EDDY | Reusing Drilling Water 1,200 m Underground
As part of a diamond drilling operation for underground exploration, a significant volume of return water loaded with drill cuttings and additives is generated each day.
More than 1,200 m below surface, managing this water presents a major challenge. Space is limited, mobile equipment is difficult to access, and the accumulation of drill cuttings can quickly complicate operations. Looking to maximize water reuse while simplifying residue management, the mining company turned to Mudwizard to develop a solution adapted to the site’s realities.
The Eddy Water Treatment System was efficiently deployed to enable effective solids separation while preserving the additives essential to drilling operations.
Location: 1,200 m below surface, Sudbury, Ontario | Industry: Diamond drilling | Year: 2026
Challenges
Drilling water contains both fine solid particles and specialized additives used to optimize drilling performance. This combination makes treatment particularly complex: a conventional approach could remove the additives along with the solids, increasing product consumption and operating costs.
This was compounded by a significant logistical challenge. At the mine’s current stage of development, the available space was restricted and no mobile equipment could be used to effectively clean or manage the settling bay where drill cuttings accumulate.
Outcomes
Coagulation and flocculation tests were carried out directly on site and in the laboratory to develop a treatment strategy adapted to the specific characteristics of the drilling water.
These tests made it possible to identify an optimal polymer dosage that promotes effective solids separation while preserving most of the additives already present in the water. This approach improved the quality of the recovered water and supported its reuse in drilling operations.
The drill cuttings captured during treatment are collected in geotubes, then placed in a cage normally used to transport drill cores. They can then be brought back to surface using existing infrastructure, avoiding the challenges associated with handling sludge in a confined underground environment.
Key Benefits
Reuse of drilling water in operations
Reduced additive consumption by preserving products already present in the water
Lower volume of water to manage underground
Simplified cuttings management in a space-constrained environment
Efficient residue removal to surface using existing infrastructure
Improved operational efficiency for drilling activities