Challenge
BHP needed a safer, more efficient drilling solution at Olympic Dam to meet growing copper demand.
Solution
Ventia and BHP developed Rig 200—a remote-operated rig with enhanced safety features and deeper drilling capability.
Impact
Rig 200 improves safety, reduces downtime, and supports future copper needs critical to the energy transition.
As demand for copper increases, the rig will also ensure that future drilling needs of the mine can be met through deeper drilling capability as well as enhancements designed to reduce downtime and improve productivity.
The rig has been a collaboration between our customer BHP and our Rig & Wells minerals drilling team.
Located 560 kilometres north of Adelaide, South Australia, on the traditional lands of the Kokatha, Dieri, and Arabana people, Olympic Dam is a part of BHP’s Australian minerals operations.
Ventia supports the operations of the mine through surface drilling services for backfilling, project drilling including diamond drilling, water wells and service holes, bulk materials handling and civil construction of drill pads, completion and rehabilitation for BHP’s copper mining operations, and has previously installed and commissioned a new cooling tower at the site.
Improving drilling safety
Mine sites are high risk locations – improving safety and performance requires a culture of innovation, investment and collaboration.
The genesis of Rig 200 was a desire to remove the driller from the control panel (generally located on the rig). The team was able to achieve this by incorporating remote controls that allow the rig to be operated from 8-10 metres from the hole being drilled.
Having the driller removed from the control panel situated on the rig reduces the risk around dropped objects and high-pressure air. The on-board compressor has its own engine enabling the compressor to be turned off during rod tripping cycles, saving on fuel usage. In addition, the team incorporated safety guidelines into the design, that are unique to Olympic Dam.
The introduction of a remote operated load safe into the rig package also enables the operators to be out of the rig footprint while adding and removing bottom hole assembles which can weigh up to three tonnes. The package also includes a remote operated aux compressor which removes the operator from the compressor footprint during start up and operation.
Supporting future copper demand
As the energy transition continues to gather pace, increasing amounts of copper will be required due to its conductive properties. Copper is a key enabler for a low emissions future and has myriad uses across wind, solar and hydro electricity generation as well as electric vehicles and batteries.
In designing Rig 200, Ventia and BHP were able to identify the drilling needs that will be required in the future across South Australia’s copper deposits.
It was identified that the holes being drilled would be deeper than currently being drilled and using this information we were able to spec the rig up to be able to complete the future holes as efficiently as possible,
said Steve McCarthy – Operations Manager Minerals at Ventia.
Planning Through Partnership
Investing, designing and building equipment and technology involves a lot of planning. One of the keys to Rig 200’s implementation has been the collaboration both between our customer BHP and Ventia as well as across Ventia’s internal teams.
“Initially there was a large amount of work put in by our commercial team to develop an outcome that would benefit both BHP and Ventia,” Steve said.
“The project team in conjunction with the operations team then worked with both the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) of the drill rig as well as BHP to agree on the final specification.
When specifications were agreed, the project and operations team managed the build process to get the rig delivered to site.
Improving cycle times through technology
In addition to the safety benefits, the operating specifications of Rig 200 are quicker and more powerful. This is designed to improve cycle times, a key for efficient on-site mine operations.
Another major benefit is that the rig is able to be connected remotely by the OEM and diagnosis and repairs can be made to the operating system over the internet without sending technicians to the field. Which is critical when it comes to minimising down time and delivering an efficient service for our customer.