Patent Publication Number: US-2022235610-A1

Title: Industrial drilling hole support tube

Description:
PRIORITY 
     The present application claims the benefit of domestic priority based on United States Provisional Patent Application 63/137,069 filed on Jan. 13, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     The industrial drilling industry, which includes exploration drilling, production drilling, horizontal drilling, uphole drilling, and the like, has used heavy duty steel rods for decades. It is time for a paradigm shift that will lead to new innovations in the industry. 
     The heavy duty steel rods and non-biodegradable polymer tubes are used across the industry as drill rods and as hole liners or supports. The steel and polymer units are expensive. In addition to material expenses, the steel rods and polymer tubes and their use add handling and logistical expenses to a drilling project. Furthermore, the use of the steel rods and polymer tubes add significant capital cost in the form of the need for powerful drill rigs that have enough energy for pullback. Pullback is the retraction of an entire drill string of steel drill rods from a hole at the end of the drilling cycle. 
     There are also costs incurred from the time, power, and energy involved in breakout efforts which increase over time from the repeated handling and reuse of these drill rods time and again, with accumulative wear increasing over the operational life of the drill rods, normally until catastrophic failure renders the part unusable. On top of these costs are the limitations created by the components and materials themselves which stifle all but marginal gains in innovation and efficiency in both material extraction and in data extraction. 
     There is therefore a need for improved hole support tubes in the geological drilling industry. There is a further need for an improved hole support tube that can be used as a hole liner. There is a further need for a hole support tube that can be used as a hole support for a blasthole. There is a further need for a hole support tube that can be used as a hole support for a drilling process. There is further a need for hole liners that are disposable, single-use, biodegradable, and/or less expensive than steel drill rods and polymer tubes. There is a further need for a hole support tube that can be integrated with technology. There is a further need for an improved manufacturing process for a hole support tube. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention satisfies these needs. In one aspect of the invention, improved hole liners rods for the industrial drilling industry are provided. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners are provided that are disposable, single-use, biodegradable, and/or less expensive than steel drill rods. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a biodegradable material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a cardboard. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that are comprise a water-proof treated cardboard. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a fibrous material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a cellulose material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, hole liners for the industrial drilling industry are provided that comprise a polymer cellulose composite material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube a plurality of hole support tubes can be connected to one another longitudinally. 
     In another aspect of the invention, one or more hole support tubes are used in a blasting system to support a hole during a blasting operation. 
     In another aspect of the invention, the thickness of the wall of a hole support tube can be adjusted to alter its physical and structural properties and/or to adjust the properties of the procedure in which the hole support tube  100  is being used. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube is an electronic hole support tube. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube is equipped with or is adapted to be equipped with an electronic component, such as a wire, cable, fiber optics, circuitry, detector, or emitter. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a detector that detects a condition. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a camera capable of detecting a video image of the hole. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature in the hole and/or of the surrounding earth. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises an acoustic or vibration detector. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises an electronic connector. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a wire or fiber optic cable. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a wire or fiber optic cable in the form of a spiral wire around the electronic hole support tube. 
     In another aspect of the invention, an electronic hole support tube comprises a wire or fiber optic cable in the form of a spiral wire around the electronic hole support tube. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a drilling system makes use of one or more hole support tubes mentioned above. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a drilling system makes use of one or more hole support tubes mentioned above, the drilling system comprising a drill that can pass through the interior of a hole support tube, the drill including a motor and a drill bit, the drill bit having a retractable head so that its diameter can reduced so it can be sized to fit within the interior of the hole support tube. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a manufacturing process produces versions of a hole support tube. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material comprising cardboard. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body; and an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body; and an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall, wherein the electronic cable comprises a fiber optic cable. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a hole support tube for use in an industrial drilling operation comprises an elongated body sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body; and an electronic component comprising an electronic cable, wherein the electronic cable is spirally wound around or within the wall, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of performing an industrial drilling operation comprises drilling a geological hole; inserting a hole support tube into the geological hole, the hole support tube comprising an elongated body, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material; performing a drilling operation; and not removing the hole support tube from the geological hole to biodegrade. 
