An innovative engineering feat has been achieved in drilling large shafts on Auckland’s largest wastewater system– the 14.7-kilometre Central Interceptor project.

This document provides a framework for using long-chain PHPA polymer in foundation piling. It draws from articles and studies from the US and experience across New Zealand and Australia.

Following on from Clay and Luke’s previous blogs, Omer will look at clay samples out of the ground, and how to design a system to combat clays while optimising your drilling operations.

Drilling in clay formations can be challenging. Tooling choice and methodology are important contributors to the successful drilling of clays. Equally important and our focus here is looking into some of the drilling fluid chemicals that can help with this formation type.

Critical trenchless installations require a fluid system that is optimised to the ground conditions that will be encountered. At Blick, customers send us geotechnical reports, samples of formations or even photos to allow us to understand their conditions. Using this information we will design a fluid system to maximise their success.

Bentonite is a very reactive clay that shrinks or swells markedly in response to the removal or addition of water.

Bentonite consists mainly of smectite minerals (swelling or expandable clay), commonly formed by the decomposition of volcanic ash or sometimes from other igneous or sedimentary rocks.

The food & beverage industry uses food-safe grease to reduce contamination, between food processing equipment and the product itself.

Our products are MPI, NSF and KOSHER approved, and all are authorised to be used in food processing plants worldwide.

PDC (polycrystalline diamond compact) bits and tricones have advanced over the years. The market is constantly changing and adapting - to new and improved materials and designs. Omer breaks down the pros and cons…

Thread grease is designed to lubricate, seal and prevent galling. It helps to provide protection against corrosion and metal-to-metal contact in drill rods. At its most basic, an appropriate thread grease makes it easier to do up and undo your rods, as well as maintaining them in the best state - to maximise the life you get out of them.

The Te Maunga Outfall (Landward Section) construction works was tendered by Tauranga City Council in 2020, and took place during 2021.

The project included installing 100m of DN1200mm OD HDPE pipe (high-density polyethylene) in an existing 1500mm concrete duct, under the Tauranga Eastern Link (TEL). The TEL is a four lane motorway that carries 21,000 vehicles a day, and has a rail line servicing Tauranga adjacent to it.

Polyethylene (PE) pipe is commonly used in utility installations throughout Australia and New Zealand. We’re talking about gas, water, power and communication services. The PE pipe is installed using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) and other trenchless technology methods, using towing heads and swivels.

Water level meters are fast becoming a must have piece of equipment, for any water bore project in Australia and New Zealand. Water level meters ensure efficiency when used in measuring the depth to water, in wells, boreholes and anywhere else water level depth measuring is desired.

We’re happy to announce that Blick is partnering with Transco Manufacturing - across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific Islands. Transco Manufacturing is a premium manufacturer of hard rock drilling solutions.

Drilling in highly reactive, sticky clay can be a real challenge. Your reamer may ball up, making it difficult to cut and clean the hole - resulting in a thick cuttings bed that sticks to the drill pipe.

At Blick we partner with suppliers who are skilled at solving problems. This allows our customers to be more productive and effective.

The Whitmore OilSafe® range of lubrication management solutions is a great example of this.

Blick and MI SWACO were recently contacted by a customer to provide high density brines, cleaning and perforating fluids, and cement spacers, for a series of plug and abandonment (P&A) operations.

Following the pilot phase; a reamer is attached to the drill rods, most commonly at the far end of the bore, and pulled back towards the rig following the pilot hole. The style of reamer is influenced by the formation type.

Horizontal Directional Drilling is a common and popular method for installing underground infrastructure. Like all civil engineering methodologies; a scientific approach will reduce risk and increase certainty for the contractor and asset owner.

Previously there were only a few options to get lower cost coring and geotech consumables in NZ. You could either purchase direct from sometimes unknown Asian manufacturers, or source within NZ from contractors that were potentially in competition with you.

New Zealand has some of the most varied and challenging geology in the world. This brings out creative and solution-oriented thinking in Kiwi drillers. Where we don’t see a product or solution that suits our needs; we adapt, pivot or challenge conventional thinking. This has made us resilient as a country, and is an integral part of how Blick operates.