Supporting Technical Assessments

Install Water Control Devices Figure: Inflatable Packer Installation It is important to know the maximum hole size each packer size can inflate to, the maximum inflation pressure and the grouting pressure it will hold. To understand this, charts are produced for each specific inflatable packer size and can be obtained from your supervisor. The following is an example of using a 54mm inflatable packer in a 65mm hole: 1. The required inflation pressure (T) of the packer is calculated as: T = (P1 + P2) x 1.3, where P1 is the pressure required to inflate the packer rubber up to the drilled hole size (refer to table) and P2 is the expected grouting pressure which includes the water head pressure. 2. Let’s say our grouting pressure will be up to 60 bar (15bar water pressure + 45 bar grout pressure). 3. So, T = (2 + 60) x 1.3 = 80 bar. That means that if we want to grout at up to 60 bar, we need to inflate the packer to 80 bar. 4. But we need to check if 80 bar is less than the maximum inflation pressure for that packer – maximum inflation pressure in a 65mm hole is 105 bar. 80 is less than 105, so it is OK.

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