     In another aspect of the invention, a method of performing an industrial drilling operation comprises drilling a geological hole; inserting a hole support tube into the geological hole, the hole support tube comprising an elongated body, the body having a wall extending from a first end of the body to a second end of the body, the wall having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a hollow interior of the body, wherein the wall is made of a biodegradable material; performing a drilling operation; and not removing the hole support tube from the geological hole to biodegrade, wherein the drilling operation comprises one or more of further drilling, filling the hole support tube with explosive, blasting the geological hole with explosive, and electronically monitoring or detecting a condition in the geological hole. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       These features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims, and accompanying drawings which illustrate exemplary features of the invention. However, it is to be understood that each of the features can be used in the invention in general, not merely in the context of the particular drawings, and the invention includes any combination of these features, where: 
         FIG. 1A  is a schematic perspective view of a hole support tube according to a version of the present invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a schematic side view of a hole support tube according to a version of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic sectional side view of a drilling process utilizing a plurality of hole support tubes; 
         FIG. 3A  is a schematic side view of a drill and blasting system of the invention; 
         FIG. 3B  is a schematic side view of another version of a drill and blasting system of the invention; 
         FIG. 4A  is a schematic perspective view of a hole support tube according to another version of the invention; 
         FIG. 4B  is a schematic perspective view of a hole support tube according to another version of the invention; 
         FIG. 5A  is a schematic sectional side view of a drilling system according to a version of the invention; 
         FIG. 5B  is a schematic sectional side view of a drilling system according to another version of the invention; 
         FIG. 5C  is a side and bottom view of a drill bit for use with the drilling system; 
         FIG. 5D  is a side and bottom view of another drill bit for use with the drilling system; 
         FIG. 5E  is a side and bottom view of another drill bit for use with the drilling system; 
         FIG. 6A  is a schematic side view of a drill for use with the drilling system; 
         FIG. 6B  is a schematic side view of the drill of  FIG. 6A  self-propelling through the interior of a hole; 
         FIG. 6C  is a schematic side view of the drill of  FIG. 6A  taking a core sample; 
         FIG. 6D  is a schematic side view of the drill of  FIG. 6A  and the sample self-extracting from the hole; 
         FIG. 7A  is a schematic side view of a hammer action drill for use with the drilling system; 
         FIG. 7B  is a schematic side view of a down-the-hole hammer action drill for use with the drilling system; 
         FIG. 7C  is a schematic side view of a rotary drill for use with the drilling system; and 
         FIG. 8  illustrates techniques for in-situ deployment of a hole support tube. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION 
     The present invention relates to hole support tubes. In particular, the invention relates to hole support tubes that are biodegradable, have embedded technology, and/or are otherwise improved hole support tubes. Although the hole support tubes are illustrated and described in the context of being useful for the geological drilling industry, the present invention can be useful in other instances. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples and embodiments described herein. 
       FIG. 1A  shows a hole support tube  100  in accordance with one version of the present invention. The hole support tube  100  has a body  105  having an elongated shape that is sized, shaped, and adapted to fit within a geological hole. The body  105  of the hole support tube  100  in the version of  FIG. 1A  is at least partially cylindrical in that it has a transverse cross-section having a circular shape. Alternatively, the transverse cross-sectional shape can be round, curved, oval, ovoid, ovate, egg-shaped, square, rectangular, polygonal, or a combination of any of these shapes. The hole support tube  105  has a wall  107  having an outer surface  110  and an inner surface  115 . The body  105  and/or the inner surface  115  defines a hollow interior  120 . The hole support tube  100  extends from a first end  125 , sometimes referred to as a toe, to a second end  130 , sometimes referred to as a collar. In one version, the hole support tube  100  is designed to be particularly useful in the geological drilling industry, which includes for example exploration drilling, production drilling, horizontal drilling, uphole drilling, tunneling, microtunneling, and/or the like. By hole support tube it is meant any sleeve type tube or hole liner used in the drilling industry to support holes from collapsing and/or for providing passage to equipment. 
