PRESS RELEASE: Boart Longyear stated that its XQ rods can add even more value as they have been proven to be stronger, last longer and are easier to make and break.

Chris Lambert, global product manager at Boart Longyear, said: "Our customers are looking to get the most out of the drilling products they purchase. If a rod doesn't perform, project costs and hours can quickly add up. Customers continually choose high-quality Boart Longyear rods, casings, and drill bits because they have proven reliability and longevity. The XQ rod provides many advantages resulting in productivity and cost efficiencies immediately being realised."

Already trialled at nearly 30 different exploration locations, with over 10,000 XQ rods tested, Boart Longyear stated that customers are excited about the benefits XQ rods bring to their drilling projects. As an example, a recent string of well-maintained XQ rods lasted nearly 20,000m of drilling, double the footage reached by RQ rods at the same site.

According to Boart Longyear, what makes XQ rods so revolutionary are the patented XQ thread joints. Featuring self-aligning, double-start threads, the XQ rod's joints engage smoothly virtually eliminate wedging or jamming - a common challenge with single-thread rods - so make and break functions are much easier. Doubling the thread also means double the contact area for a balanced load response which translates to no box bulging. The thread design also includes a -20 degree reverse flank angle for even more strength and load capacity.

Mike Garton, drilling services division manager for coring in Canada at Boart Longyear, added: "The new XQ thread provides the smoothest making and breaking of any rod I have used in my 25-year career in drilling. The XQ rods align better and don't require back-turning the rods to start. This saves us time and not having the rods jamming means more metres drilled."

To minimise thread wear, Boart Longyear added hardening to the crest of the pin thread to maximum hardness and create a significant hardness difference between pin and box. The hardness difference is proven to minimise wear and preserves the toughness in the joint required to carry drilling loads. Currently, no other manufacturer combines heat-treated ends with pin case hardening.

Another distinct advantage is that XQ's rod weight has been reduced by utilising an exclusive new W-Wall tubing design. A thicker mid-body and rod ends provide a more uniform bend and outer wear distribution, reducing mid-body wear compared to other variable wall rods. W-Wall's inner diameter gives more space to allow drilling fluid to pass by inner tube assemblies during wireline tripping. In fact, tests have shown wireline tripping to be up to 50% faster in XQ rods than in conventional parallel wall rods.

Boart Longyear stated that XQ drill rods have been shown to have double the thread life, up to 25% more box life, and up to 60% more strength than its predecessor, and can increase the depth rating to 4,000m - a 33% increase over RQ rods. The company concluded that the combination of heat treatments and innovative engineering makes XQ rods the ultimate in performance and longevity.