Full Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig | High Efficiency Exploration

fully hydraulic core exploration drilling rig

Traditional mechanical drilling rigs suffer from issues such as fragmented core samples, low efficiency in deep holes, and susceptibility to stuck drill bits in complex formations, which have long been pain points in the geological exploration industry. Especially in mineral prospecting and preliminary infrastructure exploration, incomplete core samples directly lead to distorted geological data, posing significant risks to subsequent mining or construction. The full hydraulic core drilling rig is a fully hydraulically driven drilling rig specifically designed for medium-to-deep hole geological exploration. Unlike small hydraulic and mechanical drilling rigs, it employs a modular full hydraulic system, enabling stepless speed regulation and precise control, suitable for core sampling operations at depths of 200-1000 meters.

Currently, this equipment has been sold in bulk to mineral-rich countries such as Ghana, Australia, South Africa, Chile, and Peru. If you are interested, please contact us now.

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Hot-sale YG Full Hydraulic Exploration Core Drilling Rig Technical Parameters

Model	YGX-400	YGX-600	YGX-800	YGX-1000
Drilling Depth(M)	180-400-500	200-600-650	400-800-1000	500-1000-1100
Rated pressure(MPA)	21	21	25	28
Rated Flow(L/min)	168	192	260	300
Heat Dissipation Mode	Air cooling+water cooling
Engine Brand	Yuchai	Yuchai	Yuchai	Cummins
Rated power/speed	78kW/ 2400r/min	92kW/ 2400r/min	92kW/ 2400r/min	154kW/2400r/min
Drilling Angle(°)	0-90	45-90	45-90	45-90
Lifting Force(T)	12	16	24	30
Feed Force(T)	6	8	12	15
Hydraulic Mud pump flow	30-90（L/min）	30-90（L/min）	90-180（L/min）	90-180（L/min）
Hydraulic Mud pump power	4-7(MPA)	4-7(MPA)	4-7(MPA)	4-7(MPA)
Dimension	400019001800mm	400020001800mm	550021002000mm	600022002400mm
Weight	4.3T	4.5/5.5T	6.5T	7.5T

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What Industries and Scenarios Are Suitable for Fully Hydraulic Core Drilling Rigs?

8 Typical Application Areas:

Solid Mineral Exploration: General survey, detailed survey, and exploration of mineral resources such as gold, copper, iron, and coal.
Oil and Gas Exploration: Shallow oil and gas geological surveys and parametric well construction.
Hydrogeological Exploration: Groundwater resource surveys, geothermal exploration, and mineral water resource evaluation.
Engineering Geological Survey: Engineering geological drilling for large-scale engineering projects (bridges, tunnels, dams).
Environmental Geological Survey: Contaminated site investigation, soil sampling, and geological hazard investigation.
Earth Science Research: Structural geological research, stratigraphic research, and petrological research.
Tunnel and Underground Engineering: Advanced geological prediction, pipe roof drilling, and small-diameter tunnel construction.
Building Pile Testing: Quality testing of existing building piles and core sampling verification.

Suitable Target Markets:

Full hydraulic core drilling rigs are in high demand in regions worldwide with abundant mineral resources but low exploration levels. Southeast Asia (Indonesia, the Philippines, Laos, etc.) is rich in copper and gold resources; Africa (DRC, Zambia, Tanzania, etc.) is home to world-renowned copper-cobalt and gold belts; and the Andes Mountains in South America (Peru, Chile, Ecuador, etc.) contain abundant non-ferrous metal deposits. These regions are all popular markets for fully hydraulic core exploration drilling rigs.

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Case Studies of Customers in the Philippines and Ecuador Using YG Fully Hydraulic Core Drilling Rigs

Case Study 1: Copper-Gold Mine Exploration Project in the Philippines

Client Background: A mining exploration company in Mindanao, Philippines, primarily engaged in the risk exploration and development of copper and gold deposits. The project area is located in a tropical rainforest mountainous region with inconvenient transportation, placing extremely high demands on the environmental adaptability and reliability of the equipment.
Problems Faced: The project required the completion of five 1000-meter-level exploration boreholes. Traditional drilling rigs were inefficient in complex strata, resulting in frequent borehole accidents and significant delays. Unstable core recovery rates affected the geologists’ assessment of mineralization zones.
Solution: One large, fully hydraulic drilling rig from YG was purchased, equipped with a wireline coring system and a complete mud treatment system. The rig was configured for deep holes and equipped with an HQ core tube system, meeting the requirements for 1000-meter-level deep hole drilling. YG dispatched two engineers to the site for equipment installation and operation training.
Results: After implementation, the average drilling time per hole was reduced by 30%, and the borehole accident rate decreased by over 80%. The application of the wireline coring system increased the core recovery rate to over 95%, significantly improving core integrity and undisturbed state. Five boreholes were completed 15 days ahead of schedule, and the exploration report was submitted on time, providing accurate geological data for subsequent mining design.
Client Testimonial: “YG’s fully hydraulic drilling rig has significantly improved our exploration efficiency. What we are most satisfied with is its stability and reliability; it has almost never failed us in complex strata. The wireline coring function is particularly practical, eliminating the need to repeatedly pull up and down the drill pipe, saving a lot of time and manpower. The core quality is also excellent, making the data more accurate for geological engineers’ analysis. Thank you to the YG team for their professional support!” — Jose Reyes, Exploration Project Manager

