# US 12,180,828 B2 · Method and system for acquiring geological data from a bore hole > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,180,828 B2 - Document ID: US12180828B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/233,590 - Filed: 2023-08-14 - Published: 2023-12-14 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2017-06-27 - Assignees: Reflex Instruments Asia Pacific Pty Ltd - Applicants: Reflex Instruments Asia Pacific Pty Ltd - Inventors: David Lawie; John Jackson - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12180828B2 ## CPC - E21B 47/12: Means for transmitting measuring-signals or control signals from the well to the surface, or from the surface to the well, e.g. for logging while drilling - E21B 7/02: Drilling rigs characterised by means for land transport {with their own drive}, e.g. skid mounting or wheel mounting - E21B 44/00: Automatic control systems specially adapted for drilling operations, i.e. self-operating systems which function to carry out or modify a drilling operation without intervention of a human operator, e.g. computer-controlled drilling systems; Systems specially adapted for monitoring a plurality of drilling variables or conditions - E21B 47/00: Survey of boreholes or wells (monitoring pressure or flow of drilling fluid E21B21/08) - E21B 47/08: Measuring diameters or related dimensions at the borehole - E21B 47/26: Storing data down-hole, e.g. in a memory or on a record carrier - E21B 49/00: Testing the nature of borehole walls; Formation testing; Methods or apparatus for obtaining samples of soil or well fluids, specially adapted to earth drilling or wells - E21B: EARTH OR ROCK DRILLING; OBTAINING OIL, GAS, WATER, SOLUBLE OR MELTABLE MATERIALS OR A SLURRY OF MINERALS FROM WELLS ## Abstract A system for blast hole data collection for use in a mine site incorporates an instrument configured to acquire geological property data of a blast hole for processing in the system or remotely and a vehicle having a handling system configured to move the instrument into and out of the blast hole as an interchangeable element with a drill string or prior to explosives charging and charging the blast hole in accordance with a determined charge profile. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of explosive material charging comprising: aligning a geological measurement instrument, supported on a vehicle, with a bore hole; operating the instrument while lowering the instrument into the bore hole and/or while retrieving the instrument from the bore hole to acquire geological data of the ground in which the bore hole exists at a plurality of depths in the bore hole; streaming the geological data with a data transmission system in the instrument in real time to a data receiver; using the geological data, acquired by the instrument at the plurality of depths in the bore hole, to determine geological characteristics of the ground surrounding the bore hole and determining a charge profile by selecting two or more different explosives for the bore hole as a blast hole using the geological characteristics, while withdrawing the instrument from the bore hole and parking the instrument on the vehicle; and autonomously charging the blast hole by the vehicle by depositing the two or more explosive materials in accordance with the charge profile determined on the basis of the geological characteristics of the ground surrounding the bore hole, with the charging depth of the each of the two or more explosives dependent on the geological characteristics. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the data receiver comprises a data processing system capable of determining the geological characteristics. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method as defined in claim 2 wherein the data processing system is cloud-based or located in a remote control center. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of using the geological data is completed in near real-time. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the geological characteristics are determined before the instrument is withdrawn from the bore hole and parked on the vehicle. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of determining a charge profile comprises determining the required explosive power of the one or more explosive materials. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of charging the blast hole further comprises controlling an explosive materials supply vehicle to deposit the one or more explosive materials in the blast hole. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the plurality of depths is a plurality of depths at regular depth intervals. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method as defined in claim 8 wherein the plurality of depths are over the entire depth of the blast hole. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the step of streaming the geological data comprises collecting data continuously and transmitting the geological data at successive regular depth intervals. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the instrument comprises a hole contact mechanism arranged to physically contact an inner circumferential wall of the bore hole. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method as defined in claim 11 wherein the hole contact mechanism comprises a plurality of arms biased into contact with the inner circumferential wall of the bore hole. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method as defined in claim 12 wherein comprising the step of releasing the plurality of arms from a retracted position once the instrument reaches a bottom of the bore hole. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method as defined in claim 12 wherein the hole contact mechanism is configured to measure the hardness of the material of the inner circumferential wall. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 wherein the geological instrument is supported on a boom, further comprising a pulley and cable winch system configured to raise and lower the instrument. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of operating a second geological measurement instrument when charging the blast hole and comparing the measurements of the instrument and the second instrument. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method as defined in claim 1 further comprising the step of controlling processing conditions based on the geological data subsequent to collection. ### Claim 18 A method of explosive material charging of a blast hole comprising: streaming geological data with a data transmission system in an instrument inserted into a bore hole to a data receiver; operating a second geological measurement instrument when charging the blast hole and comparing the measurements of the instrument and the second instrument, using the geological data, acquired by the instrument at a plurality of depths in the bore hole, to determine geological characteristics of the ground surrounding the bore hole and determining a charge profile of explosive materials for the bore hole as the blast hole using the geological characteristics; and autonomously charging the blast hole by depositing one or more explosive materials with a vehicle on the basis of the determined charge profile for the geological characteristics of the ground surrounding the bore hole.