{"id":2978,"date":"2025-06-14T17:17:57","date_gmt":"2025-06-14T17:17:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/?post_type=issue-article&#038;p=2978"},"modified":"2025-07-28T18:28:45","modified_gmt":"2025-07-28T18:28:45","slug":"remote-drilling-at-cerro-verde-providing-insights-for-future-use-at-north-america-sites","status":"publish","type":"issue-article","link":"https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/issue-article\/remote-drilling-at-cerro-verde-providing-insights-for-future-use-at-north-america-sites\/","title":{"rendered":"Remote Drilling at Cerro Verde Providing Insights for Future Use at North America Sites"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||||false|false&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;#f9f9f9&#8243; 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font-family: 'Taviraj', serif; font-size: 58px; line-height: 0.9; font-weight: 200; margin: 0; padding-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 20px;\">Drilling<!\u2013- [et_pb_br_holder] -\u2013>Down<\/h2>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-bottom-row\"><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-bottom-color-1\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-bottom-color-2\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->            <\/p>\n<div class=\"mobile-bottom-color-3\"><\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->        <\/div>\n<p><!-- [et_pb_line_break_holder] -->    <\/div>\n<p>[\/et_pb_code][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;10px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_css_main_element_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_main_element_phone=&#8221;order: 2;||&#8221;][et_pb_text content_tablet=&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 style=%22font-weight: 400;%22>Remote Drilling at Cerro Verde Providing <br \/>Insights for Future Use at North America Sites<\/h2>\n<p>&#8221; content_phone=&#8221;<\/p>\n<h2 style=%22font-weight: 400;%22>Remote Drilling at Cerro Verde Providing Insights for Future Use at North America Sites<\/h2>\n<p>&#8221; content_last_edited=&#8221;on|desktop&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed Regular SUBHEAD&#8221; module_class=&#8221;lighter-fira&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed||||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#3d485e&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;44px&#8221; header_2_letter_spacing=&#8221;-1px&#8221; header_2_line_height=&#8221;1.2em&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;0px||5px||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; header_2_font_size_tablet=&#8221;44px&#8221; header_2_font_size_phone=&#8221;30px&#8221; header_2_font_size_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Remote Drilling at Cerro Verde Providing <br \/>Insights for Future Use at North America Sites<\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Body Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; header_3_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|125px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Drilling blast holes at Cerro Verde looks much like it always has for David Grageda, Drilling Technician IV. He\u2019s got a clear view of the work, and, with a quick glance, can assess his surroundings and the status of the equipment.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">What\u2019s missing makes the work so different. There\u2019s no noise, dust or vibration. No operator\u2019s cab. In fact, there\u2019s no drill at all.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Grageda spends much of his time operating drills via remote control, sitting at a video display with a game-like controller in a special control room miles away from where the holes are being cut.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe feeling is very different between working in the cabin and working in the control room,\u201d said Grageda, who has 20 years of experience as a driller and has worked at Cerro Verde since 2012. \u201cThe feeling is not the same, but it\u2019s very realistic.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cerro Verde is Freeport\u2019s leader when it comes to automated drilling technology. Though it started several years ago on its own, the lessons being learned in Peru will provide important insights as the company embraces new technology and techniques to improve efficiency as part of its Reinvent Mining initiative.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;10px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_css_main_element_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_main_element_phone=&#8221;order: 2;||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Body Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; header_3_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|125px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sidebar-headline\" style=\"position: relative; font-weight: 600; color: #3e485e;\"><span class=\"sidebar-headline-line\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; height: auto;\"><\/span><br \/><span style=\"display: inline-block; padding-left: 15px;\">Evolving technologies<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Bagdad, Arizona, has gotten a lot of attention for its conversion to fully autonomous haul trucks this year. PTFI in Indonesia runs autonomous trains and semi-autonomous underground loaders.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Automated and remote drilling likely will be as important as haul truck automation in the future, especially at some of the company\u2019s larger North America, said Bert Odinet, Senior Vice President and Chief Innovation Officer.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIt\u2019s a component that is evolving for our industry that we think makes a lot of sense,\u201d Odinet said. \u201cIf we are going to be a world-class miner, then we are going to need to take advantage of these technologies. It\u2019s a logical evolution, and Cerro Verde is out front. We are going to learn a lot as we use them, and the technology evolves.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cerro Verde began semi-autonomous drilling several years ago with three bench remote drills, which require the operator to be close enough to see it to operate it remotely.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In 2023, the site added three Smart Roc MK-II drills and three of the larger Pit Viper drills, all of which can be operated from a distant control room and do not require a line of sight. One operator can run three of the remote-controlled drills at a time.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Last year, four fully autonomous Pit Vipers were added. They can be programmed to drill a certain pattern to a certain depth and then be left on their own to do the work.