Abstract:As a key area of the new round of strategic mineral exploration breakthrough initiative in Henan Province, the Xiaoshan Mountain Area faces prominent technical challenges in drilling construction, including borehole wall instability in loose and broken strata, low core recovery rate, and severe drilling fluid loss. A systematic research on hole protection technology was therefore carried out. By adopting a combined method of laboratory tests, numerical simulation and field verification, multiple sets of lost circulation prevention and plugging drilling fluid systems were developed, the structure of coring tools was optimized, and a numerical simulation guidance method for particle plugging was established. Field application results show that the core recovery rate has increased from 60% to over 95%, the drilling rate has risen from 1.5 m/h to 2.0 m/h, and the comprehensive cost has decreased by 17.5%. The research effectively breaks the technical bottleneck of drilling in loose and broken strata, and provides technical engineering support for mineral exploration drilling in similar areas.