GSI’s drilling operation dates back to 1868 in Wardha coal fields of Maharashtra. From the beginning of 20th century, GSI had utilized drilling as an aid to its mineral exploration efforts.
Separate drilling stream started functioning in GSI from 1955.
From a moderate fleet of five rigs in 1955, the fleet strength has increased to 162. The drilling rigs include Joy (USA), Crealius (Sweden), Longyear (Canada), Ziff and 1BQ-15H (Russian) Larsen-Toubro (India), Voltas and Greaves (India).
Apart from conventional wet drilling, GSI has developed expertise in dry drilling for iron ore while exploring Kiriburu and Bailadila iron ore dust zones and also developed foam drilling methods for better core recovery in dusty ores.
Has developed expertise in drilling for geothermal resources and effectively controlled the elevated temperature and pressure. Also fabricated special equipment for drilling through clay.
Has expertise in drilling through ice in glaciated regions and recovery of cores for specialized studies.
Has a stream of professionals capable of handling different types of drilling operations in different geological settings spread over different parts of the country.
Agnigundala and Mailaram copper (A.P).; Singhbhum copper (Bihar); East Coast bauxite (Orissa & A.P.), Ramagiri gold (A.P.), Wajrakarur (A.P.) and Panna (M.P.) diamond investigations; Kalyadi copper, Kudremukh iron ore, Hutti and Gadag gold, Bailadila iron ore project; gold investigation in north Kolar schist belt in collaboration with BRGM; molybdenite in Harur (T.N.); Malanjkhand copper (M.P.), Foundation investigation for Pamban Bridge in Tamil Nadu, Sukhinda chromite in Orissa; Bonai, Koraput and Keonjhar manganese investigation (Orissa); Khetri copper, Ambaji, Rajpura-Dariba basemetal investigation; Nagaur gypsum and Satipura potash investigation (Rajasthan); Cassiterite (tin) investigation in Bastar district, M.P., Diamond investigation, district Raigadh, M.P., Tosham tin-tungsten (Haryana) and Gurhar Pahar gold investigation in U.P.
GSI has gone in for procurement of highly sophisticated deep drilling rigs from BRGM, France for undertaking specific sub-surface evaluation and mineral targeting. Six drilling machines of capacity 1200-1750m with hydraulic and hydro-mechanical transmission system, will be procured soon. Facilities are also being developed for wire line and reverse circulation drilling with the State of Art Technology.
Concurrent efforts for acquisition of multisensor geophysical loggers (Anderson loggers) have also been contemplated in our drilling programme for mineral exploration.
Services available :
GSI can take up exploratory drilling work for coal, lignite and coal bed methane in soft rocks as well as for minerals in hard and very hard terrain. GSI also maintained a record of good core recovery.
GSI is capable of drilling upto 600m (upto 1200m when newer rigs are procured) in hard and soft terrain and thus can render technical expertise in mineral exploration and assessment programme.
Contact: Dy. Director General, Drilling Division, CHQ,,4,Chowringhee Lane, Calcutta-700 016.
Send mail to GSI, CHQ for more information.
Last modified June 20, 2002
|