Integrated exploration drilling products and services provider Boart Longyear’s midsize multipurpose LX11 rig has been received positively in the market since its launch in January this year, with drilling contractors acknowledging the advantages of having a medium-sized multipurpose rig on site.

“Drilling contractors are impressed with the manoeuvrability and flexibility of the rig, as well as its being capable of reverse circulation (RC) and diamond-core drilling,” says Boart Longyear senior product manager Justin Warren.

After extensive development and hands-on engineering by Boart Longyear at its facility in Europe, the LX11 rig was field-tested at various locations worldwide, including Europe, Australia and Zambia. The rig has already performed diamond-core drilling at an exploration project, in Zambia.

With capabilities to perform RC and diamond-core drilling, the LX11 rig enables exploration drillers to use one drill rig for different ground conditions. This advantage means a lower initial capital investment, which limits the costly downtime required to switch rigs to match drilling conditions.

“The versatility of the LX11 rig enables drilling contractors to supplement the roles of multiple rigs with the simplicity of one, saving on equipment costs,” says Warren.

The LX11 rig, which is an addition to the existing line of the LX6 and the LX16 Boart Longyear multipurpose drilling rigs, features improved safety mechanisms, track mounting, a smaller footprint and an overall lower cost of ownership.

Safety features incorporated into the LX11 rig include a strategically placed control panel for ideal visibility, a remote control for driving the rig at a safe distance and an interlocked safety cage to protect drillers from the rotating drill string. The LX11 rig can also be equipped with a rod handler for safe and efficient handling of both RC and diamond-core rods, says Warren.

The rig’s small footprint allows for easier site access and manoeuvrability and it can also fit into a 12-m-high cube container, making it economical to ship to remote locations.

Track mounting increases the mobility of the LX11 rig as it is able to handle steeper grades, which, in turn, lowers its environmental impact.

What makes the LX11 rig unique is that it meets the demand from drilling contractors for a versatile rig that combines the strengths of the mobility of smaller rigs with the pullback of larger rigs.

The LX11 rig comes standard with a customisable tooling package, suited to the needs of the drilling contractor and the different ground conditions. As it is a multipurpose drill rig, it can be fitted with different drill bits to match certain ground formations.

It can reach depths of 1 450 m using NQ-diameter-sized rods when employing diamond drilling and depths of 325 m using 114 mm rods when employing RC drilling. A 7.2 m mast and a top drive head allow 6 m rods to be pulled under the head for increased productivity. The rig’s top-drive single rotary drill head features 1 200 rpm and a maximum torque of 7.8 Nm at 100 rpm.

Boart Longyear has supplied mining services and performance tooling to the African region for a variety of mineral exploration projects, as well percussive drill and blast projects.