J&M Drilling

What J&M Drilling does

J&M Drilling is a South African borehole drilling services company operating from Gauteng and Western Cape, founded in 1998 and led by sole proprietor and qualified geologist Alfred Ahrens since 2016. The firm provides end-to-end groundwater solutions: borehole drilling using multiple methodologies (rotary percussion, mud rotary, reverse circulation, ODEX, Symmetrix), quantity and quality testing including step drawdown and water quality laboratory analysis, civil construction and equipping (tanks, pipes, irrigation, pumps, reservoirs, telemetry), and rehabilitation of declining boreholes. A recently acquired BOBCAT-mounted drilling rig extends service to limited-access sites.

The equipment fleet is substantial for the company's scale, anchored by a Hyperion Drill Rig capable of 1000m depth, Drilltech rigs (500m and 100m), a THOR Drill Rig (300m), Ingersoll Rand compressors at 1070 CFM @ 28 Bar, mud pumps delivering 100,000 l/hr at 6 Bar, testing rigs capable of 150m installation and 50 l/s delivery, and a full complement of support vehicles. Operations adhere to the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Minimum Standards and applicable SABS Standards.

The business model is professional services with quote-based pricing tied to geological conditions and anticipated depth. Go-to-market is enterprise field sales through direct engagement with government, mining companies, water boards, and consulting engineer referrals, supplemented by a basic company website and Facebook presence. Customer segments include government and municipal, mining, consulting engineers and geo-hydrological consultants, water boards, and farming/private individuals, with named clients spanning Sedibeng Water, Khumani Mine, City of Cape Town, St. Joseph's Hospital, Grand West Casino, Tshwalu Game Ranch, and University of the Western Cape. The firm has completed over 9,000 boreholes across South Africa and has been operating for more than three decades.

Name

J&M Drilling

Legal name

J & M DRILLING

Website

https://jmdrilling.co.za

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

J&M Drilling is a South African borehole drilling services company that has completed over 9,000 boreholes since 1998 for government, mining, healthcare, education, and private clients. Operating from Gauteng and Western Cape, it offers drilling, testing, equipping, and rehabilitation services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Borehole Drilling and Groundwater Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Mining (2131)

SIC

Mining Machinery & Equip (No Oil & Gas Field Mach & Equip) (3532)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industry

Rock Drilling & Blasthole Drilling Equipment (IMAHAMAC)

Keywords

• Borehole drilling services
• Groundwater well construction
• Mine dewatering drilling
• Water quality testing
• Civil construction equipping

Headquarters

HQ city

Gauteng

HQ country

South Africa

HQ region

Africa

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Borehole Drilling Services: Professional drilling services using various techniques including rotary percussion, mud rotary, reverse circulation, ODEX, and Symmetrix for water production boreholes, dolomitic investigation drilling, mine dewatering and monitoring boreholes. Pricing is quote-based based on geological conditions and anticipated depths.
2. Borehole Testing Services: Quantity testing including step drawdown tests, constant discharge tests, recovery tests; and water quality laboratory testing for chemical, microbiological and physiological parameters
3. Civil Construction and Equipping: Construction services including tanks, pipes, irrigation systems, pump selection and installation, pipeline construction, reservoirs, pumping stations and telemetry
4. Borehole Repair and Rehabilitation: Cleanout, re-development and new casing installation for existing boreholes in need of repair or deepening

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

J&M Drilling provides professional borehole drilling, testing, construction, and equipping services for water supply, mining, and government clients across South Africa. The company drills water production, dolomitic investigation, mine dewatering, and monitoring boreholes using rotary percussion, mud rotary, reverse circulation, ODEX, Symmetrix, and BOBCAT-mounted rigs, then performs quantity and water quality testing before completing civil construction including tanks, pipes, pumps, pipelines, reservoirs, and telemetry systems.

