June 2014
New ARDS Rig Boosts Capacity
The new ARDS Horizontal Drill Rig (HDR 250) is bigger, better and safer than its predecessor and boosts the capacity of ARDS to more efficiently and effectively service its clients’ drilling requirements. The HDR 250 is drilling depressurising wells in the pit walls of Newcrest Mining’s Lihir operations to greater depths more quickly to improve mine efficiency. Key safety features of the HDR 250 include:
- Hydraulic lock outs on its deck so that no person can enter the work area without the prior knowledge of the driller.
- A hands free rod loading crane which eliminates numerous potential risks to offsiders by separating them from menial tasks such as those that need to be performed on other types of rigs (like the old D85).
- The crane and manipulator greatly improve rod handling capabilities and remove the hazardous practice of using slings by adding greater control when handling rods.
- An air conditioned cab which protects the driller from excessive heat and potentially deadly steam and gas.
The designing and building of the HDR 250 was a team effort between ARDS on Lihir, PNG and Interdrill in Townsville.
The new HDR 250 has considerably more power, functionality, and safety features than its D85 predecessor.
