"Treasure Hunt" on China's Water Tower! How powerful is China's "plateau drilling"?

Drilling is one of the most direct and indispensable means of geological survey, and it is also the only means to directly obtain physical information about underground objects. In the Second Institute of Geological Exploration of Qinghai Province (hereinafter referred to as the Second Institute of Geological Exploration), the proportion of drilling production output value to the total output value of the institute has remained at about 95% for many years. As one of the few units specializing in drilling construction in the geological exploration system of Qinghai Province and even the whole country, the Second Institute of Geological Exploration has continuously made efforts in drilling technology, scientific and technological innovation, talent training, and equipment renewal, and has achieved a series of fruitful results, and is forming a distinctive "plateau drilling" brand.

Grasp the main color and add bright colors

"Drilling" is the main focus of the Second Exploration Institute. Since its establishment in 2003, under the leadership of various Party committees, the Second Exploration Institute has continuously promoted the upgrading of drilling technology, processes, and equipment. From the initial operation of less than 5 drilling rigs, to now owning 26 sets of various types of drilling rigs, mainly full hydraulic power head drilling rigs, it has formed a geological core drilling equipment matrix with both scale and level, and gradually become the main force of geological drilling construction in Qinghai Province. Standing at a new starting point, how to achieve sustainable development has become a question that the Second Exploration Institute has been thinking about.

▲Drilling standardization construction

At the end of May 2022, Zhang Qinshan, the current director of the Second Exploration Institute, took office. After conducting a thorough investigation, he and the leadership team of the Second Exploration Institute reached an agreement that they should not only grasp the main color of drilling, but also use geological exploration to add highlights, so that the Second Exploration Institute can become a bridge between drilling and prospecting.

Professionals do professional things. Zhang Qinshan is mainly engaged in regional geological surveys, water system sediment measurements, mineral exploration, comprehensive research and other work. He started as a technician step by step, and successively served as technical team leader, technical person in charge, project person in charge, deputy branch dean, director of the chief engineering office, deputy chief engineer, branch dean, and deputy dean. He undertook 7 geological exploration projects of various types, presided over more than 100 projects, published 2 monographs, published 9 papers, and won 3 geological exploration achievement awards. He was awarded the honorary title of Western Light Visiting Scholar and Kunlun Talents in Qinghai Province. Over the years, around the Altun Lenghu area of ​​the Qinghai Qaidam mineralization belt, he has carried out ductile shear zone-type gold deposits, niobium-tantalum-rare earth deposits related to alkaline granites, pegmatite-type niobium-tantalum deposits, magma-melted copper-nickel sulfide deposits, and black rock system-type crystalline graphite deposits, and submitted the first gold deposit and the first niobium-tantalum-rare earth deposit in the area. Focusing on the Qimantag area of ​​the East Kunlun metallogenic belt in Qinghai, he has carried out hydrothermal jet sedimentary copper-zinc deposits and pegmatite-type rare minerals, and is expected to submit the first pegmatite-type deposit in the area. Focusing on the Xiarihamu area of ​​the East Kunlun metallogenic belt in Qinghai, on the one hand, he has re-recognized the mineralization model of magmatic melting type copper-nickel sulfide ore, made new progress in prospecting, and initially added 100,000 tons of copper-nickel resources; on the other hand, he has re-recognized the mineralization model of lead-zinc ore, and newly discovered hydrothermal vein-type lead-zinc deposits controlled by secondary structures in the northeast. Focusing on the Baron area of ​​the East Kunlun metallogenic belt in Qinghai, he has newly discovered porphyry-skarn-hydrothermal vein-type copper-lead-zinc-gold-silver mines, alkaline granite rare earth mines, porphyry copper-molybdenum mines, and magmatic platinum-palladium mines, and is expected to submit the first alkaline granite-type rare earth deposit in Qinghai Province. Focusing on the Dagangou area of ​​the East Kunlun metallogenic belt in Qinghai, he focused on the prospecting of black rock series vanadium deposits, discovered a nearly 50-kilometer vanadium-bearing black rock belt, and organized the submission of the first vanadium deposit in Qinghai Province. Focusing on the Tuotuohe area of ​​the Sanjiang metallogenic belt in Qinghai, he systematically summarized the characteristics of the northern porphyry-hydrothermal vein copper-lead-zinc metallogenic belt, the central MVT-type lead-zinc (silver) metallogenic belt, and the southern magmatic, porphyry-skarn-hydrothermal vein tungsten-tin-copper-lead-zinc-silver metallogenic belt, and discovered the large Chuduoqu lead-zinc mine.

Zhang Qinshan has accumulated rich experience in the field of geological exploration. After taking office as the dean, he combined the development needs of prospecting and drilling, systematically summarized the five major advantages and 13 "firsts" of the Second Exploration Institute, and based on this, he proposed the "plateau drilling" brand, and built a new pattern of drilling services based on the plateau, radiating to the west, and going to the whole country.

First, the advantage of the attributes of public institutions. The attributes of public institutions are the golden signboard of the development of institutions. Their pioneering, basic, public welfare and strategic roles guarantee the sustainable development of institutions. In the new era, the high-quality development of the drilling industry has new requirements. Low prices have become history. Finding a more cost-effective drilling construction team is the consensus of the country, enterprises and institutions in the drilling industry. The performance and reputation advantages of public institutions will be more prominent, and their market competitiveness will be further enhanced.

