The Benefits of Bulk Emulsion

Explosives in Underground
Applications through String
Loading
SME 2009
Denver, Colorado

Matt Budin
Emulsion Explosives
Explosive Emulsions consist of oxidizer solution
droplets suspended in continuous fuel phase
Droplet size is orders of magnitude
smaller than AN prills (micron Vs mm)
Stabilized with emulsifiers
Sensitized by:
Gassing (underground application)
Solid sensitisers (Microballoons)
Blending with ANFO
The advantages of bulk emulsion explosive
over ANFO and packaged products include
Transport, handling and storage
Safety and security
Universal explosive
String charging
Variable density
Low gas emissions
Excellent resistance to water
Full coupling
Increased VOD
Improved work environment
Shorter charge times
Accurate Explosive consumption count
Detonator sensitive
Water resistance
Bulk Emulsions have excellent water resistance
properties, as a water-in-oil emulsion and as such,
all wet holes including those drilled below horizontal
can be charged successfully without dewatering.
Advantages are:
Lifters and knee holes can be charged with fully
coupled Bulk Emulsions
Blast holes will not have to be angled above horizontal
for dewatering allowing for holes to be dropped out and
better energy distribution, specifically in declines.
Increased reliability
Less Fumes

Emulsion formulation allows oxygen balance

closer to optimum than ANFO, hence lower NOx
and CO emissions, shortening re-entry time
underground
Re-entry Times
CO levels from 6.0m rounds in NSW
ANFO vs EMULSION (CO)

500
450
400 ANFO_1 CO-PPM
350 ANFO_2 CO-PPM
CO - PPM

300
ANFO_3 CO-PPM
250
EMUL_1 CO-PPM
200
150 EMUL_2 CO-PPM
100 EMUL_3 CO-PPM
50
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Time (Minutes)
Re-entry Times
NO levels from 6.0m rounds in NSW
ANFO vs EMULSION (NO)

80
70
ANFO_1 NO-PPM
60
ANFO_2 NO-PPM
NO - PPM

50
ANFO_3 NO-PPM
40
EMUL_1 NO-PPM
30
EMUL_2 NO-PPM
20
EMUL_3 NO-PPM
10
0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Time (Minutes)
Re-entry Times
NO2 levels from 6.0m rounds in NSW
ANFO vs EMULSION (NO2)

30

25 ANFO_1 NO2-PPM

20 ANFO_2 NO2-PPM
NO2 - PPM

ANFO_3 NO2-PPM
15
EMUL_1 NO2-PPM
10 EMUL_2 NO2-PPM

5 EMUL_3 NO2-PPM

0
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Time (Minutes)
Re-entry Times
Re-entry times for 4.0 m Development rounds in NSW
Comparsion ANFO and Emulsion Re-entry Time

70

60

50 Based on CO threshold
40

30

20 ANFO

10 Emulsion 2
Re-entry Time
0 (min)
Emulsion 1

775 1S N

Development Date and Location

Work Environment

A Norwegian medical study (Bakke 2001) Shows

a relationship between a prolonged exposure to
ANFO fumes/fines while charging and a
temporary 2% decrease in lung function. No
changes in lung function was detected in charge
crews using Development Emulsion and a
reference group
Velocity of detonation (VOD)
Bulk emulsion explosives detonate with a higher
VOD than ANFO under the same conditions
100%

Shock Energy
Shock Energy
Explosive Energy

Heave Energy
Heave Energy

0%
Increasing Velocity of Detonation
Critical Diameter
The Minimum diameter for which a given explosive
product will consistently detonate.
Critical diameter of underground Emulsion is < 20
mm allowing consistent detonation of a 0.35 kg/m
string charge
Coupling

The degree to which an explosive fills a borehole.

McKern et al (2001) found using plastic packaged 32 mm

diameter Emulsion cartridges and best practice tamping
techniques yielded a coupling ratio of only 60% of the hole
volume, resulting in a breakage radius of half of the blow-
loaded ANFO equivalent charge.

Bulk Emulsions will allow for a doubling of powder factor in

the lifters and knee holes, where the energy is really needed.
Tamping Experiment
Clear pipe (45mm diameter) was used as simulated
blasthole.
Various configurations of cartridge length and treatment used
with a number of different tamping methods.
Volumetric calculation of explosive coupling employed.

