Kibali Gold Mine – Geotechnical Drilling Campaign

Kibali Gold Mine – Geotechnical Drilling Campaign

Next Level IMS was appointed as a specialist subcontractor to execute a comprehensive geotechnical drilling campaign at Kibali Gold Mine, one of Africa’s largest and most technically demanding gold mining operations.

The campaign formed part of critical ground investigation and monitoring works, supporting tailings and buttress stability assessments through high-quality drilling, in-situ testing, and inclinometer installation. The works were executed under strict safety, quality, and programme requirements in an active mining environment.

Scope of Work

The project required precision drilling and testing across multiple boreholes, combined with specialist instrumentation installation in challenging ground conditions.

Services Delivered:

Establishment and operation of a fully hydraulic crawler-mounted drill rig
Geotechnical drilling in in-situ ground and engineered fill materials
Diamond core drilling with stringent recovery requirements
Standard Penetration Tests (SPTs) conducted at regular depth intervals
Shelby tube soil sampling
Packer testing and falling head permeability tests
Drilling of dedicated boreholes for inclinometer installation
Installation and pressure grouting of inclinometer casings to manufacturer specifications

Technical Deliverables

All deliverables were executed in accordance with the approved programme and employer technical requirements

9 vertical geotechnical boreholes drilled to depths of up to 50 m

Total drilling meters: ±360 m

Core recovery: Targeted 95–100%, with reporting and mitigation where recovery thresholds could not be achieved

SPT testing: Conducted at 1.5 m intervals

6 inclinometer boreholes drilled and instrumented

Fully grouted inclinometer casings for long-term ground movement monitoring

Equipment & Resources

Fully hydraulic crawler-mounted drill rig (HWED 30 class)
Certified drilling crew, geotechnical technicians, and site supervision
Calibrated testing equipment and sampling systems
Dedicated HSE oversight aligned with mine standards

Safety & Compliance

Safety was a core focus throughout the campaign.
Next Level IMS operated in full compliance with:

Mine Health and Safety Act (MHSA)
Employer HSE requirements
Site-specific induction, permit-to-work, and audit processes

The project was executed with zero reportable incidents, demonstrating disciplined safety leadership and field execution.

Programme Performance

Mobilisation: July 2025
Completion: Within the agreed programme window (6-day work week basis)
Effective coordination with client geotechnical teams and mine operations
Adaptability to site conditions and operational constraints without programme impact

Project Outcome

The successful completion of the Kibali Geotechnical Drilling Campaign provided the client with high-quality subsurface data and installed monitoring infrastructure, supporting informed engineering decisions for tailings and ground stability management.

This project further reinforced Next Level IMS’s capability to deliver complex geotechnical drilling programmes in remote, high-risk African mining environments — on time, safely, and to exacting technical standards.