Core Orientation Technology Based on Drilling Trajectory Projection and Its Application in In Situ Stress Measurement of the Deepest Shaft in China

Abstract

Deep borehole cores are an important material basis for understanding deep stress conditions and rockburst risk; however, the complex environment of deep boreholes poses many challenges to traditional core orientation techniques, thus limiting the application of cores in fields such as in situ stress measurement. A technical method of restoring the original spatial attitude of nonoriented geological cores on the ground was proposed based on the inherent “trajectory projection consistency” relationship between the borehole and the corresponding core. A prototype machine of core ground reorientation was developed. Using this method and machine, ground reorientation was performed on cores drilled from the deepest shaft in China. Subsequently, the reoriented core acoustic emission (AE) method was conducted to identify the in situ stress within the project area. Meanwhile, measurement accuracy was verified by the stress relief method. The results show that the in situ stress distributions, including the azimuth and the trends in principal stresses by the two methods, are in good agreement and indicate that the historical maximum principal stress in the case of the mine has little abrupt variability with that of the present day. The research results can be used as the design basis for the safe construction of the deepest shaft.