     In accordance with one version of the invention, the hole support tube  100  can be designed to be single-use. In this version, the hole support tube  100  is at least partially made of a material that is sufficiently inexpensive, disposable, and/or biodegradable to allow the hole support tube  100  to be used a single time. In one version, the hole support tube  100  comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a non-metal material. In another version, the hole support tube  100  comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a biodegradable material. By biodegradable it is meant a material that can be left in the ground and will degrade within a period of time, such as one week, one month, one year, ten years, and one hundred years. In another version, the hole support tube  100  comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a material that is paper-based. In another version, the hole support tube  100  comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of a material that is cellulose-based, such as material obtained from one or more of wood, cotton, and hemp. In another version, the hole support tube  100  comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of cardboard. In another version, the hole support tube  100  comprises, comprises predominantly, or consists essentially of cardboard water-proofed with a water-proofing material, such as one or more of a wax, polyethylene, other plastic, corn starch based product, and adhesive foil. In one version, the hole support tube  100  can be structurally rigid where is can support itself without significant deformation, or may be flexible. 
     In another version, the hole support tube  100  can comprise, comprise predominantly, or consist essentially of a non-biodegradable, light-weight material. For example, in this version, the material can comprise a plastic or polymeric material. In another version, the material can be a polymeric/cellulose composite material. The polymeric hole support tube  100  can be shaped and structured as discussed above. Alternatively, the polymeric hole support tube  100  can be in the form of a flexible bag or pouch which can be deployed by inversion which allows for self placement of the material/product. 
     In one version, the hole support tube  100  according to this version of the invention is useable as a biodegradable hole liner. In accordance with this version, the hole support tube  100  is sized and configured to be used as a liner for a hole that has been drilled during geological drilling, such as for exploration, production, and/or tunneling. The biodegradable hole liner  100  has a length from the first end  125  to the second end  130  of from about 1 m to about 20 m, more preferably from about 2 m to about 10 m, and most preferably about 3 m. The cylindrical body  105  has an outer diameter or equivalent dimension from about 90 mm to about 5 m, more preferably from about 95 mm to about 3.5 m, and most preferably about 95 mm to about 300 mm, and an inner diameter from about 25 mm to about 5 m, more preferably from about 35 mm to about 500 mm, and most preferably about 40 mm to about 250 mm. The thickness of the wall  107  of the cylindrical body  105  is from about 1 mm to about 400 mm, more preferably from about 1.5 mm to about 150 mm, and most preferably from about 2 mm to about 50 mm. By equivalent dimension herein and throughout it is meant that if the circular cross-section or shape were to be replaced with a non-circular cross-section or shape, the equivalent dimension would be the dimension of the non-circular cross-section or shape that results in an area calculation that is generally the same as the area of the circular cross-section or shape. By way of hypothetical example, a 1 mm diameter cross-section or circular shape would have an area of about 0.8 mm 2  and a square shaped cross-section or shape would have an equivalent cross-sectional area also of about 0.8 mm 2  which would mean the length of the sides of the square is about 0.9 mm. 
     In one version, a plurality of hole support tubes  100  can be connected to one another longitudinally. As can be seen in  FIG. 1B , a connection mechanism  140  can be provided on the ends  125 ,  130  of the hole support tube  100 . In the version shown in  FIG. 1B , the connection mechanism  140  comprises a threaded portion  145  on the first end  125  that is connectable to a corresponding threaded portion within the second end  130 . Alternatively, the connection mechanism can comprise a connection mechanism other than threads, such as bayonet connectors or push connections with flared ends. 