Case Study 2: Ecuador Gold Mine Detailed Exploration Project

Client Background: A local contractor for a Canadian mining company in Zamora-Chinchpe Province, Ecuador, was responsible for the detailed exploration of a large gold mine project. The project is located in the high-altitude Andes Mountains, with a variable climate and harsh working conditions.
Problem Faced: The thin air at high altitudes severely reduces the power output of conventional drilling rigs, resulting in low drilling efficiency. The project schedule was tight, requiring the completion of 15 boreholes, each 500 meters deep, within six months; any equipment failure could lead to late delivery.
Solution: Two medium-sized fully hydraulic drilling rigs from YG were procured, equipped with high-altitude diesel engines to address the power loss issue at high altitudes. The rigs were configured with PQ Core Drilling Rig specifications, capable of handling both large-diameter core sampling and conventional drilling needs. The equipment was shipped to Ecuador by sea, with YG providing full technical support throughout the process.
Results: The equipment operated stably at an altitude of 3500 meters, with drilling efficiency loss controlled to within 10%, far exceeding expectations. Fifteen boreholes were successfully completed within six months, with a total drilling footage exceeding 7500 meters. All boreholes were successfully completed on the first attempt, without any major downhole accidents. The drilled cores were complete and clear, with clearly identifiable gold mineralization zones, providing high-quality geological data for subsequent mining design.
Customer Testimonial: “The project conditions in Ecuador were very challenging, but YG’s drilling rigs performed exceptionally well. The high-altitude configuration solved our biggest concern; the power was ample, and the performance was stable. With both rigs operating simultaneously, the progress was completely on schedule. Most importantly, the equipment was reliable; there were virtually no downtimes due to equipment issues during the six months we worked. The rigs are easy to operate, and we trained four local operators, who can now work independently. YG’s after-sales service was also excellent; they answered all our questions promptly, and technical support responded quickly.” — Project Director David Chen

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What Are the Key Issues to Consider When Purchasing a Fully Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig?

Matching the maximum drilling depth with actual needs

The primary issue in purchasing a drilling rig is determining the required drilling depth. The depth selection directly determines the equipment specifications and cost. Exploration projects typically choose a model one size larger than the expected maximum depth, allowing for a safety margin. For example, with an NQ core drilling rig using NQ specification core tubing, the maximum drilling depth can reach 600-800 meters; for even deeper drilling capabilities, an HQ core drilling rig or PQ core drilling rig should be selected, as the latter two can meet the deep hole drilling requirements of 1000 meters and 1500 meters, respectively.

Core Tube Specification Selection and Compatibility

PQ, HQ, and NQ core tube specifications determine the borehole diameter and core sampling diameter:

PQ specification: Borehole diameter 122.7mm, core diameter 85mm, suitable for large-diameter core sampling and shallow exploration.
HQ specification: Borehole diameter 96mm, core diameter 63.5mm, the mainstream choice for deep hole drilling.
NQ specification: Borehole diameter 75.7mm, core diameter 47.6mm, suitable for deep hole drilling, reducing drilling costs.

When purchasing, confirm that the equipment supports the required core tube specifications and consider its compatibility with the project’s drilling specifications.

Hydraulic System Configuration and Power Selection

The core parameters of the hydraulic system include: system pressure (typically 21-28MPa), main pump flow rate, motor displacement, and winch hoisting capacity. Different drilling rig specifications have significantly different configurations; when purchasing, select the appropriate configuration based on the target drilling depth and formation hardness. In terms of power source, diesel engines are suitable for exploration sites without electricity, while electric motors are suitable for areas with a stable power supply or high environmental protection requirements.

Mud System Compatibility

The mud pump is a key component of the drilling rig; its displacement and pressure determine the slurry carrying capacity. Deep hole drilling requires larger displacement and higher pump pressure. When purchasing, it is essential to confirm the compatibility of the mud pump with the drilling rig and whether auxiliary equipment such as mud mixing and purification is needed. A good mud system can effectively prevent borehole accidents such as drill bit burial and stuck drill bits.

Transportation and Relocation Convenience

Exploration projects often require frequent relocation, and the transport size and weight of the equipment directly affect relocation costs. Modularly designed drilling rigs can disassemble the main unit into multiple modules, each within the limits of road transport. Some equipment supports tracked self-propelled movement, suitable for short-distance relocation; long-distance relocation requires truck transport, and the ease of disassembly and assembly should be considered when purchasing.