Rotary mud drilling is used for environmental, geotechnical, mineral exploration and waterwell drilling. This unit is appropriate for those working in a driller roles, at worksites within:
Civil construction
Coal mining
Drilling
Extractive industries
Metalliferous mining
This unit covers the conduct of mud rotary drilling in resources and infrastructure industries. It includes planning and preparing for conducting of mud rotary drilling; operating mud rotary drills and fluid systems; maintaining equipment; and responding to problems.
You may want to include more information here about the target group and the purpose of the assessments (eg formative, summative, recognition)
Prerequisites
Not applicable.
Co-Requisites
Not applicable.
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills.
Evidence Required
List the assessment methods to be used and the context and resources required for assessment. Copy and paste the relevant sections from the evidence guide below and then re-write these in plain English.
The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.
Overview of assessment
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit
The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:
knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for the conducting of mud rotary drilling
implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of mud rotary drilling tasks
working with others to undertake and complete mud rotary drilling tasks that meet all of the required outcomes
consistent timely completion of the conducting of mud rotary drilling that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes
Context of and specific resources for assessment
This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.
The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.
Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.
Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.
Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in the work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.
Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.
Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.
Method of assessment
This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:
written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge
observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes
consistently achieving the required outcomes
first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:
working with others to undertake and complete mud rotary drilling tasks
Guidance information for assessment
Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.
Submission Requirements
List each assessment task's title, type (eg project, observation/demonstration, essay, assingnment, checklist) and due date here
Assessment task 1: [title] Due date:
(add new lines for each of the assessment tasks)
Assessment Tasks
Copy and paste from the following data to produce each assessment task. Write these in plain English and spell out how, when and where the task is to be carried out, under what conditions, and what resources are needed. Include guidelines about how well the candidate has to perform a task for it to be judged satisfactory.
Required skills
Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit, particularly for the application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be applied. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to conduct mud rotary drilling:
apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures for conducting of mud rotary drilling
perform routine checks and basic maintenance of mud and water delivery pumps
apply mechanical hand skills
apply mud mixing and conditioning skills
apply plant operational skills
respond to changes in ground conditions
apply sample identification and sampling skills
apply hazardous substances handling requirements and procedures
apply people skills for dealing with clients, co-workers and management
apply recording and reporting skills
interpret materials safety data sheets (MSDS)
apply heavy vehicle driving skills in all conditions
Required knowledge
Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly its application in a variety of circumstances in which the unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to conduct mud rotary drilling:
rotary drilling safety requirements and procedures
personal protection requirements
First Aid requirements and procedures
good housekeeping requirements and procedures
types of mud and water delivery pumps and their applications
methods for the calculation of lag time for discrete formation samples
basic geology
safe work procedures for pump unit repairs, maintenance and servicing
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.
Relevant compliance documentation
may include:
legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures
manufacturer's guidelines and specifications
Australian standards
code of practice
Employment and workplace relations legislation
Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation
Work instructions may come from:
briefings, handovers, plans and work orders and may be written or verbal, formal or informal and may include:
nature and scope of tasks
specifications
quality of finished works
achievement targets
operational conditions
obtaining of permits required
site layout
out of bounds areas
worksite inspection requirements
lighting conditions
plant or equipment defects
hazards and potential hazards
coordination requirements or issues
contamination control requirements
environmental control requirements
barricade and signage requirements
Hazards may include:
release of gases from formation or samples obtained
spread of contaminants as a result of drilling or cleaning processes
change in the chemistry of contaminants as a result of drilling and recovery of the samples
working in proximity to drilling rig
use of high pressure air for drilling operations
entanglement in rotating pipes
string makeup and breakout hazards
drilling equipment and down-hole tools will depend on the air drilling method being used
Coordination requirements may include
drill team members
other equipment operators
maintenance personnel
supervisors
worksite personnel
Chemical includes:
fluid loss control agents
dispersants
surfactants
weighing agents (barium sulphate or salts)
pH control agents
gypsum based setting agents
other cement grout additives for quick setting
agents for treating cement contamination
flocculation products
potassium chloride
lost circulation materials (granular polymers, cottonseed hulls, mica flakes, shredded organic fibre, micro-cells and short polysynthetic rope fibres)
A&B foam (for sealing collars)
chlorination products
Drill fluids may include:
water
viscosifying polymer muds with or without use of sodium bentonite
blended polymer muds
API bentonite muds
high yielding bentonites muds
organic polymer muds
polyanionic cellulosic polymer muds
modified natural polymer muds
liquid anionic polymer muds
Equipment includes:
rig, water trucks, service trucks, air compressor
hand tools such as breakout tongs and stillsons
collars
stabilisers
drill pipe
casing
drill bits such as drag, tricone, tungsten carbide, hammers, strata, diamond, reamers
Operational problems may include:
circulation loss zones
machine breakdowns
equipment failure
drill bit failure/breakage
deterioration in the mud condition
Copy and paste from the following performance criteria to create an observation checklist for each task. When you have finished writing your assessment tool every one of these must have been addressed, preferably several times in a variety of contexts. To ensure this occurs download the assessment matrix for the unit; enter each assessment task as a column header and place check marks against each performance criteria that task addresses.
Observation Checklist
Tasks to be observed according to workplace/college/TAFE policy and procedures, relevant legislation and Codes of Practice
Yes
No
Comments/feedback
Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to the work activity
Obtain, confirm and apply work instructions for the allocated task
Identify, manage and report all potential hazards
Resolve coordination requirements with others at the site prior to commencing and during work activities
Make up appropriate drill string.
Use bits, rods and casings
Seal hole collar
Feed and rotate drill at right rate for the formation
Interpret flow from drill to determine conditions at bit
Adjust flow rates to give desired results
Check drill bits and string components for wear, gauge, dents and damaged threads
Use casing, grout screens to correct zones or levels as required
Determine required up hole velocity and the related fluid properties and feed rate
Recognise different types of strata
Design and adjust mud system to suit geological conditions and changes to conditions which might be expected during the drilling
Ensure there is an adequate supply of water to the site for mud requirements and circulation loss zones
Make up appropriate formulation using different types of mud and chemicals
Construct mud pits and systems to suit hole dimensions and site storage requirements
Monitor, check and adjust flow rate and properties
Keep fluid clean and chlorinate/sanitise lost circulation if required
Check and adjust fluid reticulation systems
Dispose of drill fluids correctly
Monitor wear and recognise symptoms of malfunction
Check all equipment and hoses
Monitor all seals and connections
Replace, adjust and report items needing attention.
Service gear and adjust glands where required
Service rig regularly following service sheets for daily, weekly and monthly lubrication and checking
Check oil drops for signs of repairs needed
Maintain inspection and/or service records
Identify possible operational problems in equipment, process or mud
Determine problems needing action
Determine possible fault causes
Rectify problem using appropriate solution(s) within area of responsibility
Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred
Report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person
Forms
Assessment Cover Sheet
RIINHB311A - Conduct mud rotary drilling
Assessment task 1: [title]
Student name:
Student ID:
I declare that the assessment tasks submitted for this unit are my own work.
Student signature:
Result: Competent Not yet competent
Feedback to student
Assessor name:
Signature:
Date:
Assessment Record Sheet
RIINHB311A - Conduct mud rotary drilling
Student name:
Student ID:
Assessment task 1: [title] Result: Competent Not yet competent
(add lines for each task)
Feedback to student:
Overall assessment result: Competent Not yet competent