Mighty River Power

• 2001 - Arapuni Dam - Abutment Investigation Drilling.

Drilling of angled boreholes from the abutments of the dam for the purpose of assessing seepage and grouting conditions. Scope includes high quality core recovery, casing, water testing, grouting of completed holes and standpipe installation. Installation of Piezometer packers down to depths of up to 100 metres.

• 2001 - Arapuni Dam - Bore Holes for Fissure Grouting.

Directional drilling from the base of the dam aimed at specific target areas within the dam foundation. Holes intersected areas that discharged water at high pressure. Holes were then fitted either with drainage relief or grout fittings. Job required excellent core recovery whilst working in sometimes difficult conditions.

• 2002 - Arapuni Dam - Installation of Fissure Monitoring Piezometers.

Drilling from the outside of the dam at sites close to the gallery entrances. Holes to intersect defects in dam structure and high pressure flows encountered. Drill holes then fitted with borehole packers and vibrating wire pressure transducers with Alton providing assistance with instrument installation.

• 2002 - Arapuni Dam - Drilling & Pressure Grouting of Diversion Tunnel Intake.

Drilling and low pressure grouting to fill voids behind the concrete lining of the diversion tunnel.

• 2003 - Arapuni Dam/Hinuera Quarry - Foundation Enhancement Project - Site Trials.

Pre-drilling bore holes required for trials and on completion of trials, capping the holes and clearing the site.

• 2004 - Taupo - Control Gate Structure - Installation of 3 piezometers.

The installation of two standpipe piezometer nests, one on each bank on the downstream side of the structure, and one standpipe piezometer in the middle of the river, attached to a downstream pier.

Manukau Wastewater Ltd

Alton Drilling was awarded a four year contract with M.W.S which involved the following projects;

• 1999 - 2003 - Airlift Temporary Dewatering System installed.
• 1999 - 2003 - Permanent Dewatering System designed and installed.
• 1999 - 2003 - Miscellaneous concrete cutting, sawing, and drilling.

The original tender had requested that electric pumps be utilised as part of the temporary dewatering project. The pumps were to be a consumable item and would need to be replaced every 3-6 months at an average cost of $3000.00 per pump. After reviewing the tender, Alton Drilling liaised with MWS to provide a new innovative system to replace the electric pumps. Pneumatic pumps were sourced from overseas and then supplied at a fraction of the cost. The pumps were over 300% more reliability and no replacements were required. Not only did this system produce a significant financial saving but the highest savings were from the reliability of the system. The pumps do not require further maintenance and also reduce safety concerns as they do not require an electric supply.

Solid Energy (NZ) Ltd

• 2000-2003 - Exploration coal drilling on West Coast of South Island. This included PQ/HQ and Aircore drilling. Alton Drilling operated as preferred drilling contractor for Solid Energy NZ Ltd.

Waihi Gold Mining Ltd

• 2001-2004 - Cored exploration drilling of over 25,000 metres around the Waihi area. This involved drilling in some of New Zealand’s most difficult ground conditions such as multiple shear zones, highly fractured and weathered rock and variable ground formations.

During 2004 whilst working for Newmont Waihi, Alton Drilling underwent an extensive sound proofing and noise reduction project of our drilling rigs. Low noise emissions were required due to the close proximity of drilling to residential housing. Our first rig had its diesel engine removed and electric motor installed. The second rig was installed inside a 20ft high cube container with sound proofing on walls. Through these measures Newmont Waihi and Alton Drilling were able to improve community relations and also enable a higher production core from 24 hr operations.

Western Bay of Plenty District Council

• 2003-2004 - Drilling of cored and cased observation and production wells around the Bay of Plenty district.
• 2004 - Drilling of cored and cased observation and product well at Katikati.

Oceana Gold Ltd (Formerly Grd Macraes)

• 2003-2004 - Exploration drilling at Sams Creek, Takaka, S.I. Due to the remote location, a small camp was set up in the bush where our drillers lived during the duration of the contract. The drilling rig and equipment was flown in by helicopter.
• 2004 - Geotechnical drilling on the West Coast of the South Island

Kenham Holdings

• 2004 - Exploration drilling at four sites in Otago/Southland and Waikato

Heritage Gold NZ Ltd

• 2004 - Underground drilling program at Karangahake, Waihi.

Brian Perry / Trevi Joint Venture

• 2006 – 400mm diameter overlapped cored holes drilled at the top of the Arapuni Dam, South Waikato.

Meridian Energy – Mokihinui

• 2007 - 2008

Potential dam-site investigation drilling at Mokihinui River. Helicopters were used to move the drilling rig and equipment between holes. Nine holes were drilled in and around the river on flat and sloping sites, with care taken when drilling close to the unstable rivers edge. Staff also needed to be aware of the rising river during heavy rains and potential flooding of the drill site.

Holes at the river’s edge required platforms to be built out over the river to allow correct placement of the drilling rig. Drilling on the sloping hills required 60˚platforms to be designed and purpose-built for the terrain.

Packer tests were carried out every 15 metres.

Environmental considerations included pollution prevention (no drill muds used), water recirculation, and the construction of houses for endangered snail species.

Glass Earth – Rotorua

• 2006 - 2008

Alton Drilling has been involved in a 10,000m drilling project with gold exploration company, Glass Earth, and has been drilling between Taupo and Rotorua since October 2006.

Alton Drilling has met all targets and is making excellent progress.

Drill holes have generally been inclined HQ diamond hole from surface to a depth of approximately 500m. Downhole surveys are carried out every 50m.

We utilized our HD900 rig mounted on a Rubber Track Marooka and the Hitachi Rod Carrier for this particular job as they provide minimum ground disturbance and easy tracking around the site and between holes.

Auzex Resources - Reefton

• 2008

Australian owned company, Auzex, has employed Alton Drilling to complete a 1200m drilling project in Reefton, on the West Coast of NZ.

Due to the remote site location (altitude at 4,500 feet – tussock snow grass), a full camp was set up near the drill sites. This involved flying all gear, including a caravan, site office, utility rooms, and all cooking and cleaning facilities, in by helicopter.

The drill rig is situated below the tree-line and the water supply is approximately 1200m away in very sheer terrain, requiring 2 stage pumping. Extensive drill platforms were constructed at each site to allow for placement of the drilling rig on the steep hill angles.

Communication is maintained through a satellite phone and regular visits by helicopter. All drilling gear, including the rig, is flown in and set up on each drill site, then packed up and moved on to the next hole.

Pike River Coal

Auckland Harbour