     A system  200  for employing multiple hole support tubes  100 , such as a first hole support tube  205  and a second hole support tube  210 , in a drilling operation is shown in  FIG. 2 . A rigid drill bit  215  having a cutting forward end  220  is attached to a drill rig  225  located at the ground level  230 . The drill rig  225  drives the drill bit  215  into the ground to drill a hole in conventional manner. When the hole is drilled to a predetermined depth  235  which is equal to or greater than the length of a hole support tube  100 , such as 3 meters, the first hole support tube  205  is inserted into the hole. Drilling continues and when the hole is drilled to a second predetermined depth  240  which is equal to or greater than two times the length of the hole support tube  100 , such as 6 meters, the second hole support tube  210  is connected to the hole support tube  100  already in the hole and the two hole support tube  100  are pushed into the hole to line the entire hole from the ground level  220  to the depth  230 . This process continues until the hole is drilled to the desired depth, which can be as much as two or more kilometers. The drill bit  205  can be extracted or left in the hole or an autonomous or remotely operated drill can be used as will be described hereinbelow. The hole support tubes  100  in this version together serve as a hole liner that prevents the hole from collapsing. In addition, the hole support tubes  100  can allow for the passage of one or more core samples therethrough and can be able to continuously sample or extract material, as with a tunnel boring machine or a micro tunneling machine. The core can be brought to the surface inside a shuttle that passes through the interior  120  on a wince cable. In this illustrated version, the first hole support tube  205  and the second hole support tube  205  are the same length. However, alternatively, the hole support tubes can be different lengths with the predetermined depths  235 ,  240  corresponding to the lengths accordingly. 
     In one version, the hole support tubes  100  used in  FIG. 2  are single-use tubes and are preferably biodegradable. The use of the single-use hole support tube  100  in this manner has several advantages over conventional practices where thick, rigid, heavy duty steel hole liners are used to line the hole. For example, steel hole liners must be extracted from the hole after the hole is used. Since the steel rods are not biodegradable, it would be potentially hazardous and irresponsible to leave them in the ground. Furthermore, the steel rods are expensive and are designed to be used multiple times, thus making it economically unfeasible to leave them in the ground. However, extracting the steel drill rods liners is a rigorous and difficult process that requires an expensive and powerful drill rig that can pull back the entire string of steel drill rods. In contrast, by replacing the steel drill rods with the hole support tube  100  of the present invention and making them out of a biodegradable material, the extraction process can be eliminated. In addition, since the single-use hole support tube  100  are intended to be used a single time, the process is safer than when multi-use steel rods are used. The repeated handling and reuse of the steel rods over time leads to an accumulation of wear on the rods. This wear can continue until a catastrophic failure occurs and renders the rod unusable. 
     Alternatively or additionally, one or more hole support tubes  100  can be used in a blasting system  300  to support a hole during a blasting operation, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . In the blasting process shown in  FIG. 3A , a drill rig is used to drill one or more drill holes  305 . Depending on the composition of the ground and the intentions of the blast, a plurality of holes  305  may be provided in a set pattern. The one or more holes  305  are a predetermined depth which is at least the approximately equal to or greater than the length of the hole support tubes  100  that will be inserted into the holes  305 . For example, in one version, the holes  305  and/or the hole support tubes  100  may be from about 3 to about 15 meters. After the holes  305  are drilled, a hole support tube  100  is inserted into each hole and a filler  310  passes over an open top  315  of a hole support tube  100  which is positioned near ground level  230 . The hole support tube  100  may also have preassembled components fitted, such as booters or a detonation chord to facilitate effective blasting, which are secured and protected within the structure of the hole support tube  100 . The filler  310  contains explosive material  320 , such as anfo or emulsion mixtures. and the filler  310  deposits the explosive material  320  into the hole support tubes  100  in the holes  305 . Thereafter, the explosive material  320  can be ignited to blast the ground surrounding the holes  305 . In an alternative operation, as shown in  FIG. 3B , the hole support tubes  100  can be pre-filled with explosive material  320  before they are inserted into the holes  305  and/or the preassembled components such as boosters or a detonation chord. In this version, the hole support tube  100  may have a closed bottom  325 . The closed bottom  325  can optionally also be provided in the  FIG. 3A  version. The hole support tubes  100  used in the processed of  FIGS. 3A and 3B  can help prevent the drilled holes  305  from caving in during the drilling and blasting process. Without the support, the holes may fully or partially collapse due to water, vibrations, weak soils, or other causes. 
