YOUR DRILL RIG CAN REACH THE TARGET. CAN YOUR SUPPORT EQUIPMENT?
Congratulations.
Your drill rig has crossed the river, climbed the track, crawled through the mud and finally reached the exploration target.
There is just one small problem.
The compressor is still 20 kilometres behind it.
Welcome to remote exploration.
Getting the drill rig to the target is only half the battle.
Diamond drilling needs rods, water, pumps, tooling and consumables.
RC drilling needs serious compressed air.
Air Core needs air, rods and sampling equipment.
Every drilling method needs fuel, spares, tools and maintenance support.
So CED started looking at the problem differently.
If we're engineering drilling equipment to reach difficult terrain, why shouldn't the support equipment be engineered to follow it?
That's the thinking behind the CED SFMTS.
A modular trailer system developed to support CED's wider SFM 6x6 exploration fleet.
What Is the CED SFMTS?
The SFMTS is CED's modular exploration support trailer platform.
Rather than designing one trailer for one fixed application, the concept allows the trailer to be configured around the requirements of the drilling programme.
That could mean carrying an air compressor.
Water.
Diesel.
Diamond drilling consumables.
RC tooling.
Air Core equipment.
Drill rods.
Casing.
Spare parts.
Workshop equipment.
Or another project-specific configuration.
The philosophy is straightforward:
Don't make the exploration programme work around the trailer.
Configure the trailer around the exploration programme.
Why Does a Drill Rig Need a Support Trailer?
Because drill rigs are greedy.
They consume fuel.
They consume water.
They consume bits.
They need rods.
They need tooling.
They need spare parts.
And depending on the drilling method, they may need large volumes of compressed air.
All of that equipment has to move.
On an established mine site with good roads, substantial infrastructure and a permanent workshop, that may be relatively straightforward.
Remote mineral exploration is different.
The target could be kilometres from the nearest decent road.
Access tracks may be narrow.
Ground conditions may change seasonally.
The programme may move repeatedly between drill pads.
Infrastructure may be temporary or almost nonexistent.
Suddenly the ability to move the support system with the drilling system becomes extremely valuable.
Remote Drilling Is a Systems Problem
People naturally focus on the rig.
We understand why.
The rig makes noise.
It turns rods.
It produces samples.
It looks excellent in photographs.
But the drilling operation is actually a collection of interconnected systems.
The rig.
The drill string.
The pump.
The compressor.
The water supply.
The fuel supply.
The consumables.
The maintenance equipment.
The crew.
The logistics.
Remove one critical element and production can stop.
This is why CED increasingly approaches exploration equipment as a complete mobile system, rather than a collection of unrelated machines.
The SFMTS is an important part of that philosophy.
Configuration One: Compressor Trailer
This is perhaps the most obvious SFMTS application.
RC and Air Core drilling need compressed air.
And compressed air requires a compressor.
For remote drilling, that immediately creates another mobilisation problem.
Your RC rig may be capable of reaching the target.
But if the compressor requires a completely different heavy vehicle to get there, the mobility advantage starts disappearing.
An SFMTS can be configured around an appropriate compressor package, creating a towable air-support system that can move with the drilling fleet where project conditions and equipment configuration allow.
For CED's SFM Series, that creates a much more integrated approach.
Rig moves.
Compressor follows.
Drilling starts.
Simple idea.
Potentially very useful.
RC Drilling: The Compressor Is Not Optional
Reverse Circulation drilling makes this especially important.
An RC rig without adequate compressed air isn't really an RC drilling system.
It's a very expensive machine waiting for a compressor.
Air pressure and flow requirements depend on hole diameter, depth, geology, groundwater and the drilling configuration.
That means CED looks at the air requirement alongside the rig rather than treating the compressor as somebody else's problem.
For an SFM7300 RC configuration, for example, the compressor package should be selected around the planned drilling application.
The SFMTS then provides a potential mobile platform for incorporating that air supply into the wider exploration fleet.
Rig + compressor + tooling + rods + consumables.
Now we're talking about a drilling system.