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_css_main_element_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_main_element_phone=&#8221;order: 2;||&#8221;][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;Body Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|300|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; header_3_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|125px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;|0px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<h2 class=\"sidebar-headline\" style=\"position: relative; font-weight: 600; color: #3e485e;\">\n  <span class=\"sidebar-headline-line\" style=\"position: absolute; top: 0; bottom: 0; left: 0; height: auto;\"><\/span><br \/>\n  <span style=\"display: inline-block; padding-left: 15px;\">Employee safety critical<\/span><br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Safety was the primary reason for pursuing remote technology, said Cesar Maldonado, Senior Supervisor-Mining Technology in Cerro Verde, who is leading the project.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe drills operate very close to the slope,\u201d Maldonado said. \u201cWe need to take care of our operators to avoid any incidents with them. After that, it\u2019s for efficiency. We can use the remote and autonomous drills in shift change, at lunch time and in some blastings where the conditions allow the use of these drills.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Cerro Verde still uses 10 manually operated drills. Operators are trained to use both standard and remote rigs. They also are involved in programming the autonomous drills.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Beyond safety, the precision and data generation from autonomous drills will be important as mining evolves in the future, Odinet said. An autonomous drill will bore in the exact spot to the exact depth that it is programmed to do, something even the most skilled humans can\u2019t always achieve. The drills also collect extensive data in real time, which is vital to planning blasts to achieve optimal fragmentation. That, in turn, determines the efficiency of everything downstream like transporting and crushing.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe equipment needs to enable the process, and to the extent that we\u2019re getting better data off the process, we can adjust it and create more efficiencies,\u201d Odinet said. \u201cThat\u2019s the real goal. It\u2019s not autonomy for autonomy\u2019s sake.\u201d<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=&#8221;1_2,1_2&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;75px||||false|false&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;0px||0px||false|false&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;#FFFFFF&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;display: flex;||flex-wrap: wrap;&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px||||false|false&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_css_main_element_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_main_element_phone=&#8221;order: 2;||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/07\/CV-Drill-Miner-Q2-2025-4AOPT.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;CV-Drill-Miner-Q2-2025-4AOPT&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;CV-Drill-Miner-Q2-2025-4OPT &#8211; PHOTO&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; border_width_left=&#8221;20px&#8221; border_color_left=&#8221;#a37058&#8243; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;CUTLINE&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|200|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#d8d4ca&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.25em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|500|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#3d485e&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;30px&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; header_3_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; width=&#8221;83%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;60%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;85%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-450px||260px|33px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;-300px||100px|315px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;-60px||0px|20px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|125px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_before=&#8221;content: %22%22;||position: absolute;||top: 0;||left: 0;||width: 100%;||height: 100%;||background-color: #454545;||mix-blend-mode: multiply;&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;position: relative;||background: transparent;||color: white !important;||font-weight: bold !important;||text-shadow: 1px 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Autonomous drills can be programmed to cut in precise locations to an exact depth, something even the best equipment operator cannot always do. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=&#8221;1_2&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; background_color=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_color_phone=&#8221;RGBA(255,255,255,0)&#8221; background_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; background_enable_color_phone=&#8221;on&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221; custom_css_main_element_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_main_element_phone=&#8221;order: 2;||&#8221;][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/fmminermag.com\/htdocs\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/CV-Drill-Miner-Q2-2025-2OPT.jpg&#8221; title_text=&#8221;CV-Drill-Miner-Q2-2025-2OPT&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;CV-Drill-Miner-Q2-2025-2OPT.jpg- PHOTO&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=&#8221;CUTLINE&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.27.4&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|200|||||||&#8221; text_text_color=&#8221;#d8d4ca&#8221; text_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; text_line_height=&#8221;1.25em&#8221; header_2_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|500|||||||&#8221; header_2_text_color=&#8221;#3d485e&#8221; header_2_font_size=&#8221;30px&#8221; header_3_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_3_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; header_3_font_size=&#8221;18px&#8221; header_3_line_height=&#8221;1.5em&#8221; header_4_font=&#8221;Fira Sans Condensed|600|||||||&#8221; header_4_text_color=&#8221;#4d4d4f&#8221; background_enable_color=&#8221;off&#8221; width=&#8221;48%&#8221; width_tablet=&#8221;60%&#8221; width_phone=&#8221;85%&#8221; width_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_margin=&#8221;-450px||300px|185px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_tablet=&#8221;-300px||100px|315px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_phone=&#8221;-60px||0px|20px|false|false&#8221; custom_margin_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_padding=&#8221;15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_tablet=&#8221;|125px|||false|false&#8221; custom_padding_phone=&#8221;15px|15px|15px|15px|false|false&#8221; custom_padding_last_edited=&#8221;on|phone&#8221; custom_css_before=&#8221;content: %22%22;||position: absolute;||top: 0;||left: 0;||width: 100%;||height: 100%;||background-color: #454545;||mix-blend-mode: multiply;&#8221; custom_css_main_element=&#8221;position: relative;||background: transparent;||color: white !important;||font-weight: bold !important;||text-shadow: 1px 1px 3px rgba(0,0,0,0.8);&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-weight: 400;\">David Grageda is one of the operators who controls the remote drills at Cerro Verde. <\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; 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