Reverse Circulation Drilling Rig Exported to Burkina Faso

Burkina Faso is a core gold-producing region in West Africa. Numerous small and medium-sized gold mines in the north and east are currently in the preliminary and detailed exploration stages. These mining areas are generally characterized by rugged terrain, complex strata, and high temperatures and dust storms. Traditional percussion drilling rigs and ordinary rotary drilling rigs commonly suffer from low sampling recovery rates, slow drilling efficiency, and high equipment failure rates, severely impacting exploration progress and data accuracy. Reverse circulation drilling rigs, relying on the core advantages of double-walled drill pipe air-lift cuttings removal and closed-loop sampling, offer high sample purity and fast drilling speeds, perfectly suited to the hard rock exploration needs of West African mining areas, making them the preferred choice for local mining companies upgrading their equipment.

YG, as a professional drilling equipment manufacturer, has specifically optimized its tracked reverse circulation drilling rigs for high-temperature, dusty, and hard rock conditions. These high-performance RC drilling rigs for gold exploration are currently being used in large quantities in West African mining countries such as Burkina Faso, Ghana, and Mali, gaining widespread customer recognition for their stable performance and high sampling recovery rates.

This article will describe the entire process of a real customer in Burkina Faso using YG’s reverse circulation drilling rig. If you are interested, please continue reading the article, or you can contact us directly for more product information.

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YG Air Reverse Circulation Drilling Rig Technical Parameters

Technical Parameters	Type	YG-400	YG-500	YG-600	YG-800	YG-1200
Maximum Drilling Depth	M	400	500	600	800	1200
Hole Diameter	mm	105-305	105-400	105-450	105-550	105-800
Recommended Working Air Pressure	Mpa	1.2-3.5	1.6-6	1.6-6	1.6-8	1.6-8
Recommended Air Consumption	m³/min	16-55	16-55	16-75	16-96	16-96
Drill Rod Length	m	3	3	3	6	6
Recommended Drill Rod Diameter		89/102	102/114	102/114	114/127	127/146
Axial Force	T	6	7	7	11	13
Lifting Force	T	22	25	29	47	57
Fast Hoisting Speed	m/min	20	23	29	29	30
Fast Advancing Speed	m/min	32	33	33	42	44
Maximum Rotation Torque	Nm	8000/4000	10000/5000	12000/6000	18000/9000	24000/12000
Maximum Rotation Speed	r/min	75/150	75/150	75/150	70/140	86/172
Small Auxiliary Winch Lifting Force	T	1.5	1.5	2.5	2.5	2.5
High Outrigger Stroke	m	1.6	1.6	1.7	1.7	1.7
Penetration Rate	m/h	10-35	10-35	10-35	10-35	10-35
Travel Speed	Km/h	2.5	2.5	3.5	5	6.4
Gradeability	slope	21 °	21 °	21 °	21 °	21 °
Machine Weight	T	11	12	12.5	17	23
Overall Dimensions	m	7*1.85*2.86	7*2.1*2.9	7*2.1*2.9	10.5.*2.25*3.3	11.5*2.25*3.4
Engine		Yuchai 92KW	Cummins 132KW	Cummins 132KW	Cummins 194KW	Cummins 264KW
Suitable Conditions	Loose strata and bedrock
Drilling Method	Top drive hydraulic rotary propulsion, down-the-hole hammer, or mud drilling
Matching Hammer	Medium and high pneumatic pressure series

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Burkina Faso Client Case Study: The Outstanding Performance of YG-500 in Gold Exploration

Client Background

In early 2025, a mid-sized gold exploration company in Burkina Faso contacted YG Machinery. The company held three exploration rights in the northern Bobo Dioulasso mining area and planned to undertake a large-scale RC drilling project with an annual drilling target of 8,000 meters.

Burkina Faso is a major gold producer in West Africa, with proven gold reserves of approximately 2,000 tons and production reaching 120 tons in 2023. The country’s northern and central regions contain abundant gold resources, with geological conditions dominated by metamorphic rocks of high hardness, and some areas containing quartz veins and greenstone belts.

Customer Challenges

Before purchasing YG equipment, the customer encountered the following problems using traditional core drilling rigs for exploration:

• Severe Water Shortage: The local dry season lasts up to 6 months, and traditional mud drilling requires a large amount of water, frequently forcing work stoppages due to water shortages.
• Severe Sampling Contamination: Forward circulation drilling causes samples to mix with borehole wall mud, resulting in a repeatability error of over 25% in laboratory tests.
• Slow Drilling Speed: In hard granite formations, only 30-40 meters could be drilled per day, severely impacting exploration progress.
• Frequent Equipment Failures: The old equipment had an unstable hydraulic system, resulting in high maintenance costs and difficulties in obtaining spare parts.

