What McKay Drilling does

McKay Drilling is a Western Australia-based contract drilling services company founded in 1990, specializing in Reverse Circulation (RC), Diamond, and Hydro drilling for the mining and exploration industries. The company operates a fleet of approximately 20 high-capacity drill rigs (up from 8 rigs in 2011), including Schramm T685 RC rigs equipped with 1350cfm/500psi onboard compressors, modern diamond drilling rigs with hands-free remote operation technology, and Australia's first autonomous RC rig. Services span remote exploration, resource definition, grade control, bulk sampling, geotechnical and environmental investigations, and deep hole drilling to 700m. McKay Drilling holds four ISO certifications (9001 Quality, 45001 Health & Safety, 14001 Environment, 55001 Asset Management) and achieved a 1 million hours Lost Time Injury Free milestone in 2024.

The company serves an enterprise customer base of major mining companies, with named clients including BHP, Rio Tinto, Evolution Mining, and Northern Star. Operations are delivered on a Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) basis from its Perth headquarters at Wangara to remote mining sites across Australian states and territories, with some international work. In May 2021, McKay Drilling was acquired by Major Drilling Group International (TSX: MDG), a global drilling services company, and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary while retaining its regional brand and management structure. Under Major Drilling ownership, McKay has deployed Rock5 drill optimization technology (50 units shipped) and the autonomous RC rig. The business model is contract-based professional services with pricing not publicly disclosed; revenue is not reported in available source materials. McKay employs 251-500 people across drilling crews, maintenance teams, and office staff and runs community engagement programs including a partnership with the Clontarf Foundation supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth employment pathways.

Name

McKay Drilling

Legal name

McKay Drilling

Website

https://mckaydrilling.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

McKay Drilling is a Western Australia-based contract drilling services company, founded in 1990, specializing in Reverse Circulation, Diamond, and Hydro drilling for major mining and exploration companies including BHP and Rio Tinto. It operates 20 rigs via FIFO from Perth as a subsidiary of Major Drilling Group International.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mining Drilling Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Metal Mining (213114), Support Activities for Mining (213)

SIC

Construction, Mining & Materials Handling Machinery & Equip (3530)

akta.pro primary industry

Exploration & Production Drilling Services (RC, Core, Directional, Sonic, Auger) (IMAKAKAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Construction & Mining Robotics (HDAAAIAE), Drilling Rigs & Drill Systems (IMAHAMAA)

Keywords

• Reverse circulation drilling
• Diamond drilling services
• Grade control drilling
• Mining exploration drilling
• FIFO drilling services

Headquarters

HQ city

Perth

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Drilling Services: Provides specialized drilling services (Reverse Circulation, Diamond, and Hydro drilling) to mining and exploration companies on a contract basis. Services are delivered FIFO to remote mining sites across Australia.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

McKay Drilling is a Western Australia-based drilling services company that provides specialized Reverse Circulation (RC), Diamond, and Grade Control drilling to the mining and exploration industries. The company operates a fleet of late-model, high-capacity drill rigs (Schramm T685 RC rigs and modern diamond rigs) equipped with hands-free remote operation technology, delivered on a Fly-In Fly-Out (FIFO) basis to remote mining sites across Australia.

Product overview

McKay Drilling is a Western Australia-based drilling services company offering three core drilling services: Reverse Circulation (RC) Drilling, Diamond Drilling, and Grade Control. The company operates a fleet of late-model, high-capacity drill rigs (including Schramm T685 RC rigs and modern diamond drilling rigs) equipped with advanced technology such as hands-free remote operation systems. Services span the exploration, mining, and hydro drilling industries, covering applications from remote exploration and resource definition to geotechnical investigations and in-pit grade control.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Reverse Circulation Drilling High-capacity RC drilling services using Schramm T685 drill rigs fully compliant to Australian standards, for remote exploration, resource definition, grade control, bulk sampling, geotechnical investigations, and deep hole target-sensitive drilling to depths of 700m. Both all-wheel drive truck and track mounted units are available. Targeted at mining and exploration companies.
• Diamond Drilling Modern diamond drilling services with latest model high-capacity drill rigs fitted with hands-free remote operation and monitoring technology. Covers PQ, HQ and NQ coring including triple tube, remote exploration, resource definition, geotechnical investigations, environmental and infrastructure investigations (SPT testing, Push Tube sampling), hydro investigations (packer testing, VWP installations), and deep hole targeted directional, wedging and Navi drilling. All rigs mounted on all-wheel drive vehicles. Targeted at mining and exploration companies.
• Grade Control In-pit grade control drilling services using the Reverse Circulation fleet equipped with high-capacity on-board 1350cfm/500psi air compressors. Offers accurate, safe and productive drilling with KL rod handler pick from bin or 8 rod in mast carousel options. Targeted at the mining industry.

Quantifiable outcome

• 1 million hours LTI Free milestone achieved
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Clontarf FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommunity engagement partnership supporting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander youth through employment pathways in the mining industry. McKay Drilling participates in Clontarf Foundation events including Northwest Knockout Ping Pong Tournament, Basketball Competition, and other academy activities.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Major Drilling Group International: McKay Drilling's parent company and a global drilling services group operating surface and underground drilling worldwide. Provides direct comparability on technology (Rock5, autonomous RC), fleet scale, and customer base while operating at much larger scale across multiple geographies.
• Epiroc (Mining and Infrastructure): Global mining and infrastructure equipment and services provider with drilling equipment and contract drilling services serving similar mining customers. Competes in rock drilling equipment and offers services adjacent to McKay's drilling operations.
• Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions: Global mining equipment and services provider including drilling rigs, consumables, and contract drilling services. Competes with McKay's drilling services arm while also supplying drill rigs and consumables used across the mining industry.
• Perenti (formerly Ausdrill): Large Australian diversified mining services group (formerly Ausdrill) with drilling services among its surface and underground mining offerings. Competes with McKay on Australian drilling tenders while also providing a much broader mining services portfolio.
• Boart Longyear: Global drilling services and equipment provider serving mining and exploration clients with RC, Diamond, and grade control drilling, plus drilling products. Competes with McKay on Australian exploration and production drilling tenders and overlaps on diamond coring technology.

Direct peers

• GeoDrill Limited: Mineral exploration drilling services company operating across West Africa and Latin America with RC and Diamond drilling capabilities. Comparable in service offering (RC/Diamond drilling) and customer profile (junior-to-mid-tier mining companies).
• DDH1 Drilling: DDH1 is a major Australian specialist drilling contractor focused on RC, Diamond, and grade control drilling for mining clients across Australia. Direct competitor to McKay Drilling in the same core services (RC, Diamond, grade control) and similar customer base among Australian gold and base-metals miners.
• Capital Drilling: International drilling services contractor focused on RC, Diamond, and grade control drilling for mining clients. Comparable in service offering, fleet composition, and mining customer profile to McKay Drilling.
• Foraco International: Global drilling services contractor offering RC, Diamond, and grade control drilling to mining clients across multiple continents. Direct competitor offering comparable drilling methodologies and a similar customer base among mid-tier and major miners.

Regional players

• Orbit Drilling: Australian specialist drilling contractor offering RC, Diamond, and grade control drilling services primarily in Western Australia and other Australian mining jurisdictions. Direct Australian regional peer with overlapping service lines and customer base.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/mckaydrilling
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mckay-drilling

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about McKay Drilling