RADS Plant and Equipment

Ritcan Akwaba have historically tailored its plant and equipment to the clients’ individual project requirements. We take a flexible approach trying to match the drill and equipment to the to local project conditions, Ritcan Akwaba selects equipment to maximise core recovery from the top to the bottom of the borehole including overburden formations.

Diamond Core drilling

Lightweight / Manportable rigs

Versadril KMB.4 - The kmB.4 drill fills the need for a lightweight long stroke portable drill rig and has been ordered specifically for a contract where difficult access and moving conditions are expected. Rated to drill BQ wireline to 400 metre the rugged design using lightweight materials lends itself to grass roots exploration drilling . -

1 drill has been ordered for delivery in January 2008 with a further drill rig expected in the first half of 2008.

Ingetrol MD3 Explorer plus - RADS operates this lightweight core drill in areas of difficult or restricted access, the drills are of a modular design with 3 diesel power packs and are broken down for man portability and can be transported between drill areas in pick up type vehicles. Currently these drills can use conventional or wireline equipment and are currently configured with TNW and BTW drilling equipment (60mm and 42mm respectively) and are drilling boreholes up to 200 metres in depth.

Hydracore 28 - A larger drill than the MD3 Explorer but still of modular design, the Hydracore 28 can drill H size holes to 80m and N / B size holes to 200 metres, it is quickly dismantled for moving between holes and sites and is compact but powerful drill.

Medium Core drills

Atlas Copco CS14 - Joined the fleet in March 2007 this drilling rig is a new machine from Atlas Copco and is designed to maximise productivity but remains relatively compact. Its trailerised design means can be moved between drill locations quickly. Capable of drilling to 540m in PQ, 800m in HQ and 1200 in NQ wireline this drill has proved itself an effective performer and has routinely achieved 400 metres per week on its current contract.

Atlas Copco CS 1000 P4 - Joined the RADS fleet in September 2005 this drilling rig is designed to maximise productivity whilst remaining relatively compact. Its trailerised design means can be moved between drill locations quickly and can also be disassembled into modules for helicopter moves if needed. Capable of drilling to 350m in HQ and 700m in NQ this drill will be able to cover most clients spectrum of exploration operations, it has been proven effective on its current contracts and will shortly be equipped with a PQ drill string.

Fordia Golden Bear - Joined the fleet in November 2007, this new drill is the first to be produced by this well known equipment manufacturer, the drill has been set up to drill its first hole expected to be drilled to 750 metres finishing in NQ size. This drill is capable of drilling boreholes in PQ to BQ wireline size range and is rated for drilling NQ boreholes to 1400 metres.

2 further new Golden Bear drills are on order and will join the fleet in the first half of 2008.

BBS 37 - For moving flexibility RADS has mounted its BBS 37 on a skid mounting, this unit is combined with stub axle wheels and a winch tractor for self sufficient local site moves and borehole to borehole moving. The drill can rated to 300m in HQ and 700m in NQ and can be configured to suit the clients project specification.

Ancilliary Plant and Equipment

Drilling Equipment

RADS uses equipment supplied by the worlds best manufacturers such as Fordia Group and Atlas Copco.

The equipment choice depends on the clients project and drilling conditions the following are a selection of the equipment used by Ritcan Akwaba Drilling Services Ltd:-

Conventional		Wireline
Description	Core Size	Description	Core size
PWF Air Core	93mm	PQ	85mm
412 Air Core	75mm	HQ	63mm
T6 116	93mm	NQ	47mm
T6 101	79mm	BQ	36.40mm
TNW	60mm	BTW	42mm
LTK 48	35mm
TT 46	35mm

Specialist plant and vehicles

RADS has recently deployed Hagglund BV206 amphibious tracked vehicles to assist with difficult access and moving conditions on projects in West Africa and Madagascar. With its driven tractor / trailer combination and the ability to ford major flooded areas or rivers these vehicles will be used to assist our clients access their most difficult sites. RADS is also providing MAN support trucks to its clients operations for moving equipment between site locations, the company also sources 4 x 4 vehicles to suit the needs of each individual project. All plant and equipment is prepared at the companies UK depot prior to dispatch to project location.

Pumps

RADS manufacturers its own drilling and supply pumps incorporating readily available pump ends and engines into a lightweight tubular frame. Well known manufacturers such as Mono, FMC and CAT are used to provide pump ends of the appropriate size to suit our projects.

Other equipment and client services

Ritcan Akwaba Drilling Services Ltd provides a total package of plant and equipment to cater for its operations and, depending on contract duration, regular airfreight and courier shipments are used to re-supply th contract as necssary.

As well as providing for its project drilling requirements RADS has the flexibility to offer its clients with a service to provide non drilling equipment such as camp equipment, core saws, core trays etc, combined with is British sister company Envirodrill Ltd it can source and quote for any project related equipment the client may require.