Thread: Major engineering challenge

I work for a company that's in the mining industry exploration. Last time I was in the office, the owner came in and presented us with a major challenge that would be on the leading edge of technology.
The task:
1) Thread 2000' of wire through a horizontal (no help from gravity) hole ranging from 2" to 4" in width
2) No access to the end-side of the hole
A competitor has managed to do about 700' and even replicating that would be a major success, but my coleague and I would like to go for gold (both figuratively and literally )
I will be chiming in with some fine tuning details, but this is the basic challenge. If you gentlemen could offer some tips tricks and pointers (like techniques and materials), they'd be much appreciated.
Pulling this off would get me away from the computer and number-crunching and put me into the mines all over the globe.

1) Are the walls of the hole smooth?

2) Are the changes in hole diameter abrupt?

3) As you proceed into the hole, does the diameter reduce?

4) Are there any turns, or is it a straight shot?

5) If you seal off the end, is the hole airtight?

-whatever

-Lou

1) Nope, it's water-drilled into the groud
2) Chances are that they are not. I'm guessing it's a gradual reduction but there could be some erosion
3) It could even be expanding as water streams have a tendency to.
4) There's a gradual curvature but no zig-zags or abrupt turns
5) It's a possibility worth speculating on a solution for.

...and, the most important question of all....



6) How big is the pot of gold at the end of the tunnel?

=whatever

-Lou

6) Moderate if it's a 700' tunnel. At the end of the 2000' tunnel, we'd be the only company in the industry offering this service, so you go figure

send me a PM

-Lou

Ooo yay! I have to hear how this one turns out.

Any body that wants a Robert Williams custom bespoke razor better order it now.....cause it won't be long befroe he is my personal razor-maker, and he won't have any time left for the rest of you riff-raff!

-whatever

-Lou

Ilija!!....Looking good, my man!....





....care for another truffle?

-whatever

-Lou

Ilija,
You mentioned water drilled. to me that involves putting a tube (pipe ) down the hole and forcing pressurized water through the tube. Is this correct?

Rick