In exploration drilling, equipment reliability is a top priority: production downtime is extremely costly and companies are constantly looking for ways to increase their efficiency and reduce costs. That is why when Meridian Drilling Ltd, a UK and Dubai-based company specialising in global mineral exploration, began an exploration project in northern Ethiopia it needed to source drilling equipment that could be guaranteed to operate in the harshest working environments. Meridian Drilling chose drill-rigs from Atlas Copco Construction and Mining.With a depth of experience operating in some of the world’s most challenging environments, Meridian Drilling was awarded a project to carry out exploration for potash at a site in northern Ethiopia. The site lies 100 m below sea level and in an area where daytime temperatures can reach in excess of 55°C, in a highly saline and corrosive environment. For this reason, Meridian Drilling chose to use Atlas Copco Christensen CS14 drill rigs, due to their ability to carry out efficient and reliable deep drilling operations.

The CS14 diamond core drilling rigs are capable of reaching a drilling depth of 1,200 m with N wireline (diameter 47.6 mm). Meridian has been operating on this exploration site in Ethiopia for two years and has operated a 24 hour shift system for the duration of the contract. The availability of the drill rigs has been excellent during the contract and there have been very few incidents of serious breakdown in this period. The high availability of the drill rig has also enabled Meridian Drilling to save on labour costs, due to the minimal downtime of the rig.

Commenting on the benefits of the equipment Managing Director of Meridian Drilling, Jeremy Moore, said: “The Atlas Copco drill rigs combine excellent reliability and capability and do exactly what they say. Despite working in one of the harshest working environments in the world, where drill rigs are put under extreme duress, we have very few problems with the machines whatsoever. The machines have dealt extremely well with the corrosive environment.” He continued: “Any lost production due to breakdown is extremely expensive both in terms of income and loss of reputation, so reliability is essential. That is why we have chosen Atlas Copco rigs this time and why we will definitely choose them again.”

Part of the Atlas Copco range of flexible, robust and highly productive Christensen surface core drilling rigs, the CS14 is suitable for a variety of drilling environments. Christensen CS14 drill-rigs are specially designed for medium depth wire line drilling operations and feature a powerful feed system, main winch and powerful engine. The mast dump, four hydraulic levelling jacks and foldable mast also mean the CS14 is easy to set up, whilst including safety guards and emergency stop buttons to make the rig user-friendly and safe to operate.