT SURVEYS
  • AUTOMATIC SELF-CENTERING SYSTEM
  • FITS MOST CORE SIZES
  • FULLY AUDITABLE WITH THE Ori-Block™
  • RETRIEVAL OF SURVEY DATA WITHOUT DISMANTLING TOOL
  • ROBUST DESIGN AND SIMPLE TO MAINTAIN
  • ALL ADDED ADVANTAGES ASSOCIATED WITH THE Ezy-Az™ SURVEY INSTRUMENT

Download the latest Verti-Ori™ flyer here.

How was the tool Conceptualized?

2iC Australia Pty Ltd was approached at PDAC 2002 by a drilling company who had been contracted to work on the Ground Zero re-development project at the World Trade Centre site, under the auspices of the Port Authority of New York. A Port Authority requirement was to provide orientated core samples of the bed rock for geotechnical testing.

Like most Civil Construction drilling contractors, their drill rigs could only drill vertical boreholes which caused a dilemma at the outset. All commercial Orientation Tools available at the time required an angle of at least 5° off vertical to obtain an accurate orientation.

To overcome this obstacle, the drill rigs were ramped onto blocks so that their drilling angle was approximately 80°.

This simple obstacle inspired Gavin McLeod and Andrew Beach to conceptualise an alternative orientation tool to suit the thousands of Civil Construction Drill Rigs around the World.

After years of development the solution was found by combining the unique Ori-Block™ core footprint with a borehole survey instrument. Instead of orientating the top or bottom of borehole, which is impossible with a vertical hole, the orientation line was simply switched to a magnetic north orientation.

The aptly named Vert-Ori™ has since proven its worth around the world in vertical boreholes as well as angled boreholes. Its commercial uses have ranged from proposed Mine Haulage Shafts, Ventilation Shafts, Underground Cities and Tunnels, Hydro-Electric Power Stations to Dam Wall superstructures.

The drillers find it easy to use and the Geotechnical Engineers quickly adapt to the magnetic north orientation line.

The potential for this instrument is significant, particularly in the Civil Construction sector where many of the drilling rigs only have a vertical capacity.