Since 2025, YG has successfully sold multiple RC drilling machine units to Burkina Faso, a country in West Africa. Burkina Faso has rich gold and manganese resources, but the local climate is dry and water is scarce. Traditional drilling methods face many limitations. The YG RC drilling machine has won recognition from local mining companies and geological exploration service providers due to its water free operation, clean samples, and efficient drilling. This article shares two real customer cases to show how the reverse circulation drilling rig performs in actual construction.【WhatsApp/WeChat/Phone】+86 13837122632
Customer background A family owned gold exploration company in northern Burkina Faso has been operating for many years and holds three exploration permits. The company previously used traditional circulation drill rigs and employed several local drillers. Due to aging equipment, the failure rate increased year by year, and the cost of repairs and replacing drill pipes accounted for a certain portion of operating costs.
Construction challenges The work site is on the southern edge of the Sahara Desert, an arid area where surface temperatures often exceed 40°C in the dry season. The nearest water source is more than 30 km away. Water trucks had to make round trips every day, and water costs became a significant expense. In addition, rock chip samples collected by the traditional circulation drill rig were occasionally mixed with material from upper layers, causing deviations in test results.
YG solution We recommended the YGRC-400 reverse circulation drilling rig. This equipment uses a dual wall drill pipe and a cyclone separator. It requires no water at all, relying entirely on compressed air to remove cuttings and collect samples. Considering the dusty environment, the rig was equipped with an air pre cleaner that removes over 90% of incoming dust, helping to protect the engine.
Case process The customer found the YG product page by searching Google for “reverse circulation drilling rig for sale”. A YG sales engineer replied to the inquiry within 24 hours. The two sides then communicated for about two weeks, discussing specifications via video and messages. The customer was most concerned about two issues: whether water free drilling is reliable, and whether sample purity can meet requirements. YG provided construction cases and sample comparison reports from other dry areas. After comparing several suppliers, the customer finally chose to order the YGRC-400. After shipment, YG arranged for technicians to guide installation and commissioning via remote video, which took a few days.
Results In the first month of operation, this RC drilling machine averaged about 180 to 220 meters per day, an improvement over the old rig. The lab reported that sample layer clarity improved significantly, and cross layer contamination basically disappeared. With no need for water trucks, the customer saved a considerable amount on water costs each month. Combined with reduced drill pipe wear and less downtime from failures, the overall cost per meter decreased. The customer completed the exploration work as planned using this rig.
Customer feedback The company owner said, “This reverse circulation drilling machine solved our two main problems – water shortage and sample contamination. Operation is not complicated, and our local workers learned the basics after a few days of training.”
Case Study 2: Medium sized Geological Service Company
Customer background A geological service company in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, has several technical staff. It mainly takes outsourced exploration projects for international mining companies in West Africa, with contractual requirements for construction progress and sample traceability.
Construction challenges The company received an exploration order requiring multiple deep holes within a set time, totaling several thousand meters. The project area consists of hard granite and gneiss formations. The customer’s previous circulation drill rig drilled slowly in such hard rock, and drill pipe threads wore out quickly, putting pressure on the schedule.
YG solution Based on the project conditions, the YG technical team recommended the YGRC-500 RC drilling machine (max depth 500 m). This model is matched with medium to high pressure DTH hammers, which break hard formations effectively. The rig also comes with a hydraulic wrench and a compensated slide plate to help protect drill pipe threads.
Case process The customer first learned about the YG brand through a mining company that had previously bought YG equipment. That mining company shared its experience with YG drills, and the customer then contacted the YG sales team. The customer was interested in water free operation and hard rock drilling capability, and asked to see actual construction video. YG sent drilling footage from similar geological conditions and provided an online meeting. The two sides held two rounds of discussions on delivery time, warranty, and spare parts supply. The customer asked YG to provide French language labels for the control panel and a French maintenance manual, and YG agreed to do so. Finally, the customer purchased a YGRC-500 with 30% deposit and 70% before shipment, plus an extra set of spare hammers and several bits. After signing the contract, YG shipped within the agreed time and arranged one online training session.
Results In actual use, the YGRC-500 drilled faster in granite than the customer’s previous circulation rig, roughly 12 to 16 meters per hour. Drill pipe thread wear was less severe than before. The project was largely completed within the contract period, and the sample records and test reports were accepted by the owner. The customer felt that this RC drilling machine met their core needs.
Customer feedback The project manager said, “YG’s reverse circulation drilling rig for sale offers good value for money. Technical support responded promptly – once we had a hammer problem and they solved it with video guidance. If we have future projects, we will consider buying again.”
Customers in Burkina Faso choose the YG reverse circulation drilling machine mainly because of the following technical advantages:
Drill mast compensation system for stable operation – When working, the drill mast extends via compensation cylinders to make firm contact with the ground. This design improves mast rigidity, preventing shaking or shifting from reaction forces during drilling, and ensures hole verticality. Whether in loose layers or hard bedrock, the compensation system lets the mast “grip” the ground firmly.
Compensated slide plate to protect drill pipe threads – Drill pipe threads are a part that easily wears out. The YG rig uses a compensated slide plate design that automatically adjusts the slide plate position during pipe connection and movement, avoiding abnormal impact or friction on the threads, thereby extending drill pipe life.
Hydraulic wrench combination for safe and fast pipe handling – Conventional rigs often need multiple people to connect/disconnect pipes, which is labor intensive. The YG rig is equipped with a hydraulic wrench system. The operator simply moves a control lever to automatically lock or release the pipe. This reduces labor intensity and improves efficiency per shift.
Drill centering device with level for high starting accuracy – Starting accuracy directly affects the whole hole quality. The YG rig has a unique drill centering device plus a high precision level. The centering device opens and closes easily, adjusts quickly for different bit diameters, and the combined clamp plates have variable inner diameter to perfectly match the drill tool.
Air pre cleaner for dusty environments – Air at mine and field sites often contains a lot of dust. The YG rig uses an air pre cleaner that removes over 90% of incoming dust and automatically ejects it – no manual cleaning needed. This design keeps the engine running efficiently in sand and gravel conditions, extending equipment life. This feature of the RC drilling machine is especially suitable for Burkina Faso’s dry, dusty environment.
Special oil mister to extend hammer life – The special oil mister in the air system precisely lubricates the hammer, effectively increasing its service life and reducing downtime from hammer failure.
Roller slide for long wear life – The YG rig uses a roller slide structure. Compared to traditional sliding friction, it has much better wear resistance and stays smooth even after long use, reducing overall maintenance frequency.
In addition, the YG reverse circulation drilling machine relies entirely on compressed air circulation, requiring no water – suitable for Burkina Faso’s dry environment. Rock chips go directly through the inner pipe into the cyclone separator, without contacting the borehole wall, so samples are clean and reliable. Drilling speed is somewhat better than conventional circulation rigs, helping to shorten exploration cycles. These technical details and actual performance make YG a choice worth considering for local customers.
Reverse Circulation Drilling Rig Supplier – YG
YG rigs are exported to more than 20 countries and regions, including Africa, Southeast Asia, and South America. We provide full services from selection consulting and operation training to spare parts supply. If you work in water scarce areas or have strict requirements for sample purity, please feel free to contact us for a detailed quote and technical proposal for the reverse circulation drilling machine. YG helps you reduce costs and improve efficiency on your exploration projects.
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