Thesis Opportunity: Detecting and Understanding Hole Deviation in Surface Drilling

In surface drilling operations, ensuring that drilled holes follow their intended paths is critical. Deviations can significantly impact the effectiveness of blasting, which in turn affects rock fragmentation and the efficiency of downstream mining processes. Detecting, estimating, predicting, and understanding these deviations is therefore a key challenge in modern mining engineering.

This thesis project offers students the opportunity to work with a real-world dataset to investigate this problem. The goal is to analyze and model hole deviation using three complementary data sources:

• MWD (Measurement While Drilling) data: Includes parameters such as feed pressure and penetration rate, recorded by the drill itself.
• KSM sensor data: Captures stress wave signals in the drill string, offering insight into dynamic drilling conditions.
• Ground truth deviation data: Obtained via post-drilling probe measurements, providing accurate information on the actual hole trajectory.

Project Objectives

The project has the following objectives:

• Data Integration: Align and relate the three datasets to create a unified view of each drilled hole.
• Deviation Analysis: Quantify the deviation of each hole from its intended path using the ground truth data and hole parameters.
• Signal Interpretation: Investigate whether signals in the MWD and KSM datasets can reveal when and why deviations occur.

For each of these objectives, the thesis student is expected to create software solutions that allow easy access to the information and provide visualizations for interpretation.

Research Questions

• Can the initiation or presence of hole deviation be detected using MWD and KSM signals (offline or online)?
• (Optional extension) Can the magnitude of the deviation be estimated based on these signals?

Who Should Apply?

This project is ideal for students with interest and background in:

• Data science, signal processing, or machine learning
• Mining engineering or mechanical engineering
• Programming and data analysis (e.g., Python, MATLAB)

The thesis can be conducted by one or two students and is set up as a collaborative project with Epiroc Rock Drills AB in Norra Bro. The thesis is hosted at Epiroc Rock Drills AB in Norra Bro. The project is available to start at any time.