Air Core Has the Same Problem
Air Core may be lighter than conventional RC drilling, but the fundamental requirement remains.
You need air.
You need drill rods.
You need cutting equipment.
You need sampling equipment.
You need fuel.
You need support.
The exact package changes.
The principle doesn't.
CED can configure the SFM7300 for Air Core applications and build the supporting equipment package around the drilling requirements.
An SFMTS compressor or equipment configuration can then form part of that mobile system.
For shallow exploration programmes moving rapidly between targets, keeping the support equipment mobile can become particularly valuable.
Configuration Two: Water Support
Now switch drilling methods.
Diamond drilling creates a different logistical headache.
Water.
Depending on the drilling conditions and system, substantial quantities of water may be required for fluid circulation, cooling, flushing and hole management.
Unfortunately, mineralisation has never shown much interest in forming beside convenient water infrastructure.
Water may need to be moved.
Stored.
Pumped.
Transferred.
And continuously replenished.
An SFMTS can be configured around water storage and pumping requirements, providing another option for getting drilling water closer to the operating rig.
Pair that with the SFM7200 surface diamond drilling platform and the idea becomes obvious.
The drill moves.
Its water support moves with it.
Configuration Three: Diesel Support
Exploration equipment runs on enthusiasm.
Briefly.
Then it needs diesel.
Drill rigs.
Compressors.
Generators.
Pumps.
Support vehicles.
A remote drilling programme can have substantial fuel requirements, and every litre eventually has to reach the equipment.
An SFMTS fuel-support configuration can provide additional mobile fuel capacity where appropriate for the project and applicable transport requirements.
Again, we're solving the same fundamental problem.
Move the things the drill consumes closer to the drill.
Because a rig capable of reaching an extraordinary remote target isn't particularly useful if the fuel supply can't follow it.
Configuration Four: Diamond Drilling Consumables
Diamond drilling comes with an impressive shopping list.
Drill rods.
Casing.
Core barrels.
Inner tubes.
Bits.
Reaming shells.
Core lifters.
Landing rings.
Wireline equipment.
Drilling fluids.
Grease.
Tools.
Critical spares.
The deeper or longer the programme, the larger that inventory becomes.
An SFMTS can be configured to transport part of that equipment between storage areas, camps and active drill sites.
This becomes particularly useful where the drilling rig is moving frequently between pads.
Instead of repeatedly creating separate transport arrangements for consumables, the support trailer becomes part of the drilling mobilisation plan.
Configuration Five: RC Consumables and Tooling
RC has its own inventory.
Dual-wall drill pipes.
Hammers.
Bits.
Subs.
Sample equipment.
Hoses.
Lubricants.
Tools.
Spare components.
The equipment is different from diamond drilling, which is exactly why a modular trailer concept makes sense.
The same basic SFMTS platform can be configured around a completely different drilling method.
That's the point.
One trailer concept. Multiple exploration applications.
Configuration Six: Drill Rods and Casing
Rods are long.
Rods are heavy.
And drilling tends to require quite a few of them.
Moving drill rods and casing around an exploration project therefore deserves more thought than simply finding somewhere they fit.
A suitable SFMTS configuration can provide dedicated transport capacity for drill-string components and associated tooling.
For a mobile exploration fleet, this helps keep the drilling equipment and its working inventory moving together.
The rig reaches the next pad.
The rods shouldn't arrive tomorrow.
Configuration Seven: Mobile Workshop and Spares
Drilling equipment works hard.
Eventually something needs attention.
A hydraulic hose.
A filter.
A seal.
A bearing.
A connection.
Routine servicing.
Preventative maintenance.
The further the rig is from the workshop, the more valuable it becomes to bring workshop capability toward the rig.
An SFMTS can therefore be configured around tools, maintenance equipment and critical spares.
It doesn't need to become a giant workshop on wheels.
It needs to carry the equipment most likely to keep the drilling fleet operational.
Because one surprisingly small component can stop a surprisingly expensive drilling operation.
Every Additional Truck Adds Complexity
There is another reason behind the SFMTS concept.
