Geological exploration is a business that requires meticulous cost control. Controlling drilling costs and improving exploration efficiency while ensuring core quality is a challenge every exploration project manager must face. The NQ Core Rig, as the most cost-effective option among the three standard core drilling rigs, is gaining increasing popularity among exploration companies.
The NQ core drilling rig is a geological exploration drilling rig that uses the NQ standard core tubing system. It is also commonly referred to in the industry as the 47.6mm core drilling rig, NQ specification drilling rig, diamond wireline core drilling rig, etc. As one of the most cost-effective drilling configurations currently on the market, it achieves an excellent balance between drilling costs and core quality.
Compared to other specifications, the NQ core drilling rig achieves almost the same quality of core sampling with a smaller borehole diameter and lower consumable costs. This “small size, big impact” positioning makes it an ideal choice for mineral exploration, deep drilling, and budget-sensitive projects. Whether in Southeast Asia’s copper-gold mines or Africa’s copper-cobalt belts, a reliable fully hydraulic core exploration drilling rig equipped with an NQ coring system helps exploration teams obtain the most valuable geological information at the optimal cost.
YG, as a professional NQ core rig manufacturer, deeply understands the cost-effectiveness of exploration companies. Our NQ core drilling rigs are renowned for their high reliability and low operating costs, and have successfully served numerous hot exploration markets worldwide. If you are interested, please contact us now for more product information.
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YG Full Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig Parameter
| 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 | 4000*1900*1800mm | 4000*2000*1800mm | 5500*2100*2000mm | 6000*2200*2400mm |
| Weight | 4.3T | 4.5/5.5T | 6.5T | 7.5T |
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How does the NQ core drilling rig work?
The working principle of the NQ core drilling rig is basically the same as that of a standard fully hydraulic core exploration drilling rig, the key difference being the use of a smaller drilling tool system.
Step 1: Hydraulic Drive and Drilling. High-pressure oil generated by the hydraulic pump drives the power head to rotate. The power head is connected to the NQ diamond drill bit at the bottom of the hole via the drill pipe. The operator adjusts the hydraulic flow using a control handle to achieve stepless speed regulation. Under the action of drilling pressure and rotation, the drill bit cuts the rock, forming a cylindrical core.
Step 2: Flushing Fluid Circulation. The mud pump pumps flushing fluid into the drill pipe cavity, which is then ejected from the drill bit’s water nozzle at the bottom of the hole. The flushing fluid cools the diamond drill bit and carries rock cuttings back to the surface through the annulus between the drill pipe and the hole wall. The return flow velocity in the annulus must be high enough to effectively carry the cuttings. The annulus of the NQ drilling rig is relatively large (approximately 13mm), requiring a relatively low mud pump displacement.
Step 3: Wireline Coring Operation. When the core sample fills the inner tube or needs to be removed for observation, a wireline winch is used to lower a retrieval device through the center of the drill pipe. Once the retrieval device grips the retaining spring at the top of the inner tube, the lifting wire rope retrieves the inner tube containing the complete core sample from the borehole. The entire process requires no removal of the drill pipe, resulting in extremely high efficiency.
Step 4: Drilling Parameter Optimization. An advanced hydraulic system automatically adjusts the feed pressure based on drilling resistance, maintaining a constant drilling speed. This constant-speed drilling mode allows the drill bit to operate at stable efficiency, protecting the drill bit and ensuring high-quality core samples.
Case Studies of Customers in the Philippines and Tanzania Using YG Fully Hydraulic Core Drilling Rigs
Case Study 1: Manganese Deposit Exploration Project in the Philippines
- Client Background: A mining exploration company on Palawan Island, Philippines, undertook a risk exploration project for local manganese resources. Located on a tropical island, the project required all drilling to be completed before the rainy season, creating significant time pressure.
- Problems Faced: The project had a limited budget but required the completion of 20 boreholes, each 400 meters deep, for a total drilling footage of 8,000 meters. Traditional large drilling rigs were prohibitively expensive, making on-time completion virtually impossible. Finding the most cost-effective drilling solution within the limited budget was crucial to the project’s success.