     The thickness of the wall  107  of the hole support tube  100  can be adjusted to alter its physical and structural properties and/or to adjust the properties of the procedure in which the hole support tube  100  is being used. For example, in the blasting process of  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the thickness of the wall  107  can be adjusted to vary the volume of the explosive material  320  present within the interior  120  of the hole support tube  100 . This also varies the thermal insulative properties of the hole support tube  100 , increasing the sleep time or the length of time explosive product can safely be left in a drill hole, which is a key productivity driver in mining operations. For example, the wall thickness can range from about 0.5 mm to about 50 mm. Optionally sets of hole support tubes  100  having different wall thicknesses can be provided so that the properties can be easily adjusted. Additionally, the diameter of the hole support tube  100  can be varied to either couple or decouple the explosive product. For example, in a 100 mm blasthole, a hole support tube  100  with a 100 mm outer diameter will couple the charge and create the most amount of fragmentation per that blast. In the same 100 mm diameter blast hole, a 35 mm outer diameter hole support tube  100  filled with explosive product, will create a decoupled charge and reduce blasting impact or damage. Decoupled charges are commonly utilized in perimeter holes to reduce blasting charge impact, and create clean cut profiles along the perimeter, with reduced impact on supporting exposed orebody faces. 
     Another version of a hole support tube  100  according to the invention is shown in  FIG. 4A . In this version, the hole support tube  100  is an electronic hole support tube  400 . By electronic hole support tube it is meant that at least a portion of the hole support tube is equipped with or is adapted to be equipped with an electronic component, such as a wire, cable, fiber optics, circuitry, detector, or emitter. For example, as shown in the version of  FIG. 4A , an electronic hole support tube  100  has an electronic member  405  at its first end  125 . The electronic member  405  can be, for example, an emitter, such as a light emitter, a transmitter, a wireless transmitter/receiver, and/or a detector that is capable of detecting a condition in or near the hole, the ground surrounding the hole, and/or the hole support tube  100 . A wire  410  can run the length of the hole support tube  100  so that a signal from the electronic member  405  can be delivered to control or monitor equipment outside the hole or inside the hole support tube  100  and/or so that a signal can be provided to the electronic member  405  and/or a signal can be provided back to a database or control system, either directly connected to the sensor, or via a wireless transmitter. The electronic member  405  and/or the wire  410  can be on or near the outer surface  110  or the inner surface  115  of the hole support tube  100  or may be embedded or partially embedded in the wall  107  of the hole support tube  100 . The electronic member  405  can be at the first end  125  of the hole support tube  100 , as shown in  FIG. 4A , or may be located at an intermediate position along the length of the hole support tube  100 . 
     The wire  410  of the electronic hole support tube  100  may be any suitable wire or cable capable of transmitting an electronic signal to and/or from the electronic member  405  to the second end  135  of the hole support tube  100 . In one version, a portion of the wire  410  may extend beyond the second end  135  so that the wire can be connected to a monitor or controller. Optionally, a connection member  415  can be provided at the second end  135  to facilitate connection with a monitor or controller and/or with another wire or cable. In one version, the wire  410  can be in the form of a fiber optic cable. The fiber optic cable can be a single or multi-mode cable as used in the telecommunications industry. In a fiber optic version, the entirety of the length of the fiber optic strand/cable can form the sensor, with data points being available the entire length of the connected cable. In another version, the wire can be replaced by wireless technology that wirelessly communicates a signal to or from the electronic member  405 . 