The second advantage is the advanced traditional core drilling equipment. The Second Institute has 26 sets of various drilling rigs, mainly full hydraulic power head drilling rigs, 21 support vehicles, and 65 sets of various auxiliary equipment such as inclinometers and CNC crimping machines, with a total value of 146 million yuan. The scale and advancement of its traditional geological core drilling equipment are among the best in the western region and even the whole country.

The third advantage is the high level of plateau drilling technology. The Second Research Institute has completed 1.1942 million meters of geological core drilling, 42,200 meters of tunnel exploration, and a geological exploration output value of 1.292 billion yuan. It has completed the largest amount of geological core drilling work in the plateau area; created a record of 540 meters/unit/month efficiency for large-caliber (HQ and above) core drilling in the plateau area; created a record of 1,000-meter drilling of small-caliber drilling with rope coring in Qinghai Province, created the highest record of 9,000 meters of work completed by a single machine in Qinghai Province, created a record of 990 meters of construction depth for tunnel drilling in Qinghai Province, constructed the first 60° inclined deep hole of more than 1,000 meters in Qinghai Province, and achieved the highest record of 3,310 meters of LF90 power head drilling rig efficiency in Qinghai Province and even in China.

Fourth, the advantage of rich drilling experience in plateau areas. In the 20 years since its establishment, the Second Institute of Drilling has mainly been engaged in drilling tasks with high labor intensity and high safety risks on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, completing an average of 56,800 meters of work per year, and has the most experience in dealing with the natural geographical environment of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau; it has provided key drilling technology support for mining areas such as Dachang, Yemaquan, Wulonggou, Xiarihamu, Duocai Ma, and Tanjianshan, and has accumulated the most complex stratum technology in plateau and cold areas; it pioneered the use of full hydraulic drilling rigs in Qinghai Province, breaking many drilling construction records in Qinghai Province and even in China, and has the ability to construct 2,000-meter deep holes.

The fifth advantage is the wide range of service areas. The Second Research Institute of Core Drilling has built the first core drilling research center in Qinghai Province, published 7 core journal papers, and obtained 3 invention patents; issued the first national plateau green exploration industry standard - "Plateau Green Exploration Geological Drilling Specifications"; participated in the most public welfare social services in Qinghai Province, provided key drilling services for the Chaidar mine accident, participated in the Quaternary salt lake verification, and tackled the Gonghe hot dry rock project, and its work has been recognized by many parties.

For the Second Exploration Institute, the construction of the "Highland Drilling" brand has further enhanced their cultural confidence and has become a booster for their sustainable development.

With the "diamond drill", submit a new answer

Drilling work in plateau areas has higher labor intensity, greater safety risks and higher ecological protection standards. With the "diamond drill" of "plateau drilling", the Second Exploration Institute can more easily face the complex geological environment and harsh natural geographical conditions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau.

In 2023, the Second Exploration Institute implemented and completed 36 geological core drilling projects, with a drilling workload of 111,200 meters and a budget of 101.2004 million yuan. The scientific research projects they undertook, such as single-hole heat extraction from hot dry rocks and key technologies and specifications for salt lake resource exploration drilling projects, have overcome the key technical difficulties of drilling in permafrost areas. "Our goal is to find more processes and technologies suitable for different strata on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, so that all drillers can be handy when constructing on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau," said Zhang Qinshan.

After taking over the Qinghai Core Drilling Engineering Technology Research Center, Zhang Qinshan began to carry out standardization construction, actively applied for China National Accreditation Service for Conformity Assessment (CNAS) certification, and cooperated deeply with scientific research institutions such as Beijing Exploration Engineering Institute, China University of Geosciences (Wuhan), and Qinghai University to combine green construction with plateau drilling depth to promote the advancement of drilling technology and take the lead in the country. "The Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is a hot spot for geological research. Deep prospecting is an important direction for the new round of strategic actions to break through mineral exploration. If the unit can take the initiative to strengthen drilling technology research, make early deployment and focus on some difficult points, I believe we can provide better services." Under his promotion, the Second Exploration Institute concentrated the excellent technical forces of the institute and started to deploy deep drilling, drilling in difficult and complex areas, large-diameter drilling, and hydrological drilling, extending the drilling technology service chain, further enhancing core competitiveness, and striving to let the flag of "plateau drilling" fly in the western sky.

In the future, the Second Exploration Institute will continue to adhere to the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, accurately grasp the new positioning of the new round of strategic actions for prospecting breakthroughs, and conscientiously implement the decisions and deployments of superiors. They will closely focus on the main line of traditional drilling, build four sectors of engineering construction, geological exploration, salt lake exploration, and engineering exploration, deepen the "143" geological exploration work ideas of the institute in three key tasks, including talent development, intensify scientific and technological research, and accelerate equipment renewal, fully promote the development plan of geological exploration business, deeply serve the construction of the "four places", ecological civilization construction and natural resource management, and make new drilling contributions to economic and social development.

It is reported that the Second Exploration Institute has already implemented the drilling tasks of more than 50,000 meters for high-quality mining companies such as Gansu Wanchuang and Qinghai Xitieshan in 2024, with a funding of more than 40 million yuan, which has laid a solid foundation for drilling. The Second Exploration Institute will continue to work hard to achieve the potential drilling tasks of 60,000 meters and 60 million yuan as soon as possible, and strive to have no less than 4 new expansion projects such as geological exploration, with an income of no less than 16 million yuan, so as to continuously deepen the new round of strategic actions for mineral exploration breakthroughs and submit new answers.