Coal Field Exploration Core Drilling Rig: CSD3000 in Jingtai, Gansu, China
Executive Summary
In Jingtai County, Gansu Province, the No. 133 Team of the Gansu Bureau of Coalfield Geology ran a coal field geological exploration program to define the distribution, thickness and attitude of regional coal seams. The contractor deployed the CORTECH® CSD3000 crawler-mounted full hydraulic core drilling rig and, over a 6-month campaign using wireline coring as the main process, completed 3,000 m of cumulative drilling with a single-hole diameter of 95 mm across a group of exploration holes. The CSD3000's crawler chassis gave strong site adaptability on complex terrain, while its high-torque power head and stable drilling system protected coal-core quality and penetration — delivering the complete, accurate geological dataset needed for resource evaluation and mine planning.
Project Background & Challenge
Coal field exploration differs from single-hole mineral prospecting: it is a long, systematic campaign of many holes that must produce dependable, comparable core:
- Systematic, long-duration work: the program ran for 6 months and drilled a group of exploration holes to map seam extent, thickness and dip — not just test one show.
- Large cumulative footage: 3,000 m of wireline coring over many holes demands a rig that stays productive week after week, not a one-hole machine.
- Site adaptability: exploration pads sit across varied terrain, so the rig must position itself quickly and work on uneven ground.
- Coring quality matters: coal seams and their partings must be recovered intact to measure thickness, depth and quality — poor core recovery wastes the whole program.
Our Solution
The No. 133 Team selected the CORTECH® CSD3000 crawler full hydraulic core drilling rig for its combination of deep-hole capacity, high-torque coring and mobility. The features that fit the coal-brief:
- Crawler chassis for field adaptability: the integrated heavy-duty track system (30° climbing, 2 km/h) let the rig position itself quickly across complex terrain and move between the group of exploration holes without external towing.
- High-torque power head: the 242 kW Cummins L8.9CS4 330C engine drives an 8,170 Nm top head through a 28 MPa hydraulic system, sustaining steady coring torque through interbedded strata and protecting coal-core recovery.
- Deep wireline rating: reference coring depths of 3,000 m (B size), 2,300 m (N size), 1,600 m (H size) and 1,050 m (P size) comfortably covered the planned exploration holes.
- Balance-principle WOB control: micro-precise weight-on-bit (up to 90 kN feed, 250 kN pullback) reduced rod buckling and deviation, supporting consistent core quality across the long campaign.
- Extendable outriggers: hydraulic stabilizers widened the footprint and damped vibration on uneven pads, keeping verticality and core quality hole after hole.
Key Results
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Location | Jingtai County, Gansu, China |
| Contractor | No. 133 Team, Gansu Bureau of Coalfield Geology |
| Commodity | Coal (coal field geological exploration) |
| Campaign duration | 6 months |
| Main process | Wireline (rope) core drilling |
| Single-hole diameter | 95 mm |
| Cumulative footage | 3,000 m |
| Holes | A group of exploration holes |
| Rig | CORTECH CSD3000 crawler core drill |
| Outcome | Complete, accurate geological data for resource evaluation |
For the full technical specifications of the CORTECH® CSD3000, see the CSD3000 product page.
Customer Value & ROI
- Consistent core over 3,000 m: high-torque head and precise WOB control protected coal-core recovery across six months and many holes, giving the bureau reliable seam thickness and attitude data.
- Less relocation downtime: crawler self-positioning moved the rig between the group of exploration holes efficiently, protecting the 6-month schedule.
- Built for long campaigns: the 242 kW power plant and air-cooled 28 MPa hydraulics sustained continuous coring shifts across a multi-month program.
- Decision-grade data: the complete, accurate geological dataset fed directly into downstream coal resource evaluation and development planning.
FAQ
What is coal field exploration core drilling?
It is systematic drilling of a group of exploration holes to recover intact core and map the distribution, thickness and dip of coal seams before mining. In the Jingtai, Gansu program, the CSD3000 used wireline coring as the main process, drilling 95 mm holes over 6 months.
How much footage can a coal exploration rig complete in 6 months?
In this Gansu program, the CSD3000 completed 3,000 m of cumulative wireline core drilling across a group of exploration holes within 6 months, including site relocations and coring on each hole.
What hole diameter is used for coal exploration?
The Jingtai program used a 95 mm single-hole diameter for wireline coring — large enough to recover representative coal and parting intervals while keeping drilling cost per meter controlled.
Why is high torque important for coal coring?
Coal measure sequences interbed with harder rock partings. An 8,170 Nm top head maintains steady penetration and protects core recovery through these transitions, so seam thickness and quality are measured accurately rather than lost to poor coring.
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