Capabilities
The right drilling method depends on the work
Boart Longyear brings together drilling methods, experienced crews, equipment readiness, and regional support across mining, exploration, production, water, and specialized applications. The approach is shaped by the project objective, ground conditions, access, safety requirements, and operating constraints.
Project Requirements
Start with what the project demands.
Method selection begins with the project objective, ground and site conditions, required data or production outcome, safety and access constraints, and the support needed to execute. Boart Longyear brings those factors together to identify an approach suited to the work.
What is the project objective?
Exploration, production, water management, technical data, or specialized field support.
What conditions are expected?
Ground conditions, depth, access, hydrology, weather, terrain, and site constraints.
What level of control is required?
Sample quality, directional accuracy, recovery, instrumentation, or production consistency.
What risks need to be managed?
Safety exposure, downtime, rework, schedule pressure, operating disruption, or water-related constraints.
What regional support is needed?
Mobilization, crew availability, equipment readiness, maintenance, supervision, and local operating knowledge.
Capability Areas
Capabilities by application
Boart Longyear supports surface, underground, advanced, and water-related work through methods and field services aligned to project requirements.
Surface & Exploration
Surface drilling supports geological understanding, target definition, and program planning. Boart Longyear provides surface coring, reverse circulation, rotary drilling, and related technical drilling services.
Typical Applications:
- Mineral exploration
- Geological data collection
- Core recovery
- Target definition
- Specialized surface drilling
Primary capabilities
Underground
Underground drilling requires accuracy and coordination in active mine environments. We provide underground coring, percussive drilling, and grade control to support safe execution and production continuity.
Typical Applications:
- Underground exploration
- Mine development
- Ore extraction
- Ground support
Primary capabilities
Advanced Methods
Some projects require specialized methods, equipment, or technical control. Boart Longyear supports Sonic, directional drilling, specialized sampling, and other technical applications shaped by ground conditions, hydrology, instrumentation, or target requirements.
Typical Applications:
- Sonic drilling
- Directional drilling
- Specialized sampling
- Specialized technical objectives
- Complex or variable ground conditions
Primary capabilities
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Water & Support Services
Drilling programs often depend on services beyond the hole itself. Boart Longyear provides dewatering, water production drilling, pump services, and related field support where water conditions affect access, safety, production continuity, or project execution.
Typical Applications:
- Dewatering
- Water production
- Pump services
- Operational continuity
- Field water management
Primary capabilities
Featured Capabilities
Capabilities for different project conditions.
Surface coring, underground coring, sonic, and dewatering each support a different set of project objectives, operating conditions, and technical requirements.
Surface Coring
Surface coring supports geological understanding where core quality, recovery, depth, and program execution matter.
Boart Longyear applies surface coring across exploration and technical drilling programs where reliable geological data is needed to support decision-making.
When it matters:
- Core quality and recovery matter
- Ground conditions are variable
- Deeper geological information is required
- Exploration schedules depend on consistent execution
Underground Coring
Underground coring supports geological data collection in active or developing mine environments.
The work requires disciplined planning, experienced crews, and equipment suited to confined spaces, strict safety controls, and the demands of active mine operations.
When it matters:
- Drilling takes place within active mine operations
- Access or setup space is constrained
- Safety and exposure controls are critical
- Reliable geological data is required
Sonic
Sonic drilling is used where sample integrity, hydrology, unconsolidated material, casing, or instrumentation requirements influence the drilling approach.
Boart Longyear applies sonic across mining, leach pad, tailings storage, dewatering, environmental, and infrastructure-related applications. Availability varies by region.
When it matters:
- Sample distribution and integrity matter
- Hydrology is a key consideration
- Instrumentation must be installed
- Material is unconsolidated or variable
Dewatering
Dewatering supports mine access, safety, production continuity, and water management.
Boart Longyear provides dewatering and related support where water conditions affect access, mine planning, or production continuity.
When it matters:
- Water affects access or safety
- Production continuity is at risk
- Pump support is required
- Mine planning depends on water control
Method Selection
Selecting the right method matters.
Method selection affects sample quality, drilling performance, safety exposure, production schedules, and project cost. Boart Longyear works with customers to align the approach with the project objective, ground conditions, and operating environment.
Final method selection depends on project-specific technical review. The right method is the one that fits the objective, ground conditions, operating environment, and risks of the work.
Project Experience
See how capability is applied.
Explore project examples showing how Boart Longyear teams align methods, equipment, and field support to specific technical requirements and operating conditions.
Sonic sampling and well installation on a heap leach pad
Boart Longyear used Sonic drilling to collect samples and install solution-enhancement wells on a Nevada heap leach pad.
Electric rotary drilling meets strict municipal noise requirements
An electric rotary configuration supported municipal water-well work where noise, emissions, and the surrounding operating environment shaped equipment selection.
Directional drilling reaches a paste-fill target in a single pass
Boart Longyear completed a large-diameter paste-fill hole where borehole accuracy, casing requirements, and single-pass delivery were central to the program.
Project Inquiries
Need help matching method to project conditions?
Share the project location, objective, ground conditions, access requirements, and expected timeline. Boart Longyear will route the inquiry to the appropriate regional and technical team.