As the Cameroonian government ramps up the development of mineral resources, gold mines, iron ore, bauxite, and other projects have entered the detailed exploration stage, leading to a growing demand for high-efficiency drilling equipment. Seizing market opportunities, YG Machinery has successfully sold rc drill rig to the East Region of Cameroon. Featuring reverse circulation sampling and dust collection & environmental protection, this equipment has won high recognition from local exploration companies.
YG Reverse Circulation Drilling Rig Parameters
| YGRC-400 | |||
| Max drilling depth | 400 m | Drilling diameter | 115-305 mm |
| Air pressure | 1.05-3 Mpa | Air consumption | 16-42 m³/min |
| Drill pipe length | 3 m | Drill pipe diameter | 89/108/127 mm |
| Axial pressure | 5 T | Lifting force | 12 T |
| Fast lifting speed | 14.5 m/min | Fast feeding speed | 21 m/min |
| Max rotary torque | 4000-5700 Nm | Max rotary speed | 0-120/0-150 r/min |
| auxiliary winch lifting force | 20T | Drilling efficiency | 10-25 m/h |
| Driving speed | 2.5 Km/h | Uphill angle | 21° |
| Weight | 7 T | Dimension | 6.8×2.1×2.8 m |
| Working condition | Loose layers and bedrock | Drilling methods | Top-drive hydraulic rotation & feed, DTH hammer drilling or mud drilling |
| Matched DTH hammer | Medium/high air pressure series | Optional accessories | Reverse circulation device, mud pump, generator, foam pump |
Case: YG RC Drill Rig Boosts Drilling Projects in Eastern Cameroon Mining Area
Customer Background
A medium-sized mineral exploration company in the East Region of Cameroon is in charge of the detailed exploration phase of a gold mine project. It needs to complete about 3,000 meters of drilling within three months, with sampling depth ranging from 100 meters to 350 meters.
Construction Challenges
The mining area is mainly composed of weathered granite and fractured zones with local quartz veins. The customer previously used ordinary DTH drilling rigs for cuttings sampling and faced three major problems. First, severe dust during drilling brought heavy environmental protection pressure. Second, cuttings samples were cross-contaminated by air and debris, making test results less representative. Third, conventional rigs were prone to drill jamming in fractured formations, with a hole forming rate below 70%.
YG Solution
YG recommended the YGRC-400 reverse circulation drilling rig. Designed with double-wall drill pipes, the equipment allows compressed air to flow downward through the annular gap between the outer and inner pipes to drive the hammer. After rock breaking, cuttings are continuously and stably transported to the ground via the inner pipe and collected and bagged by a cyclone separator. Compared with ordinary drilling rigs, this set of reverse circulation drilling rig has three core advantages:
- Cuttings samples return directly from the drill bit through the inner pipe, avoiding contamination caused by contact with the hole wall and ensuring high sample representativeness.
- Equipped with a dust collector to effectively control operation dust and meet environmental protection standards.
- Reverse circulation discharges cuttings in a timely manner in fractured strata, greatly reducing the risk of drill jamming.
Case Process
The customer found YG’s official website while searching for rc drilling equipment and conducted in-depth communication with YG engineers. Initially unfamiliar with reverse circulation technology, the customer worried about complex operation and insufficient accessory supply.YG sales engineers actively arranged two online video meetings to explain the reverse circulation principle and YGRC-400 operation procedures in detail, and provided videos of its successful application in other mining areas. The customer also focused on the actual performance of the dust collector, and YG demonstrated its dust filtration efficiency on site, reaching over 90%. After three weeks of multiple communications and technical clarifications, the customer finally confirmed the purchase of one YGRC-400 unit.
Application Effects
- Drilling Efficiency: In weathered granite formations, the average drilling speed of RC400 reaches 16-20 meters per hour, a 40% increase compared with the customer’s old equipment. The maximum drilling depth for an 8-hour single shift hits 140 meters.
- Sample Quality: Cuttings collected by reverse circulation are clean and continuous, with mixed samples taken every 3 meters. Laboratory tests show a 92% consistency with core samples from the same hole, providing reliable data for ore body delineation.
- Environmental Performance: The dust collector captures about 85% of drilling dust, leaving almost no visible dust on the construction site.
- Equipment Stability: The whole set of rc drilling machine ran continuously for two months without shutdowns caused by hydraulic or air circuit failures. The service life of the DTH hammer reaches around 3,500 meters of drilling footage.
Customer Feedback
“YG’s rc drill rig has raised our hole forming rate in fractured formations from less than 70% to over 95%. Both sampling and environmental issues have been perfectly solved.”
Key Points to Consider When Choosing RC Drill Rig
RC drilling equipment is not suitable for all working conditions. The key selection tips are as follows:
- Matching air pressure and air volume: Reverse circulation drilling relies on compressed air to drive hammers and carry cuttings. The recommended air pressure is no less than 2.0 Mpa and air volume no less than 30 m³/min, to avoid cuttings blockage in deep holes.
- Drill pipe quality and tightness: The inner pipe seals and threads of double-wall drill pipes are vulnerable parts. Adopt high-quality alloy steel drill pipes and inspect sealing parts regularly to prevent reverse circulation failure due to air leakage.
- Dust collection system performance: For projects in residential areas or eco-sensitive zones, verify the dust collector’s filtration efficiency. Prioritize pre-filters with automatic dust discharge to reduce manual maintenance.
- Terrain adaptability of drilling rigs: Most mining areas in Cameroon are hilly. Check the equipment’s climbing angle and track ground pressure to prevent vehicle trapping on soft soil or steep slopes.
- After-sales accessory reserve: For wearing parts of rc drilling machine (hammer, drill bit, sealing ring, inner pipe, etc.), stock up 2-3 months’ consumption together with equipment purchase to shorten cross-border logistics waiting time.
Contact YG
YG Machinery provides more than just equipment sales, but also full-process support. By choosing our rc drill rig, you can get:
- Professional model selection guidance based on geological reports
- Operation manuals and video tutorials
- On-site engineer training (negotiable per project)
- Spare parts list for common wearing parts
Contact us for quotations and technical documents: Tel / WhatsApp: Email:+ 86 138 3712 2632
YG Machinery looks forward to growing together with your exploration projects.
