Drill and Blast Shafts
We provide a specialist drill and blast shaft sinking and tunnelling capability across the UK and Middle East, delivering bespoke rock excavation solutions where traditional mechanised tunnelling methods are not suitable. This approach is particularly effective in hard rock formations, complex geometries and constrained environments where flexibility, precision and engineering control are paramount.
When mechanised tunnelling is not viable, we combine our extensive experience with the controlled use of explosives or gas-pressure blasting pyrotechnics to deliver safe, efficient and highly adaptable drill and blast solutions. These techniques allow excavation to be tailored precisely to ground conditions, shaft or tunnel geometry and interface requirements, making them ideal for shafts, caverns, enlargements and short tunnel drives in competent rock. Successful execution is driven by carefully planned and rigorously implemented details. Our works are delivered by skilled and certified drillers, shotfirers and blast engineers, all trained in-house to maintain consistent standards of safety, quality and control. This in-house expertise enables us to manage the full blast process, from design through to execution, without reliance on third parties.
We develop complete, project-specific blast design packages, tailored to the geological conditions, excavation geometry and proximity of sensitive assets. Blast vibrations are predicted, analysed and monitored, allowing charge weights, timing and sequencing to be optimised to control vibration, air overpressure and flyrock. This approach ensures protection of nearby structures, live infrastructure and the surrounding environment, while maintaining productivity and cost efficiency. Our capability spans urban and remote environments, including highly constrained sites in the UK and large-scale, technically demanding projects in the Middle East.
We manage all aspects of explosives planning, procurement, storage and logistics, ensuring full compliance with regulatory requirements and seamless integration with programme and site operations. By combining engineering-led blast design, specialist in-house skills and a strong focus on safety and environmental control, we deliver robust, precise and cost-effective drill and blast shaft sinking and tunnelling solutions. This capability provides our clients with confidence that even the most challenging rock excavation works can be executed safely, efficiently and with minimal impact on surrounding assets and operations.
