Mining equipment manufacturer Veracio, a new subsidiary of international exploration drilling company Boart Longyear, says although its partnership with directional drilling service provider International Directional Services (IDS) is still in its infancy, the response from clients has been “overwhelmingly positive”.

The partnership, announced in December 2023, enables Veracio to offer its complete suite of driller-operated tooling to IDS clients across North America, says Veracio CEO JT Clark.

“The supply of the new drilling technologies is being led by Veracio’s TruGyro, which provides clients with the most compact and integrated north-seeking continuous gyro tool available,” he says.

According to Veracio, the company’s TruGyro is popular with clients owing to its conforming to industry benchmarking, and the unique advantages that have been built into the product’s development cycle.

TruGyro ensures that drilling being undertaken is precise, leading to better resource definition and lower risks of operational errors.

“Accuracy is critically important when targeting difficult to intersect orebodies, offering confidence in underlying measurements in both exploration and mining phases,” Clark explains.

A key objective of the partnership is to offer enhanced drill-hole data analysis by deploying modern technologies to enhance the accuracy and quality of the analysis, consequently providing valuable insights for mining projects, Clark says.

Further objectives include offering increased productivity through leveraging Veracio’s growing fleet of technologies, including TruGyro and TruSub technology.

Veracio’s TruSub ensures that drilling is precise and efficient, leading to better resource definition, improved safety and lower risks of operational errors, at an overall lower cost.

“Additionally, the partnership aims to elevate the level of support and satisfaction for IDS clients by delivering data-driven insights and innovative solutions,” he says.

True to Form

Clark points out that miners and drillers who are using TruGyro at their operations have reported an increase in drilling accuracy owing to the technology’s accuracy.

“Clients also like the incredible levels of support that IDS is providing, which makes it easy for them to get people trained and ensure overall ease of use.”

He says Veracio’s integration with Boart Longyear’s Link Latch and Roller Latch overshot assemblies helps it ensure safe and efficient operations.

TruGyro’s cloud integration and compatibility with other Veracio platforms allows for data to be easily visualised, downloaded and managed, thereby streamlining processes for projects.

“Our collaboration further strengthens Veracio’s position in the US market and reinforces our commitment to advancing the mining industry by offering cutting-edge solutions,” says Clark, adding it will redefine industry standards, empowering precision and integrity with every survey.

IDS also distributes Veracio’s TruShot – a precise magnetic survey tool specially designed for driller deployment.

Known for its durability, precision and user-friendly features, TruShot enables drillers to confidently capture high- quality three-dimensional hole-path data, he notes.

IDS also distributes core orientation tooling on behalf of Veracio.

As Veracio introduces new products to the market, IDS aims to expand its customer offering to provide a comprehensive range of innovative solutions.

“While IDS and Veracio have an existing relationship, the announcement of this partnership acknowledges the vision both companies share for transforming how the drilling workflow can be enhanced with better data,” says IDS GM Jason Smith.

Combining IDS’ data collection expertise with Veracio’s newest instrument technology will enable IDS’ aims to redefine how drill hole data is used in the industry.

“This collaboration represents a significant step forward for IDS and its commitment to delivering excellence to its clients,” says Smith.

“Our research and development is a global effort, backed by research and development centres in Canada and Australia,” adds Clark.

He adds that it is “inspiring” to witness the impact the partnership is having following its launch, and what it means for drillers and miners in the long-term.

Veracio’s vision is to empower clients to reduce unnecessary drilling costs, mitigate operational errors, reduce waste and foster sustainable mining practices, Clark concludes.