Vehicles cost money.
Drivers cost money.
Fuel costs money.
Maintenance costs money.
Shipping costs money.
Mobilisation costs money.
Every additional vehicle introduced into a remote exploration programme adds another piece to the logistical puzzle.
Sometimes those vehicles are absolutely necessary.
But CED's objective is to ask whether the overall system can be made more efficient.
If a 6x6 drilling platform can tow an appropriately configured support trailer, perhaps some equipment doesn't need another dedicated truck.
If consumables can travel with the drilling fleet, perhaps mobilisation becomes simpler.
If the compressor can form part of the same system, perhaps fewer separate arrangements are required.
Not every project will use the same configuration.
That's precisely why we're developing the system modularly.
Meet the Wider CED SFM Series
The SFMTS becomes much more interesting when viewed beside the wider SFM family.
SFM7200 — Surface Diamond Drilling
SFM7300 — RC / Air Core / Auger Drilling
SFM7400 — Water Well Drilling
SFM7500 — Underground Diamond Drilling
SFM7600 — Exploration Support Vehicle
SFMTS — Modular Trailer Systems
Different equipment.
Different jobs.
One underlying philosophy.
Make exploration more mobile.
SFM7200 + SFMTS: Mobile Diamond Drilling
Pair the SFMTS with the SFM7200 and the trailer can support the diamond drilling operation with equipment such as water, rods, consumables, tools or project-specific supplies.
The rig handles the drilling.
The trailer helps carry what the drilling requires.
For remote diamond drilling programmes, particularly those moving between multiple pads, that creates a more self-contained mobilisation concept.
SFM7300 + SFMTS: Mobile RC and Air Core
The SFM7300 introduces another combination.
RC.
Air Core.
Auger.
Those applications can require compressed air, rods, tooling, sampling equipment and consumables.
Configure the SFMTS around the compressor or equipment package and the two platforms begin operating as a system.
6x6 drilling rig in front.
Critical support equipment behind.
That is considerably more useful than building an off-road drill rig and leaving the rest of the equipment beside the highway.
SFM7400 + SFMTS: Water Beyond the Road
The SFM7400 is CED's mobile water well drilling platform.
Water-well projects can bring their own requirements for rods, casing, pumps, tooling and support equipment.
An SFMTS configuration adds another layer of carrying capacity and flexibility.
This can be particularly useful for remote water projects associated with mining camps, exploration programmes or communities where road access is limited.
SFM7600 + SFMTS: Now It Gets Interesting
Then add the SFM7600.
CED's dedicated 6x6 exploration support vehicle can provide up to approximately 4 tonnes of payload depending on configuration and operating requirements.
Now the fleet can potentially combine:
A drilling platform.
A support vehicle.
A modular trailer.
A compressor.
Water.
Fuel.
Consumables.
Tools.
Spare parts.
Suddenly this isn't really about one drill rig anymore.
It's about building a mobile exploration infrastructure system.
Gold Exploration Doesn't Always Happen Beside a Highway
Gold is an obvious application.
Many prospective gold belts are located in regions where exploration access is difficult.
West Africa.
Central Africa.
Parts of South America.
The Pacific.
Australia.
Greenfield targets can sit far from established mine infrastructure.
Early-stage programmes may need to move frequently between targets.
In that environment, reducing dependence on large fleets of conventional support vehicles can be extremely useful.
A mobile drilling and support system gives the exploration team another option.
Copper Targets Can Be Even Further Away
Copper exploration increasingly pushes into frontier and underexplored regions.
Some of those projects involve enormous licence areas and limited infrastructure.
That means equipment mobilisation becomes a serious project cost before the first metre is drilled.
Again, the SFM philosophy is not that every copper programme should use a Land Cruiser-based drilling system.
Of course not.
The philosophy is that where remote access is the problem, the equipment should be designed around remote access.
Lithium and Critical Minerals Need Mobility Too
Lithium, rare earths and other critical-mineral exploration are creating new drilling requirements across emerging jurisdictions.
Some projects are relatively accessible.
Others aren't.
