What Is Underwater Blasting and Drilling?

In certain scenarios, underwater dredging is not enough to remove debris and create a safe passageway for traffic. In this case, underwater drilling and blasting must be employed. This article will give a brief overview of removing materials with underwater boring and explosives.

The Process

First, rocks need to be bored into for the placement of explosives. This is where underwater drilling comes into play. The core drilling Houston is performed from floating or spudded platforms. Sometimes, if there is softer outer material, an initial overburden drilling is required. This process drills a tube into the harder rock, ensuring a solid attachment between the drilling rig and seabed. The actual drilling is performed inside the line, and explosives can also be deployed through the tube.

Dangers and Preparations

The movement of water makes underwater boring and blasting very difficult. On top of that, the explosives need to be water-resistant, and shockwaves should be accounted for. To properly account for the safety of an operation, extensive surveys of the environment must be performed. Professionals must determine the type of rock they are removing and how thick the bedrock is. This operation must also consider nearby harbors or structures built on the shoreline to ensure the blasting process does not damage them.

Shock waves can cause damage to flora and fauna in the water and pose a danger to nearby people. Water can transfer shockwaves from explosions better than air, so great care must be taken when using explosives underwater. Some of its impacts can be negated by placing the explosives underground, so the boring aspect is necessary.

Underwater material removal is valuable to many industries that rely on trade and recreation. It can maintain the viability of certain waterways and create new channels for seafarers to travel through. It is a dangerous operation that requires great skill and careful planning.