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Why the MP40-MC Is Ideal for Geothermal Drilling
The Mincon MP40-MC delivers proven results for geothermal drilling projects, combining faster drilling speeds and lower fuel use with a design built for deep-hole durability. With innovations in airflow, impact energy, shank design, and component reliability, it helps contractors work efficiently and minimise costly delays in challenging ground conditions.
Proven Results in the Field
Geothermal drilling isn’t easy. Drilling teams regularly face tough ground conditions and deep boreholes, often working between 200 and 400 meters below the surface. To handle these demands, Mincon developed the MP40-MC, its latest down-the-hole (DTH) hammer. In real-world field tests, this hammer delivered a 22% increase in drilling speed and cut fuel consumption by as much as 24%.
The MP40-MC geothermal drilling hammer uses Mincon’s advanced internal airflow system to maximise energy transfer from the piston to the drill bit. This leads to higher penetration rates and faster completion of geothermal drilling projects. By reducing back pressure and turbulence, this design ensures more efficient power delivery to the bit.
Here’s a closer look at how its design helps drilling contractors stay efficient and avoid unnecessary downtime.
More Efficient Airflow Means Lower Fuel Costs
At the core of the MP40-MC is Mincon’s advanced internal airflow design, already proven across the MP-series hammer line. This system allows compressed air to move through the hammer with less resistance, making better use of the air supply. With less energy wasted, less fuel is needed to drive drilling operations.
On geothermal sites, where compressed air is a major operating cost, those savings add up quickly. In testing, the hammer’s airflow efficiency led to 24% lower fuel consumption. For contractors handling multiple bores, that reduction translates directly into lower project costs and less environmental impact.
Heavier Piston for Better Impact at the Rock Face
Mincon’s engineers built the MP40-MC around a larger, heavier piston, carefully balanced with the weight of the drill bit. This pairing allows more of the hammer’s energy to reach the rock with each strike.
That added force makes a real difference when cutting through layers of rock like limestone or granite, where drilling speed often slows down. Thanks to the extra impact energy, contractors have seen penetration rates improve by 22%, helping them complete bores faster and stay on schedule.
Designed for Consistent Energy Transfer
The hammer’s performance isn’t just about the piston. The MP40-MC works in tandem with Mincon’s proprietary MC shank drill bits. These bits feature a shorter, wider shank that improves how energy travels from the piston to the cutting face. Less energy is lost during transfer, allowing for more efficient rock breaking.
This becomes especially important when drilling through mixed formations. As ground conditions shift, the MC shank’s ability to maintain consistent energy transfer helps keep drilling speeds steady, improving overall project efficiency.
Eliminating a Common Failure Point
Many traditional DTH hammers rely on a plastic footvalve inside the drill bit to regulate airflow. While effective, footvalves can become a weak point, especially when drilling deep. If one breaks, downtime quickly follows.
To eliminate that risk, the MP40-MC was designed without a footvalve. By removing this part entirely, Mincon cut out a frequent cause of failures that can stall geothermal projects, especially at depth.
Durability Built for Deep Bores
The MC shank’s shorter design offers another advantage: it helps prevent “shanking,” a failure that can occur where the bit head meets the narrower shank. When a drill bit fails hundreds of meters down, contractors face difficult choices; either attempt a lengthy fishing process or abandon the borehole altogether.
By minimising the risk of this kind of failure, the MP40-MC helps protect both schedules and budgets. Its robust design allows contractors to keep drilling without the constant worry of deep-hole bit failures.
Tested and Proven Where It Counts
Every design feature in the MP40-MC works together to deliver real-world results. Faster drilling means shorter timelines. Lower fuel use brings down operating expenses. And better reliability reduces costly downtime.
While plenty of tools promise performance, the MP40-MC has delivered in live geothermal drilling projects. Contractors using it have seen measurable improvements in both cost control and project delivery.
Planning a geothermal project?
Contact our team or learn more about how the MP40-MC can help you drill faster, reduce operating costs, and avoid costly downtime.