As exploration moves into less-developed regions, equipment logistics become increasingly important.
A modular drilling fleet allows the package to be configured around the terrain and drilling method rather than forcing every programme into the same equipment model.
The Pacific Is a Perfect Example
Island exploration can be spectacularly awkward.
Mountainous terrain.
Dense vegetation.
Limited road networks.
Ports.
Barges.
Helicopters.
Temporary access.
Everything required for drilling has to enter that logistics chain somehow.
That makes equipment size, weight, mobility and modularity extremely important.
The drill rig is only one component.
The compressor still has to arrive.
The rods still have to arrive.
The fuel still has to arrive.
The consumables still have to arrive.
Remote exploration quickly teaches one lesson:
Anything that cannot follow the drilling operation becomes somebody's next problem.
Africa Creates a Different Version of the Same Challenge
Across Africa, remote exploration may involve very different terrain, but the logistics principle remains.
Long distances.
Seasonal roads.
Limited local equipment availability.
Large exploration licences.
Remote camps.
Multiple drilling locations.
Getting equipment into the country is only the first step.
Then it has to reach the geology.
That's where CED sees significant potential for the SFM Series and SFMTS concept.
Not simply as individual products.
As an integrated exploration fleet.
Shipping Matters Too
Modularity isn't only useful in the field.
International exploration equipment also has to be shipped.
Containers.
Ports.
Road transport.
Customs.
Inland mobilisation.
Every piece of equipment has logistical consequences before it ever reaches the drill site.
CED can configure complete drilling packages around the equipment required for the programme and coordinate international mobilisation accordingly.
That can include:
Drill rig.
6x6 platform.
SFMTS.
Compressor.
Pump.
Drill string.
Consumables.
Critical spares.
Tooling.
Commissioning.
Training.
Operational personnel where required.
One package designed around the drilling programme.
We Don't Want to Sell You an Empty Rig
This is a recurring theme at CED.
A drill rig by itself isn't a drilling operation.
And a remote-access drill rig with support equipment that cannot reach it isn't a particularly clever remote-access solution.
That's why we're increasingly looking beyond the machine.
What does the rig need?
What needs to follow it?
How much air?
How much water?
How much fuel?
How many rods?
How many metres?
What consumables?
What spares?
What terrain?
How far from infrastructure?
How frequently will the drilling operation move?
Answer those questions first.
Then configure the equipment.
6×6 + DRILL RIG + SFMTS + SUPPORT
That equation is really what the SFM programme is becoming.
Not one clever vehicle.
Not one clever trailer.
A modular system.
The rig gets to the target.
The compressor gets there too.
The rods follow.
The consumables follow.
Water follows.
Fuel follows.
Tools and spares follow.
And when the drilling programme moves?
The system moves.
That's the objective.
YOUR DRILL RIG CAN REACH THE TARGET. MAKE SURE EVERYTHING ELSE CAN TOO.
Remote exploration exposes weak logistics very quickly.
It's easy to concentrate on drilling depth, pullback, rotation and production.
Those numbers matter.
But once the rig is in the field, another set of questions starts mattering just as much.
Where's the compressor?
Where's the water?
Where's the diesel?
Where are the rods?
Where are the bits?
Where are the spares?
CED is developing the SFMTS modular trailer system because those questions shouldn't be an afterthought.
They should be part of the drilling-system design from the beginning.
SFM SERIES + SFMTS.
DRILLING MOBILITY + SUPPORT MOBILITY.
ONE COMPLETE EXPLORATION SYSTEM.
Cylinder Exploration Drilling supplies diamond, RC, Air Core, underground and water-well drilling equipment alongside compressors, pumps, consumables, support vehicles, modular trailers, spare parts, personnel and complete turnkey exploration packages worldwide.
Planning a remote drilling programme?
Tell CED the terrain, drilling method, hole depth and programme requirements. We'll configure the drilling system around the job.
Over to the exploration crews
What's the piece of support equipment you've seen cause the biggest headache on a remote drilling programme — compressor, water, fuel, rods, consumables or spares?
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