Project: Mincon DTH Waterhammer & Spiral Flush Casing System
Date: 2022 – 2025
Location: Ireland and Scotland
Client: Subsea Micropiles Ltd.
Business Sectors:
- Energy – Offshore Infrastructure
Services (Technical Disciplines):
- Geotechnical and Mechanical Engineering
- Design
- Manufacturing
- Drilling
Project Objectives/Outcomes:
Design and development of a patented water-powered hydraulic DTH hammer to be used for the installation of subsea anchors. Seawater is pumped through the hammer to cycle the piston, before flushing cuttings up through the casing. Hammer capabilities include drilling in both soft overburden conditions, as well as hard bedrock. After drilling, the hammer and drill-string are grouted in place, cementing the pile in the ground as a subsea anchor.
Integration of Mincon’s patented spiral flush casing system to mitigate hole collapse while drilling in soft overburden conditions. Development of a novel grout valve, integrated into the waterhammer to enable independent grouting through perpendicular ports in the hammer after drilling. This valve also disables hammer action post drilling operations, to avoid disturbance during cementing process.
Mincon DTH Waterhammer assembly with Lead Driller Kris Patrick, Mincon
Subsea Micropiles Offshore Drilling Rig, Orkney
System Design and Development:
- Initial design, manufacture and in-house testing of small-scale prototype waterhammer.
- Design and manufacture of full-scale prototype waterhammer.
- Drilling trials at various test locations in Ireland including quarries, sand & gravel sites, and harbours.
- Provide drilling expertise for offshore installation at Scapa Flow, Orkney, Scotland
Geoscience Ireland Contact: Ciaran Purcell ciaranpurcell@mincon.com
