“Every metric you could measure was improved. We didn’t need more drillers—we just needed better coordination and data.”
— Patricia Frisch, Barrick Gold Corporation
Challenge
Barrick faced significant challenges at a remote site - their data was inconsistent and time consuming to manage. Key challenges were:
- High variability in F1 reconciliation
- Gaps in drill density affecting orebody confidence
- A tight two-year timeline to complete a 125,000-meter drill program
- Multiple contractors (4 companies, 28 rigs) with inconsistent reporting
- Harsh weather conditions and logistical delays
Solution
Barrick implemented Krux across all site contractors and began collecting normalized drilling data in real time. They used Krux to:
- Digitize and standardize drilling activity logs
- Tie contractor payments to drilling metrics
- Analyze standby time, downtime, and productivity
- Identify and resolve inefficiencies in blast sequencing, rig setup, and water delivery
Results
- Standby time reduced from 66% to 46%
- Downtime dropped from 9.5% to 6.1%
- Improved contractor accountability and billing accuracy
- More meters drilled without adding rigs
- Enabled a life-of-mine expansion based on improved orebody confidence
- Penetration rate data used to validate geological models and fault zones
Barrick also used penetration rate data from Krux to:
- Identify fault zones and silicified zones
- Validate geological models in Leapfrog
- Improve real-time decision-making in the field