Coiled Tubing Drilling for definition of Mineral Deposits – Phase 3: MinEx CRC Project 2

The Challenge

Drilling is a vital component of modern mineral exploration, but deploying and operating current drilling technology in Western Australia’s remote and sensitive landscapes is both expensive and resource intensive, and as explorers push deeper in search of the next generation of mineral discoveries these costs risk becoming unsustainable.

Proposed Solution

Coiled Tubing (CT) drilling systems offer a range of efficiencies in comparison to the state-of-the-art technology used in mineral exploration, including faster penetration, reduced operational hazards for drill crew, lower fuel use, and reduced environmental footprint.

CT drilling is an established technology used in deep drilling and workover for the Oil & Gas industry, and prior work in MRIWA-supported projects has helped establish its viability in a portable, low-footprint system suitable for mineral exploration drilling. This project seeks to further develop this technology, with the aim of developing drilling platform capable of drilling to 1,000m, and demonstrating its benchmark performance to establish a value proposition for commercialisation.

Proposed Benefits to WA

Cheaper drilling with lower environmental footprint will be an important enabling technology for future mineral exploration in Western Australia, where many of the most exciting exploration targets are expected to lie below cover in areas where the State’s proven and richly-endowed mineral provinces plunge beneath more recent layers of rock.