Jody Conrad, CEO, Krux Analytics

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Drilling has always been the heartbeat of mining. But today, it’s undergoing a transformation that’s reshaping not just how we drill, but how we think about the entire mining value chain.

At Krux, we recently hosted a panel discussion with industry leaders from Boart Longyear, IMDEX, and RioTinto to explore the future of drilling — and what emerged was a bold,collaborative vision for what’s next.

Here's my take on the discussion.

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From the Rig to the Cloud: Technology Is Changing Everything

Over the past five years, we’ve seen a wave of innovation sweep across drilling operations. Automation, AI, and digital platforms are no longer buzzwords — they’re becoming standard practice.

Luis Roble from Rio Tinto highlighted how safety andtechnology go hand in hand:

“Sometimes — or maybe most of the time — safety means technology.”

Rio Tinto’s adoption of systems like block handling and core pushers has removed workers from the line of fire, while real-time camera feeds and centralized data platforms are improving visibility and decision-making across sites.

Jimmy Barrieau of Boart Longyear shared how their LF160 rigs paired with Freedom Loaders have reduced reportable injuries by 54%. Their new LMR 110 autonomous rig has already drilled over 7,000 meters underground —without human intervention.

“This is complete autonomous underground diamond drilling…It’s what the industry needs, and it’ll be the future of drilling.”
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AI: Augmenting Experience, Not Replacing It

AI is often seen as a threat to jobs, but our panellists see it differently. Michelle Carey from IMDEX emphasized the role of AI in augmenting geoscientists, not replacing them:

“We talk a lot about augmenting geosciences rather than replacing… AI helps level up the workforce.”

Luis echoed this sentiment, comparing AI to a driller’s experience:

“The driller has their own eye — their experience. For AI towork, it needs data. The question is: do we have enough?”

The consensus? AI is a tool to enhance human expertise, not eliminate it. It can help address labour shortages, improve consistency, and unlock insights that were previously hidden in siloed datasets.

Operational Efficiency: It’s Not Just About Speed

Efficiency in drilling isn’t just about how fast you can penetrate rock — it’s about how well you plan, communicate, and adapt. Optimization starts long before the rig arrives on site.

“Time costs money,” I reminded the panel. “And miscommunication is one of the biggest sources of inefficiency we see at Krux.”

Luis emphasized the importance of team communication,logistics, and centralized data management:

“If we don’t know how much time we’re investing in conditional time, we’re just extending the timeline and increasing costs.”

Michelle added that true optimization means responding to the rock — using sensors, data, and real-time feedback to adjust drilling strategies dynamically.

ESG: Driving Innovation Through Accountability

Environmental and safety expectations are reshaping how we design and execute drill programs. From directional drilling to reduce surface impact, to electric rigs powered by the grid, the industry is responding to growing ESG pressures.

Jimmy noted:

“If you can’t operate safely and environmentally sound, you won’t have a business very long in the next era of mining.”

Luis shared Rio Tinto’s commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 50% by 2030 and achieving net zero by 2050 — and how logistics planning, water re-circulation, and contractor selection are all part of that strategy.

Collaboration Is the Key to What’s Next

One of the most powerful themes that emerged was the need for collaboration — between mining companies, contractors, OEMs, and tech providers. Data standardization and interoperability are essential to unlocking site-wide optimization.

Michelle put it best:

“We haven’t shown a lot of productivity improvement overtime — and one reason is we don’t collaborate as much as we should.”

At Krux, we believe the future of drilling is not just about smarter rigs — it’s about smarter ecosystems. It’s about connecting people,data, hardware, and software to make better decisions, faster.

Bold Predictions for 2035

So what does the future hold? Our panellists offered bold visions:

• Jimmy: “50% of the global rig fleet will be fully autonomous and AI-powered.”
• Michelle: “Why can’t the rocks speak directly to the drill rigs?”
• Luis: “Imagine a control room monitoring all parameters remotely, with AI helping us anticipate issues before they happen.”

These aren’t just dreams — they’re blueprints for the next decade.

Final Thoughts

Drilling is no longer just about what happens at the rig.It’s about how we connect people, data, and systems to drive transformation across the mining lifecycle. The future is collaborative, data-driven, and deeply human — and it’s already underway.

Let’s keep the conversation going.

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Thanks to our panellists:

- Jimmy Barrieau, VP Commercial Drilling Services, Boart Longyear

- Michelle Carey, Chief, Digital and Orebody Knowledge, IMDEX

- Luis Roble, Project Coordinator, Rio Tinto

Watch the full webinar below.

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