     In one version, the electronic member  405  of the electronic hole support tube  400  can be a detector that detects a condition. The detected condition can be a condition associated with or of importance to the drilling and/or blasting operation. For example, in one version the electronic member  405  can include a camera capable of detecting a video image of the hole. In another version, the electronic member  405  can include a temperature sensor capable of detecting the temperature in the hole and/or of the surrounding earth. In another version, the electronic member  405  can include an acoustic or vibration detector. Acoustic, vibration and/or light signals can be monitored and used to identify rock composition, hardness, voids, water level, temperature, seismic conditions, and the like. Optionally, the electronic member  405  can include multiple detectors or electronic components. The electronic member  405  can optionally also be able emit light. In another version, the fiber optic cable can form the sensor system along the entirety of its length. In this version, the fiber optic strands/cable themselves are the actual sensor, and are capable of sensing changes in vibration or temperature in the surrounding orebody, as well as in the hole support tube  100  itself. This can be achieved through some of the following methods: distributed acoustic sensing (DAS), distributed temperature sensing (DTS), and/or Fiber Brags grating (FBG). The embedded fiber optic cable is connected to either a wireless transmitter at the top of the hole (the hole collar), or a surface connection fiber optic cable which physically transmits data back to a control location. 
     In one version, the electronic member  405  can be an electronic connector. For example, the electronic connector can be adapted to receive a connection member  415  from an electronic hole support tube  400  that is inserted in a hole below another electronic hole support tube  400 . In this manner, multiple electronic hole support tubes  400  can be positioned with an electronic member  405  that detects a condition being on the lowest electronic hole support tube  400  and with the electronic hole support tubes  400  above it delivering the signal to and/or from the electronic member  405 . In another version, a plurality of electronic hole support tubes  400  can each be equipped with an electronic member  405  that detect a condition and/or emits light or the like. In this version, multiple wires can be provided if necessary. 
     Another version of an electronic hole support tube  400  is shown in  FIG. 4B . In this version, the wire  415  or the fiber option cable is in the form of a spiral wound wire  420  or fiber optic cable. This wire or fiber optic helix has several advantages over a straight wire or fiber optic cable. For both the wire and the fiber optic cable, it is much easier to embed a spiral wound helix during a traditionally manufactured cardboard tube, which are manufactured with a spiral wound process on winding machines. This facilitates continuous manufacturing and high volume production. The manufacturing process encompasses  2  aspects. First, the spiral winding embedding of the fiber optic cable during the manufacture of the tube itself (which is spirally wound). This gives a much higher signal strength/definition of data feedback from the fiber optic cable than a comparative straight length would. It also means that the addition of the fiber optic cable is just an additive step during the existing manufacturing process, and can be performed at extremely low cost during the tube manufacture rather than requiring an additional step to embed. It is actually much easier and cheaper to embed the fiber optic in this way rather than the straight cable example, as shown in  FIG. 4A . Secondly, the miniaturization and modification of the existing manufacturing process and equipment can be accomplished. Given the quantities used, and the remoteness of most mine sites, the process allows for manufacturing locally, essentially at site, or as close to the site as possible. Alternatively, the manufacturing can be produced in large facilities at scale, and in large batch numbers. A manufacturing module which will fit in a standard shipping container, or small flat bed truck/pick up, will be transportable. 
       FIG. 5A  illustrates a version of a drilling system  500  that makes use of one or more hole support tubes  100 , which may or may not include an electronic member  405 , incorporated with a drill  505 , such as an electric and/or autonomous drill. The drill  505  can pass through the interior  120  of a hole support tube  100  to a drilling position shown in  FIG. 5A . The drill  505  includes a motor  510  and a drill bit  515 . The drill bit  515  can have a retractable head so that its diameter can reduced so it can be sized to fit within the interior  120  of the hole support tube  100 .  FIG. 5B  shows another version of a drilling system  500  that makes use of one or more hole support tubes  100 , which may or may not include an electronic member  405 . In the version of  FIG. 5B , the drill  505  is made up of a single-use drill bit  520  that is affixed to a support tube  100 . In this way, the entire support tube  100  can be used as a drilling rod with the single-use drill bit  520  forming a single use consumable part.  FIGS. 5C through 5E  show examples of drill bits  515 / 520  that can be used with the drill  505 .  FIG. 5C  shows tricone bits  525 .  FIG. 5D  shows carbide bits  530 .  FIG. 5E  shows PDC bits  535 . 
