Innovation in Drilling
Modernizing drilling where safety, precision, and performance matter.
Boart Longyear develops and applies new methods, equipment, and systems to reduce exposure, improve control, support sample quality, and give crews and project teams better operating information.
How Innovation Takes Shape
Innovation built from field experience
Boart Longyear’s innovation work begins with the conditions crews encounter: changing ground, safety risks, production pressure, sample requirements, access constraints, and equipment demands.
Field-tested technology
New systems are developed and evaluated against the conditions crews face on active sites, including variable ground, access constraints, schedule pressure, and safety requirements.
Safety-led modernization
Many initiatives begin with a specific exposure, handling, or control challenge identified in the work.
Engineering connected to operations
Engineering, maintenance, field leadership, and crews work together to move ideas through design, testing, training, and deployment.
Regional execution support
New systems depend on training, maintenance, mobilization planning, and regional teams prepared to support them on site.
Field observations inform design. Testing refines the system. Training and regional support carry it into operation.
Current Areas of Focus
Where Boart Longyear is advancing drilling
Explore the methods and systems Boart Longyear is developing and applying across sampling, exposure reduction, electric drilling, and field data.
Sonic
Sonic drilling for sample quality and subsurface understanding
Sonic drilling supports applications where sample integrity, hydrology, casing, instrumentation, and unconsolidated material affect the quality of the information collected.
- Preserved stratigraphy and sample distribution
- Hydrology-sensitive drilling
- Instrumentation and monitoring wells
- Leach pad and TSF applications
- Environmental and infrastructure work
NHOS
Reducing exposure through safer field systems
Safer field systems change how crews interact with rods, inner tubes, and other equipment during drilling. Longyear’s work includes hands-free and reduced-exposure concepts, automation, remote operation, and No Hands on Steel (NHOS).
- Reduced hands-on exposure
- Reduced line-of-fire exposure
- Rod and inner tube handling
- Remote and automated operation
- Engineering controls that separate people from specific tasks
Field Systems & Data
Connected systems for better field visibility
Data capture, performance monitoring, equipment information, and field reporting can give crews, supervisors, project teams, and customers a clearer view of drilling activity and operating conditions.
- Field performance visibility
- Data capture and reporting
- Drill performance monitoring
- Maintenance and utilization information
- Project and operating decisions
Technology Platform
Electric surface coring capability
Longyear’s electric surface coring work is expanding how drilling equipment can be powered and operated on site. Application depends on site infrastructure, operating requirements, equipment readiness, and regional support.
- Electric surface coring
- Site power requirements
- Equipment deployment and support
- Integration with site infrastructure
- Field learning from active operation
Innovation in Practice
Innovation is built into how Boart Longyear works.
It can begin with a field observation, a safety need, a technical challenge, or an operating constraint, and continue through engineering, testing, training, deployment, and continuous improvement.
How field needs shape development
Development & Application
Modernization across equipment and operations
Longyear continues to develop equipment, field systems, automation, and water-related approaches across drilling operations.
Status: Active
Equipment modernization
Rig refurbishment, specialized equipment, and updated systems support fleet readiness across changing project requirements.
View Related Capabilities >Status: Active
Data integration
Data-enabled field systems can improve visibility into drilling performance, utilization, maintenance, and operating conditions.
View Technology Systems >Use only with proof
Water management improvements
Dewatering, pump services, field water management, and site-specific reuse approaches can support access and operational continuity.
Explore Water & Dewatering >Status: Active
Automation and remote operation
Automation and remote operation can separate people from specific tasks, improve control, and support greater consistency where the application fits.
Explore Safer Field Systems >Current Areas of Focus
From field need to practical application
Explore how Boart Longyear develops, tests, and applies new methods, equipment, and systems, shaped by operating challenges, technical requirements, and lessons from the field.
![[Approved Sonic application]](https://longyear.karolis.lt/wp-content/themes/longyear/assets/images/innovation/proof-sonic.jpg)
[Approved Sonic application]
[One sentence describing the operating need, how the method or system was applied, and the approved result.]
- Approved project context
- Region
- Application
- Method details
- Customer permissions
- Field imagery
![[Approved reduced-exposure or NHOS deployment]](https://longyear.karolis.lt/wp-content/themes/longyear/assets/images/innovation/proof-reduced-exposure.jpg)
[Approved reduced-exposure or NHOS deployment]
[One sentence describing the operating need, how the method or system was applied, and the approved result.]
- Approved NHOS public language
- Deployment status
- Customer/site approval
- Exposure-reduction claim
- Performance data, if allowed
- Imagery or video
![[Approved electric surface coring deployment]](https://longyear.karolis.lt/wp-content/themes/longyear/assets/images/innovation/proof-electric.jpg)
[Approved electric surface coring deployment]
[One sentence describing the operating need, how the method or system was applied, and the approved result.]
- Approved rig name
- Deployment location
- Operating status
- Imagery
- Environmental or power claims
- Customer approval, if applicable
![[Approved field-data application]](https://longyear.karolis.lt/wp-content/themes/longyear/assets/images/innovation/proof-field-data.jpg)
[Approved field-data application]
[One sentence describing the operating need, how the method or system was applied, and the approved result.]
- Approved system name
- Internal vs external use boundary
- Field use case
- Performance data
- Customer-facing value
Across Our Capabilities
Innovation shaped by the demands of each application
Across surface, underground, production, Sonic, directional, and water-related work, Boart Longyear advances methods, equipment, and systems in response to technical requirements and operating challenges.
Sonic
Specialized drilling for applications where sample quality, hydrology, casing, instrumentation, or unconsolidated material matters.
Explore Sonic >Surface Coring
Surface drilling supported by equipment modernization, electric drilling capability, method planning, and experienced field crews.
Explore Surface Coring >Underground Coring
Underground work supported by experienced crews, disciplined execution, and reduced-exposure systems or automation where the application allows.
Explore Underground Coring >Directional Drilling
Directional drilling supports programs where borehole path, target control, and subsurface objectives require precise planning and execution.
Explore Directional Drilling >Production Drilling
Production support where accuracy, repeatability, equipment readiness, and operational discipline affect downstream results.
Explore Production Drilling >Dewatering / Water Management
Water-related services that support access, continuity, mine planning, and operational control.
Explore Water Services >Field Experience
Innovation shaped by the people closest to the work
Drillers, supervisors, maintenance teams, safety leaders, engineers, and technical specialists all contribute to how new methods and systems are developed, tested, and supported on site.
Innovation has to improve the work in the field. That is the standard.
Customer Testimonial
Field experience guides what we develop, how we test it, and what it takes to support it on site.
Longyear Leader
Crews identify where exposure occurs. Supervisors see where processes need greater consistency. Maintenance teams understand what affects equipment readiness. Technical teams bring those observations into design, testing, and deployment.
Technology supports the work, but our people carry it into execution.
Project Inquiries
Discuss the right approach for your project
Share the project location, ground conditions, operating environment, safety requirements, and drilling objective. Boart Longyear will route the inquiry to the appropriate technical and regional team.