YG Solution

Based on the customer’s drilling depth requirements (up to 450 meters), rock hardness, and transportation conditions, YG recommended the YG-500 reverse circulation drilling rig configuration:

Main Unit Configuration:

• YG-500 RC Drilling Rig: Maximum drilling depth 500 meters, hole diameter 105- 400 mm.
• Cummins 154kW diesel engine.
• Hydraulic top drive power head, maximum torque 10000Nm.

Supporting Equipment:

• 25m³/min medium and high pressure air compressors (2 units).
• Cyclone separator group (including 4 sampling ports).
• Bag filter.
• 50kW generator set.
• 50 spare double-wall drill rods.

Application Results:

The YG-500 arrived at Port Ouagadougou in April 2025. After a 500km land transport to the mining area, it was immediately put into drilling operations. Actual performance far exceeded customer expectations:

Drilling Efficiency:

• Average Drilling Speed: 15-20 meters/hour.
• Daily Footage: 180-220 meters (2 shifts).
• Monthly Footage: Approximately 4,500 meters.
• Annual drilling plan completed 2 months ahead of schedule.

Sample Quality:

• Sample purity >96%, analytical error <5%.
• Geologists were very satisfied with the representativeness of the samples.
• Two high-grade ore bodies (grade >8g/t) were discovered in a timely manner.

Cost Savings:

• Drilling cost per meter reduced by approximately 55%.
• No water required, normal operation during the dry season.
• Manpower reduced from 6 to 3.
• Annual operating cost savings of approximately USD 400,000.

Customer Testimonials

"The YG-500 has completely transformed our exploration methods. Previously, with core drilling rigs, a single hole took 5-7 days to drill; now, with RC drilling rigs, it only takes 1-2 days. The sample quality is excellent, the data is reliable, and it helps us quickly delineate orebody boundaries. More importantly, we no longer have to worry about water shortages causing work stoppages during the dry season. YG's technical team provides timely support, and spare parts are supplied promptly. We plan to purchase another YG-600 for deeper exploration." — Jean-Pierre O., Mine Manager

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What Are the Core Advantages of Reverse Circulation Drilling Rigs Compared to Traditional Core Drilling Rigs?

1. High Drilling Efficiency

• Drilling speed in hard rock formations: 10-25 meters/hour.
• 3-5 times faster than traditional core drilling rigs.
• No need for frequent drilling and sampling; continuous operation.

2. Superior Sample Quality

• Rock cuttings return directly through the inner tube, without contacting the borehole wall.
• Sample purity >95%, no cross-contamination.
• Real-time geological information acquisition, facilitating decision-making.

3. No Water Required

• The entire process uses air drilling.
• Especially suitable for arid and water-scarce areas.
• Reduces water resource costs and treatment expenses.

4. Low Operating Costs

• Drilling cost per meter is 40-60% lower than core drilling.
• Requires fewer personnel (only 3 people are needed to operate).
• Simple maintenance, highly interchangeable spare parts.

5. Strong Adaptability

• Can drill through loose layers and bedrock.
• Multiple borehole diameters and depths available.
• Crawler chassis adapts to complex terrain.

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What Factors Should Be Considered When Selecting a YG Reverse Circulation Drilling Rig?

1. Drilling Depth Requirements

• Select the appropriate model based on the depth of the target ore body.
• It is recommended to allow for a 20% depth margin.
• Shallow exploration (<200m): Select YG-400
• Medium exploration (200-500m): Select YG-500/600
• Deep exploration (>500m): Select YG-800/1200

2. Rock and Stratigraphic Conditions

• Soft rock, loose layers: Standard configuration is sufficient.
• Hard rock, quartzite: Requires a high-power air compressor.
• Fractured zones, aquifers: Consider mud drilling capabilities.

3. Hole Diameter Requirements

• General exploration: 105- 150 mm
• Large-diameter sampling: 150- 300 mm
• Hydrogeology: 200- 400 mm

4. Operating Environment

• Arid Regions: RC drilling rigs offer significant advantages.
• High Altitude Regions: Consider engine power reduction.
• Tropical Rainforests: Strengthen anti-corrosion and dust control measures.

5. Budget Constraints

• Main Unit Cost: 60-70% of total investment.
• Supporting Equipment: 20-25%.
• Spare Parts and Consumables: 10-15%.

6. After-Sales Service

• Confirm spare parts supply cycle.
• Understand technical support response time.

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FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions from Mining Customers Regarding YG Reverse Circulation Drilling Rigs