Application:	Catenary Foundation Installations	Click photo for larger image (56K).
Hammer:	Champion 180 & Challenger 125
Hole Size:	24 inch (610 mm) & 22 inch (559 mm)
Depth:	7 feet (2 m)
Formation:	Hard Limestone and Overburden
Rig Type:	Mast Mounted on Backhoe Arm Manufactured by Stenuick France

FULL PROJECT SUMMARY

Avignon, France - Belgian drilling company, BEMCO S.A. is in the midst of completing the installation of catenary foundations to provide new overhead electric power to the world-famous TGV trains that run throughout Europe. This is the second such project on TGV lines completed by BEMCO S.A. that has utilized Numa down hole hammers and bits to efficiently drill the required holes.

Click photo for larger image (85K).

This project is on the Marseille Line of TGV and requires the installation of foundation holes in hard limestone and overburden ground formations. To conquer these tough conditions, BEMCO S.A. is utilizing Numa’s Champion 180 and Challenger 125 down hole hammers to drill 24 inch (610 mm) and 22 inch (559 mm) holes to a depth of 7 feet (2 m). They selected the Numa hammers based upon their past experience that found them to offer fast penetration rates and top performance. They were so impressed with the performance of Numa’s Challenger 125 on the first part of the drilling project that they added the Champion 180 to provide for additional hole size flexibility and more power.

For many years, Numa has provided long lasting, performance-driven hammers and bits to the international drilling industry that are essential for conquering any drilling challenge from water wells to massive construction projects. It is this commitment that has fostered the development of many new products to meet drillers’ needs which in turn has required a heavy investment in engineering and manufacturing facilities. Numa now holds 11 patents, has several patents pending and produces over 50 different hammer models in one of the most technologically advanced manufacturing facilities in the industry. Numa has designed and built the most comprehensive large hammer product line available in the industry today. Numa now boasts six (6) large hammer designs for drilling 18 inch (457 mm) or larger diameter holes in conventional or reverse circulation applications.

Click photo for larger image (59K).

All drilling for the electrification project is conducted by a drill mast and rotary unit manufactured by Stenuick France that is mounted on a backhoe arm. This backhoe drill rig enables easy access to confined and difficult to reach drill sites along the tracks. It also eliminates the need for a train-mounted rig that could congest busy rail lines and slow rail traffic. Once at a drill location, the backhoe arm positions the Numa hammer over the designated hole location and then drills the required 7 foot (2 m) depth. Two 750 x 150 air compressors were used to power the Challenger 125 for the 22 inch (559 mm) holes while two 900 x 150 compressors were used for the Champion 180.

As with all Numa DTH hammers, the Champion 180 and Challenger 125 have heavier pistons than most traditional hammers available in the market today. This advantage provides more impact power resulting in faster penetration rates and longer life. During the second stage of the TGV electrification project, the Champion 180 and Challenger 125 hammers have been running continuously without the incidence of downtime further reinforcing their stellar reputation. This superior hammer performance has allowed BEMCO to continue to achieve tremendous drilling success just as they did on the first portion of the project.