FIVE MINUTES WITH ...
JEFF OLSEN
The CEO at Boart Longyear emphasises how the need for efficiency begins with data
“ THE FUTURE IS ALSO ABOUT INVESTING IN GEOLOGICAL SCIENCE AND PRODUCING TOOLS THAT WILL ANALYSE DATA FASTER ”
Q . TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT BOART LONGYEAR ?
» We drill all over the world . We use our own tooling and drill rigs , and design and deliver some of the most respected equipment in the industry — made by drillers , for drillers .
Q . HOW DOES THE MINING INDUSTRY PREPARE FOR THE ENERGY TRANSITION ?
» In my mind , the industry ’ s success at meeting future metals ’ demand begins with the investment in the research and development of new drilling and geo-technologies that will mitigate ore body risks , significantly cutting the time it takes from discovery to mineral extraction .
It ’ s been more than 20 years since the last greenfield discovery of a world-class mineral deposit – namely , the massive copper and gold operation at Oyu Tolgoi in southern Mongolia .
Once it ’ s operating at peak capacity , it will produce some halfa-billion tonnes of copper each year . Though that sounds like a lot , imagine the output of five Oyu Tolgois – that ’ s what we ’ re going to need if we ’ re going to keep up with the expected needs of the green transition .
Q . HOW CAN DRILLING RISKS BE REDUCED ?
» The drilling industry is at a technological turning point , especially when more mineral resources and new efficiency are badly needed .
Risks can be avoided – and companies can end a season with a better hit rate – if they create efficiencies by obtaining better information earlier in the process , utilising technologies that empower them to gain quick and accurate geological data right on site to make real-time exploration decisions .
18 September 2022