The drilling of the first deep borehole has started! The 1st of June 2017, the hydraulic drill rig installed on mine level 95 in Moab Khotsong mine has been engaged, and the first 6 meters were drilled. The casing is currently being installed and grouted before to drill further. Dseis Team is very happy to announce the start of Dseis project!
The LM 90 hydraulic rig has been bolted to the concrete platform. The feed frame of the machine is now inclined with a plunge of -43.6 degree. The machine will be commissioned in the upcoming days. Dseis team is looking forward to start drilling very soon!
The positioner of the drill rig has been aligned to the drill direction (297.7°). The rest of the equipment has been downloaded on site. We are now getting very close to start drilling.
On April 24th, all the equipment of the drill rig has been transported to the site at about 2895 meters below surface. On the picture the power pack and the control panel are loaded on a mine cart.
The hydraulic LM90 drill rig has been mobilized at Moab Khotsong mine. On the 19th April 2017, the first equipment were loaded on mine carts and transported underground to the drill site on 95 level. On the picture, the water pump and the wire line winch are loaded on a cart, ready to go down through the main shaft.
A large underground excavation of at least 6 m x 6 m x 6 m was blasted at 95 level in Moab Khotsong. Mine workers are currently busy supporting the cavity with 2.9 m rockbolts, 3.8 anchors and a wiremesh to prevent rockfalls. The drilling site 1 is located 2895 m below Earth`s surface.
Moab Khotsong will host the first deep borehole of the Dseis project. Hole A will be drilled from 95 level, and will reach a length of 750 m. This borehole intends to cross the seismogenic source of the M5.5 Orkney earthquake in august 2014. Drilling is expected to start within the next two weeks.
Dseis team could do a first underground visit at site 1. Bennie Liebenberg was guiding the small group through the underground maze of Moab Khotsong. Drilling site 1 is located at 95 level, in an unused access tunnel.