Clear Perspex Pipe

Direction of Tamping
Tamping Experiment
Minimal deformation of
cartridges indicates poor
level of coupling with
blast hole wall

Virtually intact
cartridges
Tamping Experiment - Results

A range of results were noted, but the main points

can be summarized as follows:
Worst Case Scenario
800mm unslit cartridges, 15oC temp, tamped with steady
pressure only to last cartridge using a capped tamping
stick
51% Coupling Factor
Best Case Scenario
200mm slit cartridges, 15oC temp, individually tamped
with steady pressure from a capped tamping stick
72.8% Coupling Factor
Tamping Experiment - Conclusion

It is unlikely that tunnelling charge up crews will ever

charge a 3-4m deep face with 200mm cartridges

The best case expected while using 800mm

cartridges is likely to be a coupling factor of 60%
(slitting, individual tamping, ~ 30oC temp)

It is worthwhile considering what effect this coupling

result might have on blast outcomes for exclusively
cartridge charged faces
Face Pattern Optimisation
Water resistivity, 100% coupling, higher shock energy etc, are pattern
improvement advantages of Emulsions that will allow a standard
ANFO pattern to be optimised, decreasing the number of holes in the
rounds.

Parallel drilling will allow for

better energy distribution
Damage zone

Hole Diameter 48 mm
Hole Length 3.0 m
Burden 0.8 m
Hole Spacing 0.6 m

Approx. Void dimensions:

Height 2.5 m
Depth 0.5 m
Length 0.5 m
Damage Zone Conventional Charging
Damage radii for string loaded perimeter and fully
loaded inner perimeter holes (unmatched)

Damage Perimeter Holes

Radii
Inner Perimeter Holes
String charging

75 % reduction
50 % reduction

100 %
Charging of Perimeter Holes
Charging of Perimeter Holes
Charging of Perimeter Holes
Advantages of String Loading
75 % reduction
50 % reduction
Product may be string loaded
Reduces peak pressure and rock
overbreak through string charging 100 %

Variable density
Reduces energy density in hole
String loading according to blasting need
Efficiency
shorter charge time (up to 50% less)
Charging documentation
generated by system
QA&QC records may be retained
Cost
Lower overall cost per round of
explosives
Results on perimeter test at SL, Sweden
Perimeter Charging
Perimeter holes are charged with a patented
string loading system.

Advantages are:
Allows complete flexibility of charge from 25% to 100%
coupling in all the holes in the blast
Decreased handling and charge time with string charging
Reduced crack zone/damage zone
No risk of pull outs or blow out as experienced with
packaged products.
Considerably cheaper than conventional perimeter products
Damage zone String Loaded Matched
Damage radii for string loaded perimeter and
inner perimeter holes (matched)
Damage Radii

Perimeter Holes

Inner Perimeter Holes

Damage Perimeter Holes
Radii
Inner Perimeter Holes

Unmatched damage control

Long rounds/Advance rates
Bulk Emulsion technology in development has made long
rounds possible, currently allowing:
Full advance in 5.8 m rounds at a mine in North-Eastern
Goldfields, WA.
From 93-95% advance to 100% advance
Full advance in 6 m rounds at a mine in NSW.

Long rounds, quicker charging rates, shorter scaling and re-

entry times have made rapid development possible.

Both mines have managed almost 300 meters of

development per month on a single decline.
Drilling Accuracy
 Development Mining
Emulsion Delivery
Systems

DynoMiner - Advance
IT cage platform
Development charging
Air powered - pneumatically controlled
Simple operation

DynoMiner - Profile
Carrier platform (Normet 1610)
Development charging
Precision electronic control
Electric over hydraulic
 The Newest Canadian Version

Mini SSE unit

Carrier platform (REG Utility)
Development charging (1500kg)
Precision electronic control
Hydraulically driven
Facts

700 to 1500 kg capacity

Up to 70 kg/min. pumping capacity
Hose retraction unit
Automated surveillance of production process
Remote loading control
Computerized registration of loading
parameters and explosives consumption
Other advantages
Damage Radii

Accurate metered Hole Loading

Perimeter Holes
PLC controlled
Explosive Consumption count accuracy Inner Perimeter Holes

Computerized logging
Shorter charge times
One product
20 30% time saving
Safer delivery system
Lower delivery pressures even at high loading rates
Simpler and safer transport, storage and handling
Classified as an oxidizing agent (5.1)
Credits

Stuart Parsons - Australia

Stuart.parsons@ap.dynonobel.com

Daniel Roy - Canada

Daniel.Roy@am.dynonobel.com