Thompson, CT USA - Numa, a leading designer and manufacturer of down hole hammers and bits, will be promoting two new innovative drilling products at Intermat 2000 being held May 16-21 in Paris, France. On display in booth #5J56A will be Numa’s Impact Ring Bit System® and their DFS - Dual Fluid System.

The Impact Ring Bit System® is a technically advanced, efficient means of drilling both horizontal and vertical applications that require simultaneous drilling and casing. Penetration rates in granite have yielded speeds in excess of 8 inches/minutes (200 mm/min) while staying within -0.5% of accuracy. The system consists of a unique two-piece design incorporating a center and ring bit combination. The center bit is attached directly to the DTH hammer and is used to power the drilling while the ring bit is welded to the casing being installed. The hammer and center bit are inserted through the casing and the two bits work in unison to install the casing while drilling. Upon completion of the hole, the center bit and drill string can be pulled back out the hole leaving the casing installed. The ring bit is also fully recoverable in horizontal applications that utilize pit to pit drilling techniques. This provides the added benefit of lower equipment costs because the product can be used again and again on multiple projects.

Impact Ring Bit System® are available for many different styles of casing including steel, P.E., or concrete/clay pipes and are capable of drilling holes 9-1/4" to 48" (235 - 1,220 mm) in diameter. The system is perfectly suited for vertical and horizontal applications such as piles, pipelines, sewer / water rehabilitation, tie backs, tunneling under roads and buildings or any other casing installation project.

The Dual Fluid Drilling System (DFS) consists of a reverse circulation down hole hammer that uses fluid or slurry to clean the hole instead of air that is commonly used with down hole hammers. Instead of the drill cuttings being exhausted up the center collection tube as with traditional RC drilling, fluid is pumped down the center tube and out the bottom of the drill bit. The pressure of the fluid being pumped down the drill string cleans the bit face and forces all the cuttings up the annulus and outside the casing. This acts to seal off the hole and to prevent any blowouts while drilling. The air that is used to operate the hammer is sent down an air inlet and goes through the hammer to cycle the piston. The air is then exhausted back up through the space located between the hammer and the inside of the casing.

This new dual fluid method offers many benefits including the ability to drill perfectly straight holes, faster penetration rates in rock formations, no building damage resulting from vibration, installation of longer drill pipes than with drifters in a confined area, immediate full bearing capacity and immediate grouting is possible. The system has received rave reviews in the construction industry because it provides the ability to continuously drill holes in close proximity to each other which has never been possible with other drilling methods. With Numa’s Dual Fluid Drilling System, holes can be drilled side-by-side because there is virtually no risk of hole collapse and grouting can follow immediately behind to dramatically save time and money.

Please take the opportunity to stop by booth #5J56A to find out more about these exciting products as well as the entire range of Numa’s down hole hammers and bits. Numa is a major manufacturer of down hole hammers and bits for the international drilling industry. The company designs and builds down hole hammers and bits for drilling vertical and horizontal holes 3-1/2 to 48 inches (89 - 1219 mm) in diameter.