Publications / 1991 Proceedings of the 8th ISARC, Stuttgart, Germany
An automatic directional drilling system for vertical bore holes has been developed by Schwing Hydraulik Elektronik and Deutsche Montan Technologie (DMT) as a joint venture. This system measures the inclination continuously during the drilling process and corrects minor deviations from plumb by immediate counter steering. The actual angles and the measured values required for system monitoring are transmitted to the drilling station by an integrated data transfer system. The prompt automatic directional offset permits directional drilling with maximum accuracy. Automatic directional drilling systems of the ZBE 3000 series have been in use worldwide since 1984 in mining, tunnelling and civil engineering and have stood the test in numerous upward and downward vertical drilling operations to a maximum depth of 600 meters. Based on this success, further development of the automatic directional drilling system for vertical deep-drilling to a depth of 4000 meters was commenced in 1988. The incentive for this development phase was the Continental Deep-Drilling Programme (KTB), sponsored by the Federal Republic of Germany, with a projected over depth of 10000 meters.