Limited Access Drilling: Rope Access, Helicopter Lifts and Spider Excavators
In ground engineering, some of the most critical work takes place in steep, remote, or confined terrain where conventional rigs cannot operate - limited access drilling provides the specialist methods needed to deliver safe and effective solutions in these environments.
Overcoming the Challenge of Difficult Terrain
Some of the most critical infrastructure and mining projects are found in locations that defy conventional construction. Steep slopes, confined corridors, and remote valleys can make it impossible to mobilise large drilling rigs without major enabling works. In these conditions, limited access drilling is essential. Geovert has developed a suite of specialist techniques - from rope access drilling to helicopter lifts and Spider Excavators - that allow projects to proceed safely and efficiently where others cannot.
Why Limited Access Matters
Limited access drilling is not simply about reaching hard-to-get-to places. It is about reducing environmental disturbance, improving safety, and accelerating mobilisation while still delivering technically robust outcomes. For transport corridors, mining operations, dams, and disaster recovery works, the ability to drill in otherwise inaccessible terrain ensures that projects stay on programme and that essential stabilisation or investigation works can take place without compromise.
Rope Access Drilling
In steep or confined terrain, rope access systems make it possible to safely deploy and operate wagon drills where conventional access is not viable. Crews use rope techniques to position and stabilise the rigs on the slope face, allowing mechanised installation of soil nails and ground anchors with reduced reliance on large earthworks or access tracks. This approach not only expands where drilling can be carried out but also controls exposure to hazards, maintaining high safety standards in environments that are otherwise inaccessible.
Helicopter-Supported Drilling
In some cases, ground access is not just difficult but impossible. Mountainous terrain, dense vegetation, or post-disaster landscapes can prevent the use of any tracked or wheeled vehicle. For these projects, helicopter lifts provide the solution.
Drill rigs, components, and consumables are airlifted into position, allowing works to begin immediately at the project face. This approach dramatically reduces mobilisation time and avoids the environmental impacts of cutting new access tracks. Helicopter-supported drilling has proven especially effective in emergency response situations, where speed is critical to protecting communities and infrastructure after natural disasters such as landslides, avalanches, or cyclones. By enabling geotechnical investigation and slope stabilisation to proceed in days rather than weeks, this method helps restore vital lifelines faster.
Spider Excavators: Redefining Terrain Access
The Spider Excavator is a game-changer in extreme environments. With its extendable legs, articulated arms, and ability to self-stabilise on gradients exceeding 70%, the Spider can operate in terrain that would be impossible for conventional excavators. Once in place, it can carry and operate drill masts or hydraulic attachments, providing the capability to install micropiles, soil nails, or anchors directly from the machine.
What makes the Spider especially valuable is its adaptability. Its unique mobility makes the Spider invaluable on projects requiring access to steep, uneven, or sensitive terrain. For example, it has been deployed at Fremont Canyon in North America where conventional plant could not reach - enabling safe access and supporting crews to carry out rockfall mitigation. Learn more about our Fremont Canyon Rockfall Protection project >
Integrated Solutions for Complex Projects
The real strength of Geovert’s limited access capability lies in integration. By combining rope access, helicopter logistics, and Spider technology, project teams can design access strategies tailored to the site. For example, a slope stabilisation project might involve helicopter placement of a drill mast, rope access crews to operate it safely on vertical faces, and a Spider Excavator to deliver soil nails on adjacent terrain.
This integrated approach ensures that every section of a project, no matter how inaccessible, can be reached with the right method. It also means that the works can be staged efficiently, with minimal disruption to surrounding communities and environments.
Applications Across Sectors
Limited access drilling is applied in a wide range of sectors, including:
Mining operations: providing ground support on remote highwalls and benches
Major Infrastructure: installing anchors and drainage on steep slopes and cuts
Disaster recovery: enabling rapid investigation and stabilisation following landslides or severe weather events
In each case, the key outcome is the same: ensuring essential works can proceed safely, efficiently, and without compromise, regardless of location.
Confidence in Difficult Environments
Limited access drilling is more than just a collection of techniques - it is a specialist capability that redefines what is possible in ground engineering. By deploying rope access methods, helicopter support, and Spider Excavators, Geovert ensures that projects move forward even in the most inaccessible and challenging terrain.
For clients, this capability translates into confidence: confidence that stabilisation works will be delivered on time, that safety will not be compromised, and that sensitive environments will be protected. In short, limited access drilling enables safe and sustainable solutions in places others cannot reach.