- Solution: The company selected YG’s NQ core drilling rig solution. The low-cost advantage of the NQ specifications perfectly matched the project’s budget requirements. The rig was equipped with a wireline coring system, ensuring high-intensity drilling operations could be completed within the limited timeframe. YG provided a complete drilling technology solution, including mud system design and operational training.
- Results: During drilling, the wireline coring system performed excellently, averaging one core sample every 50 meters, with each sample taking only 15 minutes. Drilling efficiency was 25% higher than expected, and the average drilling time per borehole was 2 days shorter than budgeted. All 20 boreholes were successfully completed before the rainy season, with a total drilling footage of 8120 meters and an average core recovery rate of 92%, fully meeting geological analysis requirements. Project costs were kept within 90% of the budget.
- Client Testimonial: “The NQ drilling rig was the best choice for this project. To be honest, we were initially worried about whether the 47.6mm core sample would be sufficient, but it turned out to be completely unnecessary. The gold dispersion sample analysis results were in perfect agreement with those obtained from large drilling rigs in neighboring areas, proving the reliability of the core quality. More importantly, the drilling cost was lower than any other option we inquired about. YG’s wireline coring system was very user-friendly; operators could work independently after just two days of training. Thank you to the YG team for their professional support!” — Project Geologist Maria Santos
Case Study 2: Tanzania Copper Mine Detailed Exploration Project
- Client Background: A local partner of a Chinese-funded mining company in the Mwamora region of Tanzania, responsible for the detailed exploration of a large copper mine project. Located on the edge of the East African Rift Valley, the project faces complex geological conditions, including fractured zones and lost circulation zones in some sections, placing high demands on equipment reliability.
- The challenges: The project required the completion of 12 detailed exploration boreholes, each 600 meters deep, to provide accurate geological data for the mining design. The complex geological conditions posed challenges to traditional drilling methods, leading to frequent mud loss and borehole instability. A highly adaptable drilling rig was needed to address these issues.
- The solution: Two YG NQ 600-meter-class drilling rigs were procured, equipped with a high-pressure mud system and a mud pack for complex formations. The rigs were designed for high-altitude environments, adapted to the climate conditions of the East African plateau. The YG technical team provided a specialized mud solution tailored to the project’s geological characteristics and dispatched engineers for on-site guidance.
- Results: During drilling, multiple fractured zones and minor lost circulation zones were encountered. Thanks to the configured high-pressure mud system and targeted mud solution, all problems were addressed promptly, and no drill bit burial or stuck incidents occurred. Two drilling rigs operated simultaneously, completing all 12 boreholes within six months, with a total drilling depth of 7,180 meters. The core samples were of excellent quality, with clearly identifiable copper mineralization zones, providing reliable geological data for subsequent mining design.
- Client Testimonial: “Drilling through complex formations certainly presented us with many challenges, but YG’s NQ drilling rigs exceeded our expectations. The mud system had excellent throughput, and the high-pressure pumps quickly established circulation in case of leakage. Wireline coring was particularly effective in deep holes, saving a significant amount of tripping time. Most importantly, the equipment was stable; we operated at high intensity for two months with virtually no downtime. These two drilling rigs made a significant contribution to the timely completion of the project.” — Project Manager, Mr. Liu
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Frequently Asked Questions about the NQ Fully Hydraulic Core Drilling Rig
A1: For shallow holes up to 400 meters, choose an HQ drilling rig for faster drilling speed; for deep holes in hard rock above 400 meters, an NQ drilling rig is essential for higher drill rod strength, less prone to breakage, and lower overall cost.
A2: Yes, by changing the adapter, it is compatible with standard drill rods from both the HQ and PQ core drilling rigs, enabling multi-purpose use.
A3: Yes, it comes standard with a high-altitude engine and hydraulic oil preheating system, allowing normal operation at altitudes of 4500 meters and temperatures as low as -20℃.
A4: Under normal hard rock drilling conditions, the service life is approximately 15,000 meters. Using a tiered usage method, it can be extended to over 20,000 meters.
A5: Very low maintenance costs; routine maintenance only requires changing hydraulic oil and wearing parts. Annual maintenance costs are approximately 3%-5% of the total equipment price, and common spare parts can be purchased locally.
A6: The operation is simple. The manufacturer provides free on-site training and video tutorials. Ordinary workers can independently complete drilling and core sampling operations within 3-5 days.