     A version of a drill  505  for use with the drilling system  500  is shown in  FIG. 6A . In this version, the drill  505  includes a drill bit  515 , a telescopic drill section  600 , powered drive wheels  605  and/or a clamping mechanism that allow the drill to traverse through the interior  120  of the hole support tube  100 , a main rig body  610 , an electric motor  615  for this system, a battery  620 , an umbilical cord to the battery, and a transmitter/antenna  625  that allows the drill to be controlled, be powered, transmit data, and/or be monitored. Operation of the drill  505  is shown in  FIG. 6B through 6D . In  FIG. 6B , the drill  505  is shown self-propelling through the interior  120  of the hole support tube  100 . In  FIG. 6C , the drill  505  is taking a core sample and/or drilling as per standard operation out of the end  125  of a hole support tube  100 . In  FIG. 6D , the drill  505  and the sample are shown self-extracting from the hole. 
       FIGS. 7A through 7C  show schematics of three different drill configurations of for the drill system  500 .  FIG. 7A  shows a hammer action drill  700 .  FIG. 7B  shows a down-the-hole hammer action drill  705 .  FIG. 7C  shows a rotary drill  710 . Any of the configurations can be used with the drill system  500  and the hole support tube  100  of the present invention. The drilling system  500  and hole support tube  100  can also be used in a horizontal manner in a tunnel boring process. 
     A version of a process for producing and/or installing hole support tubes  100  is shown in  FIG. 8 .  FIG. 8  shows three types of hone support tubes  100  that are in-situ deployable. A first configuration  800  is shown in a fully crimped condition  801  for deployment. When deployed or during deployment, the first configuration uncrimps through the process shown in  802  through  804  until it is in its final and deployed configuration  805  which in the version shown is substantially cylindrical. A second configuration  810  and a third configuration  820  are also shown along with their associated fully crimped conditions  811 , 821  through the deployment processes  812 - 814 ,  822 - 824  to the final deployed configurations  815 , 825 . The first configuration  800  is a solid tube crimped. This method gives the largest reduction of final tube diameter when it is crimped, approximately 60%. The second configuration  810  is also a solid tube crimped and is less expensive to implement. The third configuration  820  is a slit tube crimped, like a sheet rolled up into a cylinder. When released, the material unfurls to full diameter with a formed edge clamp running the length of the tube which locks into place once uncrimped. 
     Although the present invention has been described in considerable detail with regard to certain preferred versions thereof, other versions are possible, and alterations, permutations and equivalents of the version shown will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the specification and study of the drawings. For example, the cooperating components may be reversed or provided in additional or fewer number, and all directional limitations, such as up and down and the like, can be switched, reversed, or changed as long as doing so is not prohibited by the language herein with regard to a particular version of the invention. Also, the various features of the versions herein can be combined in various ways to provide additional versions of the present invention. Furthermore, certain terminology has been used for the purposes of descriptive clarity, and not to limit the present invention. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “comprise” and its variations such as “comprises” and “comprising” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step but not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps. Throughout this specification and any claims appended hereto, unless the context makes it clear otherwise, the term “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” and their variations such as “consists” should be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, limitation, or step and not the exclusion of any other elements, limitations, or steps or any other non-essential elements, limitations, or steps, respectively. Throughout the specification, any discussed on a combination of elements, limitations, or steps should be understood to include a disclosure of additional elements, limitations, or steps and the disclosure of the exclusion of additional elements, limitations, or steps. All numerical values, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure or prosecution, include either the exact value or approximations in the vicinity of the stated numerical values, such as for example about +/−ten percent or as would be recognized by a person or ordinary skill in the art in the disclosed context. The same is true for the use of the terms such as about, substantially, and the like. Also, for any numerical ranges given, unless otherwise made clear in the disclosure, during prosecution, or by being explicitly set forth in a claim, the ranges include either the exact range or approximations in the vicinity of the values at one or both of the ends of the range. When multiple ranges are provided, the disclosed ranges are intended to include any combinations of ends of the ranges with one another and including zero and infinity as possible ends of the ranges. Therefore, any appended or later filed claims should not be limited to the description of the preferred versions contained herein and should include all such alterations, permutations, and equivalents as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.