why optimize

Drill programs utilizing helicopter support are an effective and proven way to explore Canada’s challenging regions. However, the helicopter expenses associated with these programs can be substantial. These costs constitute 30% to 75% of the overall program operational expenditure.

From the daily transportation of crews, slinging resupply, pad materials, drill moves and growing needs for environmental monitoring, expenses on drill programs add up rapidly. Therefore, it is crucial to accurately forecast helicopter usage and resolve where appropriate the reasons for deviation.

For forecasting purposes, relying solely on previous program actuals is the traditional approach; however, this method has its limitations. Factors leading to any step change such as new drilling locations, topography, new drilling contractors, drill models used, expanding programs and environmental monitoring requirements can significantly impact the program's expenses and are difficult to capture using the traditional approach. Thus, utilizing last year's data to predict costs proves to be outdated and ineffective in today's dynamic environment.

At NORTHERN DRILL PILOTS, we possess extensive expertise in maximizing results on drill programs across Canada. Our aim is to optimize our clients programs and reduce operational costs year after year.