Large diameter shaft drilling has been around for better than 50 years. Originally developed in Europe, the techniques first became popular in the United States on the Nevada Test Site, where they were used to drill 1.5 and 1.8 m (5 and 6 foot) shafts for the underground detonation of nuclear devises.

 Early technology was developed using a variety of equipment, mainly of oilfield origin. Several of these blind drilled shafts have been completed to extraordinary depths. The record, completed in 1969, is a 2.28 m (90 in) diameter, 1875 m (6150 foot) deep shaft located in the Aleutian Islands of Alaska.

 Although there still is some oilfield equipment out there on the Nevada test site, elsewhere specialized blind hole equipment has been developed to enhance efficiency. A-leg derricks with simple hoists and rotary systems have proven to be the most versatile setup. With its bolt together assembly, this type of rig can be moved onto and erected on the small sites found in the Appalachian coal fields in a matter of a few days, while being powerful enough to turn hundreds of tons of downhole tools and set steel casing strings in excess of 1,000,000 pounds. The former Soviet Union is the largest user of this type of equipment. In that part of the world blind drilling for mine ventilation is the norm.

 Three basic circulation systems have been developed to bring cuttings to the surface. These include simple air lift, dual string air lift, and straight air reverse. The first two use water or drilling mud as a circulating media. The straight air circulation system relies strictly on blowers to circulate cuttings. The latter has only proven reliable in dry, lightweight rock. The most economical of these methods is a simple air lift system.

 The cutting heads themselves have gone through many improvements. The first blind drilled shafts were completed using flat bottom heads with several roller type carbide tipped cutters. Penetration rates were slow and the torque generated by these heads was tremendous. Advances in head and cutter design have improved the efficiency of the circulation method as well as significantly reducing torque. This relates to much higher penetration rates and less wear on the equipment. Many of these improvements were pioneered by North American.

 Blind drilling technology has come a long way in the past 50 years. Today it is one of the most economical ways to gain access to any underground facility, mine or utility.