KATI driller is preparing Drill Truck 721 for the very first hole.

New underground drill rig

In autumn 2009 a new underground drill rig, based on model Drill Truck

721, was manufactured by KATI. Drill machine is four-wheel steered and

drilling unit is Sandvik DE 130. Drilling capacity is about 700 meters with

WL-76 and about 1200 meters with WL-46/WL-56. “After some years

of pure surface drilling we wanted to expand our selection of services

to underground drilling again since some demand appeared in that sector”,

says Matti Rautakoski, Manager Sales and Marketing in KATI.

Surveys

KATI has acquired the second Reflex Gyro survey tool in November 2009.

The first Gyro instrument for deviation surveys was received in early 2009.

Need for the second tool appeared due to good experiences and increased

volume of survey works. This new compact instrument has given reliable

results in KATI’s quality control experiments. Reflex Gyro is handy to use

also when surveying old drill holes, since there is no need to have heavy

equipments such as drill rig on survey site. That also reduces costs for

surveying old holes. KATI Survey works is run by dedicated group of

experienced survey engineers that serves also other drilling contractors

in addition to KATI’s own drilling. Deviation surveys, which indicate the

deviation of drill hole, are used very commonly right after the end of hole

is reached, but it is also essential when checking deviations and directions

in connection with wedging the holes and steered drilling. In addition to

deviation surveys, KATI survey department can also accurately locate and

mark new drill holes in field with Precision GPS.

Environment

In 2004 KATI introduces ISO 14001 certified Environmental Management

System as the first drilling contractor in Scandinavia. Today Kati takes

the variable nature values of every drill campaign into account together

with our clients to minimize the stress for the environment during drilling

project.  For example waste processing has taken a huge step forward in

past five years. All waste formed is transported to KATI headquarters for

sorting and continued handling. This relates also to careful cleaning of

drill sites after drilling is completed. “By transporting waste to our

premises we can ensure proper sorting of waste material and also keep

account of all waste formed and eventually reduce the total amount of

waste, especially general waste that cannot be recycled”, Rautakoski

points out and continues: “We have put significant efforts to make our

drill rigs as friendly for the environment as possible.”