In geological exploration and underground coal mine drilling projects, precise measurement and control of borehole trajectories has always been the "lifeline" for ensuring construction safety and borehole quality. For a long time, traditional measurement methods have relied on stopping drilling operations, which are not only inefficient and cause severe data lag, but also suffer from weak anti-interference capabilities and long-term dependence on imported core equipment, becoming a key bottleneck restricting the intelligent upgrade of China's drilling engineering.

Recently, this "bottleneck" problem has achieved a major breakthrough. The small-diameter Ф18mm drill pipe internal conveyance trajectory measurement instrument, independently developed by Xi'an Research Institute of China Coal Technology & Engineering Group (CCTEG Xi'an), has been promoted and applied for the first time in Huaibei Mining Group. All performance indicators of the equipment have reached or exceeded the level of similar international products, filling the domestic gap in small-diameter drill pipe internal conveyance while-drilling trajectory measurement equipment.

Precise Measurement and Control: "Three No's" Principle Rewrites Underground Drilling Rules

Borehole trajectory measurement and control is a critical link in projects such as coal mine gas control, water exploration and drainage, and geological exploration. A deviation in the borehole trajectory can, at best, lead to borehole abandonment, and at worst, cause major safety accidents like water inrush or gas outburst. However, traditional measurement methods have three inherent "shortcomings":

Low Efficiency: Measurement requires stopping drilling operations, involving pulling out and running in the drill pipe, consuming significant man-hours.

Data Lag: Inability to obtain trajectory information in real-time, causing underground decision-making to always be "one step behind."

Import Dependence: Core equipment has long been controlled by others, leading not only to high costs but also supply chain risks.

The drill pipe internal conveyance trajectory inclinometer launched by CCTEG Xi'an proposes a brand-new solution based on the principle of "no tripping, no wiring, no dedicated tools."

Core Design Concept: The equipment adopts an integrated conveyance design inside the drill pipe, integrating a high-precision inertial measurement unit, miniaturized sensor module, and 3D trajectory real-time reconstruction technology, allowing it to be placed directly inside the drill pipe for conveyance. In other words, the measurement instrument travels "downstream" with the drill pipe, requiring no additional channel occupation and no need to interrupt drilling operations for measurement.

Three Core Advantages:

No Stop for Tripping: Measurement can be completed without pulling out the drill pipe, avoiding frequent tripping operations for on-site personnel and saving over 95% of time.

Real-time 3D Trajectory Visualization: Supports intelligent deviation warnings, allowing underground operators to grasp the borehole direction in real-time.

Resistance to Harsh Conditions: Requires no additional wiring or dedicated non-magnetic drill pipe, remaining stable and reliable in complex underground environments.

Filling China's Gap: From "Following" to "Running Alongside"

In the field of drilling engineering, Measurement While Drilling (MWD) technology has always been a focal point of international high-end equipment competition. Small-diameter trajectory measurement equipment conveyed inside the drill pipe has long been monopolized by a few foreign manufacturers. The Ф18mm drill pipe internal conveyance trajectory inclinometer launched by CCTEG Xi'an has all performance indicators reaching or exceeding the level of similar international products.

Technical Content Behind the "Small Diameter": A diameter of Ф18mm means the equipment must significantly reduce its physical size while maintaining high-precision inertial measurement and real-time data transmission capabilities. Behind this lies the systematic integration of miniaturized sensor modules, high-precision inertial measurement units, and 3D trajectory real-time reconstruction technology – each representing a breakthrough in core technology.

Accelerated Deployment Across All Coal Types and Regions

Currently, the equipment has completed field condition tests and demonstration promotions in multiple key mining areas nationwide:

Service Enterprises: Major energy companies such as Huaibei Mining Group, CHN Energy, and Jinneng Holding Group.

Covered Regions: Multiple coal mines and non-coal mining areas in Huaibei, Henan, Xinjiang, Shanxi, Inner Mongolia, and Northeast China.

Application Scenarios: Trajectory measurement for various boreholes including gas drainage holes, water exploration and drainage holes, and geological exploration holes.

From Huaibei to Xinjiang, from coal mines to non-coal mines, the full-scenario validation of the equipment fully demonstrates its technical maturity and broad industry adaptability.

Installing "Eyes" for Safe and Efficient Coal Mine Operations

The successful development of this drill pipe internal conveyance trajectory inclinometer has been hailed as a "major technological advancement in the field of underground coal mine borehole measurement." Its profound impact is reflected in three aspects:

First, Safety Value: Borehole trajectory deviation is a significant source of hidden disaster-causing factors in coal mines. Precise real-time measurement and control is equivalent to installing a "navigation system" for every borehole – eliminating "false drilling" and "empty drilling" at the source, providing accurate data support for coal mine gas control and water hazard prevention.

Second, Efficiency Value: Saving over 95% of measurement time means more borehole projects can be completed within the same construction period, or the saved time can be used for more detailed geological analysis – a key step for drilling engineering transitioning from "extensive construction" to "precision operations."

Third, Strategic Value: Filling the domestic gap in small-diameter drill pipe internal conveyance while-drilling trajectory measurement equipment signifies China's leap from "import dependence" to "independent controllability" in the field of core drilling engineering equipment. With the equipment's promotion and application in more mining areas, China's coal mine drilling technology is accelerating its comprehensive upgrade towards high precision, high efficiency, and high reliability.