Product overview

J&M Drilling offers a comprehensive suite of groundwater drilling and testing services. The core offerings include borehole drilling (using rotary percussion, mud rotary, reverse circulation, ODEX, and Symmetrix techniques), borehole testing (quantity and water quality analysis), and civil construction and equipping (tanks, pipes, pumps, pipelines, reservoirs). The company recently acquired a BOBCAT-mounted drilling rig to service limited-access locations. All services adhere to Department of Water Affairs and Forestry Minimum Standards and applicable SABS Standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Borehole Drilling Drilling of water production boreholes, dolomitic investigation boreholes, mine dewatering boreholes, and monitoring boreholes using rotary percussion, mud rotary, reverse circulation, ODEX, and Symmetrix techniques. Offered to government, mining, consulting engineer, and private clients across South Africa.
• Borehole Testing (Quantity and Water Quality) Variable discharge (step drawdown) tests, constant discharge tests, and recovery tests to quantify borehole performance, efficiency, and aquifer characteristics, paired with laboratory water quality analysis for chemical, microbiological, and physiological parameters. Used by clients to verify sustainable abstraction rates and potable water suitability.
• Civil Construction and Equipping End-to-end civil construction and equipping after drilling and testing, covering tanks, pipes, irrigation systems, pump selection and installation, pipeline construction, reservoirs, pumping stations, and telemetry. Suited to clients needing full project handover from borehole to operational water supply.
• Limited-Access Drilling Service (BOBCAT-Mounted Rig) Drilling service delivered via a BOBCAT-mounted compact drilling rig that enables access to sites with limited space, complementing the firm's larger truck-mounted rigs. Targeted at urban, residential, or otherwise confined sites where conventional rigs cannot operate.
• Borehole Repair and Rehabilitation Rehabilitation service for existing boreholes that need cleanout, re-development, deepening, or new casing installation. Advised when a borehole's productivity has declined or the borehole has failed.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 9000 boreholes completed successfully
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Senzo (SenzoGystix Pty Ltd)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016An associated drilling and testing company founded by Elize Ahrens (CFO of J&M Drilling) in 2016. SENZOGYSTIX operates as a related entity providing drilling and testing services.
• ArtconminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner and association on J&M Drilling's website. Artcon appears to be an industry partner for projects.
• BWA (Business Water Association)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner and association on J&M Drilling's website. BWA is the business water association in South Africa.
• Golder AssociatesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner and association on J&M Drilling's website. Golder Associates is a global engineering consultancy.
• SACNASP (South African Council for Natural Scientific Professions)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner and association on J&M Drilling's website. Professional regulatory body for natural scientists.
• UmvotominorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner and association on J&M Drilling's website. Umvoto is a geo-environmental consultancy.
• JG AfrikaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerListed as a partner and association on J&M Drilling's website. JG Afrika is an engineering and environmental consultancy.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Foremost Industries: Manufacturer of rotary and reverse-circulation drill rigs used in water-well and shallow mineral drilling worldwide. Comparable because its rigs are widely used by water-well contractors of J&M's profile and its equipment underpins similar service capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Major Drilling Group International: International mineral drilling services contractor offering surface and underground drilling. Overlaps with J&M on RC and rotary drilling for mining exploration and water-supply projects, but at much larger scale with global footprint.
• Layne (Layne Christensen / Inrock): Established water-well and mineral drilling contractor with deep expertise in large-diameter production boreholes, aquifer testing and pump installation. Closely aligned service portfolio to J&M's water borehole, testing and equipping offering.
• Boart Longyear: Global drilling services and equipment provider serving mining, energy and water-resource projects with rotary, RC and diamond drilling capability. Directly comparable service lines (RC, rotary, large-diameter drilling) but operates at materially larger scale across multiple continents.
• Energold Drilling: International drilling services firm focused on mineral exploration and water borehole drilling, employing RC and rotary rigs. Similar drilling techniques and water/mining client mix, though at broader geographic scale.

Others

• Robor (Robore Pipe Industries): South African manufacturer and supplier of steel piping, casing and tubular products used in borehole construction and water infrastructure. Comparable because it supplies steel and stainless casing that J&M installs, making it a key supply-chain participant in J&M's projects.

Regional players

• Murray & Roberts Cementation: South African mining and infrastructure contractor delivering drilling, shaft sinking and water-management services to the mining sector. Comparable because it supplies drilling and dewatering services to the same mining clients (e.g., Khumani-area operations) within South Africa.
• Stefanutti Stocks: South African construction and engineering group executing civil infrastructure including water, pipeline and reservoir works. Overlaps with J&M on the civil construction and equipping side (tanks, pipelines, reservoirs, pump stations).

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/J.M.Drlling

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 J&M Drilling