Washingtons International provided slim-hole coring services for Lihir Gold Limited. We completed this as part of the geothermal exploration programme at Lihir Island, Papua New Guinea. 

This programme was able to greatly improve the stratigraphic, thermal and fluid information for defining the resource. Washingtons were able to achieve this through a series of 60º continuous coring wells, meeting the targets for depth, deviation and core recovery. These wells allow for ongoing pressure, temperature and spinner testing following heat-up of the resource by using perforated liners in the production zones.

Washingtons International utilised its UDR KL1500 Slim-hole Rig for these operations. This rig is equipped with sufficient well control and pumping systems to be able to manage the issues that can be present when drilling and coring in temperatures up to 250 ºC. The wells cored for Lihir Gold Limited have had target depths of 1,500m, with extensive zones of total loss of circulation. Pullback loading at this depth indicates that, in conducive formations and with suitable drill-strings, the rig may be capable of coring to 1,800—2,000m. 

One of the advantages of the operation is its mobility and small environmental footprint. Because of this footprint, the Rig is able to access high altitude sites, and has the ability to operate in confined spaces. The standard Rig along with the ancillary equipment has a footprint of 40m x 20m and a site access footprint of 50m x 30m. These footprints have both been successfully reduced for working on specific sites. The Rig itself is mounted on an all-terrain crawler excavator base, while additional equipment is moved through the use of trucking or sledding