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Elements and Performance Criteria

1. Plan and prepare to conduct sonic drilling
   • Obtain, interpret and confirm work requirements
   • Access, interpret and apply documentation required to conduct sonic drilling operations and confirm work activity is compliant
   • Identify and minimise environmental issues and potential hazards, and assess and address risks within scope of own role and according to workplace procedures
   • Select and wear personal protective equipment required for work activity
   • Communicate with other personnel at site according to work requirements and confirm briefings and handover details are communicated and received
   • Determine drilling and casing diameters required, as determined by sampling requirements, instrumentation install and client specification
   • Access, interpret and apply documentation required to determine casing diameter to match core barrel diameter
   • Carry out prestart and start-up procedures according to manufacturer specifications and site requirements
2. Drilling with sonic core barrel
   • Make up core barrel with bit, ensure bit outside diameter is matched to pass through casing shoe inside diameter
   • Inspect bit, core barrel, adapters and threads for damage and wear
   • Load core barrel into drill string according to manufacturer specifications
   • Commence sonic drilling, adjusting feed, rotation and oscillation to suit ground formation
   • Disengage oscillation at end of run before lifting core barrel off bottom of hole
   • Sit core barrel on bottom of hole and detach drill head
3. Run casing over core barrel
   • Fit casing adapter/deuce to drill head – reverse rotation
   • Add casing to drill head
   • Make up casing length with casing shoe, check for damage and/or wear of casing, shoe, adapters and threads
   • Ream casing over drill string, adjusting feed, rotation and oscillation to suit formation
   • Mix and use drill fluids as required
   • Break casing joint, leave casing on bottom of hole and remove casing adapter from drill head
   • Make up drill string to rotation head
   • Trip rods and core barrel out of hole
   • Prepare work area to retrieve core
   • Vibe core from core barrel into polybag or tray
   • Trip core barrel and rods back down hole
4. Trip casing out of completed hole
   • Use vibe to extract casing from ground
   • Trip casing out of hole
5. Conduct inspections of sonic head, spindle, fixtures and fixings, drill rods and casing
   • Conduct regular inspections of sonic head, including bolts and mounting points for fatigue caused by sonic vibrations
   • Conduct regular inspections of spindle for fatigue caused by sonic vibrations
   • Inspect drill rods, core barrels, bits, casing, casing shoes and casing adapters for fatigue caused by sonic vibration
   • Use torque wrench to check tension of spindle/swivel bolts

Performance Evidence

The candidate must demonstrate the ability to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including evidence of the ability to:

conduct sonic drilling on at least two occasions, including:

sonic drilling through, and casing off, unconsolidated formation

retrieving and bagging sample from sonic core barrel

inspecting drill head and associated equipment for signs of fatigue.

During the above, the candidate must:

locate and apply legislation, documentation, policies and procedures required to conduct sonic drilling

implement the requirements, procedures and techniques for conducting sonic drilling, including:

keeping work area clean

selecting and wearing required protective clothing and equipment

conducting pre-operational checks

reporting immediately any malfunction or equipment failure

inspection of sonic head assembly for damage caused by sonic vibration

work with others to assist sonic drilling that meets required outcomes, including:

organising work activities to meet all task requirements

communicating with others to receive and clarify work instructions.

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Knowledge Evidence

The candidate must be able to demonstrate knowledge to complete the tasks outlined in the elements, performance criteria and foundation skills of this unit, including knowledge of:

key policies, procedures and established requirements for conducting sonic drilling, including those for:

work health and safety

emergencies

identifying hazards relevant to sonic drilling

environmental considerations

housekeeping

compatibility of different core barrel and bit sizes to differing casing sizes

bit selection criteria for drilling in different ground conditions

the importance of checking bolt torques to prevent premature failure due to sonic vibration.

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