by Ryan Sunderland, Upper Management/Shareholder at Bryson Drilling Ltd.
Bryson Drilling Ltd. is a diamond core drilling company with three generations of experience. Established in 2007, the company has grown significantly, now owning and operating eight Zinex A5 diamond drills, various specialized equipment, and fully operational camps. Bryson Drilling has provided surface and specialty drilling services across Canada, building strong bonds of trust through quality workmanship and efficiency, which has led to a loyal client base. Their expertise includes standard coring, deep overburden drilling, core orientation, and more. They continually strive to achieve the highest standards of health and safety while maximizing production and maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Since 2020, Bryson Drilling has been engaged in a critical uranium exploration project at the West McArthur Project. The project is operated by CanAlaska Uranium, in the Eastern Athabasca Basin of Saskatchewan, Canada, which is one of the most significant uranium-producing regions globally. The project area is located strategically, between 6 and 30 km (3.7–18.6 mi) west of the McArthur River mine, one of the world’s largest and highest-grade uranium mines. The ongoing exploration at West McArthur has been driven by successful drilling campaigns and the discovery of new uranium zones.
This partnership between CanAlaska Uranium and Bryson Drilling, now in its fourth year, has seen significant advancements, particularly following a promising discovery hole in 2022, which has extended the drilling campaign beyond initial expectations.
The ongoing skid shack drilling program at the West McArthur Project is focused on uranium deposits, requiring precision drilling to hit targets at depths between 700 and 1100 m (2297–3609 ft), with most holes reaching over 1000 m (3281 ft). Initially, the team faced significant challenges with deviation control. At such depths, it was crucial for hitting the small uranium targets which have radiuses of 3–5 m (9.8–16.4 ft) in most instances. In the early stages of the project, mechanical wedging was employed to address these concerns, but as the project progressed, Bryson Drilling transitioned to a more modern method involving directional motors. This shift required expert training and consultants for both Bryson’s workers and the client’s personnel, in order to adopt this advanced technology quickly, safely, and efficiently. Today, the team uses directional tooling, allowing for multiple branches on each mother hole, an approach that is highly cost-effective since it eliminates the need to redrill the top 500 to 700 m (1640–2297 ft) with each new hole. The focus remains on controlling deviation to ensure precision in hitting the small uranium targets at depth, a crucial factor in exploration.
In support of this drilling method, Bryson Drilling has deployed a Zinex A5 core rig housed in a Macon drilling shack, fully equipped with an AVD rod manipulator, leveling cylinders, and essential safety features. This comprehensive setup not only ensures a safe working environment but also maximizes production efficiency. Rated for depths of up to 1200 m (3937 ft) in N-size, the Zinex A5 rig has the flexibility to push beyond these limits when necessary – with some stories of the A5 reaching 1500 m (4921 ft), providing the team with the capability to meet the demanding requirements of the West McArthur Project.
Alongside the challenges posed by the drilling itself, the extreme conditions of the Saskatchewan landscape add further complexity. The team, consisting of 16 dedicated site workers, has spent over 120 days on-site this year alone, working in difficult terrain. The rocky roads to the site, only accessible by utility terrain vehicles during the summer, test both equipment and endurance. When winter strikes, the team must contend with freezing temperatures, using indirect-fired glycol heaters and waterline heaters to maintain safety and operational efficiency.
While the project is ongoing, Bryson Drilling has consistently met the client’s plans for core hole completion. The results from the West McArthur Project have made it an exciting and rewarding endeavor for Bryson Drilling. The company extends its gratitude to the CanAlaska team for the continued opportunity to contribute to this significant project.
