As today’s drilling contractors focus on reducing operating costs to maintain profitability, the best way to reduce coring rod costs is to purchase rods that have the lowest cost per meter, rather than the lowest price. Buying inferior rod for a lower price is more expensive in the long run. In a typical diamond coring operation, consumables only add up to 5 to 10 percent of a contractor’s operating costs. Dropping a string or, worse yet, losing a hole because of failed rod can add up to twice the costs for consumables.
Though all rods may look the same, they are not created equal. For example, Boart Longyear rod has a special heat treatment applied to the pin thread that produces the longest make and break life, virtually eliminating adhesion or galling. In addition, Boart Longyear rod has mid-body annealing to maximize resistance to bending.