Drill contractor JSW Australia says it has formed a strategic alliance with German drill rig manufacturer BBurg to develop customised drill rigs specifically suited to local conditions.

The partnership with BBurg also supports the ongoing evolution of the JSW fleet, the company said.

The first product of the new alliance is the HD2500RC, a leading technology rig developed to tackle challenging terrain at the Fortescue Metals Group Solomon Hub site in the Pilbara of Western Australia (pictured), JSW said. The first rig is expected to be deployed on site early next year with a second planned for delivery later in the first half of 2020.

JSW CEO, Jeff Branson, said: “The terrain at Solomon makes the preparation of drill pads difficult and expensive, which created an opportunity for a high powered, small footprint drill rig. With many years of experience working at the Solomon site and having experienced the challenges posed by the terrain, we shared ideas and concepts with BBurg, which provided the foundation for the development of the new rig.”

Branson added: “BBurg’s knowledge and experience in the development of top hammer and down-the-hole machines for mining applications has enabled us to custom-build a rig that is ideally suited to the site conditions, and we are excited about putting it to work on site.”

The HD2500RC has the following key features:

• Low footprint with width of 3.5 m;
• High power with capacity to push 32.3 cu.m/min of air at 500 psi down the hole;
• Rod handler to increase productivity and improve safety;
• 330 m of rod capacity on board; and
• Full wireless remote control.

The alliance with BBurg is part of a broader JSW strategy to ensure that its fleet is continually upgraded and improved to meet the changing needs of the market, the company said.

“BBurg’s customer-driven engineering approach, which tailors rigs to specific applications, resonated with us as it supports our ability to provide customised drilling services to our clients,” he said.

“The HD2500RC is the first of several new rigs that we will be introducing in the near future.

“Our fleet is reviewed and upgraded regularly, and we are excited about the new rigs that will be added, making the latest technology available to our clients and supporting the achievement of their objectives.”