Geology and exploration
- Prospecting and exploration of sandstone-type uranium deposits to expand the uranium resource base of the Republic of Kazakhstan
Services
Volkovgeology JSC performs the full cycle of uranium exploration — from prospecting and exploring deposits to process-well drilling and production support.
Operating cycle
From prospecting to commercial operation
Volkovgeology JSC provides integrated geological, technological and analytical support throughout the operating cycle.
- 01Prospecting
- 02Exploration
- 03Engineering
- 04Process-well drilling
- 05Mining operations support
Areas of activity
Capability profile
The scope of work is organised by functional area.
Drilling and engineering
- Construction of exploration, hydrogeological and process wells to support mining operations
- Design and operation of mining facilities
Analytics, radioecology and environmental services
- Radioecological assessment and support for exploration and process-well drilling in Kazakhstan
- Analytical determination of radioactive and associated elements in rocks and groundwater
- Environmental works and services
- Handling of ionising radiation sources
Production and technical support
- Manufacture and repair of mobile drilling rigs
- Manufacture and overhaul of rock-drilling tools, equipment and motor vehicles
- Manufacture of transport containers and packaging sets for radioactive materials
Specialist business units
- Geology and exploration
- Drilling and engineering
- Geology and exploration
- Drilling and engineering
- Analytics, radioecology and environmental services
- Geology and exploration
- Drilling and engineering
- Analytics, radioecology and environmental services
- Production and technical support
HydrogeologyHydrogeological servicesFull cycle, from water demand calculation and well drilling to groundwater reserve approval and special water use permits.
Radioecological support
Radioecological support of process-well drilling has been provided to
- RU-6 LLP
- Semizbay-U LLP
- Kazatomprom-SaUran LLP
- APPAK LLP
- JV Akbastau JSC
- JV Inkai LLP
Material and technical resources
Production capacity
- 150
- drilling units in the company fleet at the start of 2026
- 3.46 million
- metres drilled in 2025
- ~90%
- share of the drilling market within NAC Kazatomprom JSC
The Company's fleet includes high-performance KZ-800 hydraulic rigs jointly produced by KOKEN (Japan) and Volkovgeology JSC. By drilling-fleet size, the Company is one of the leading exploration contractors in the CIS.
Volkovgeology JSC accounts for approximately 90% of Kazatomprom's drilling market. It provides geological support across the Group's full operating cycle — from uranium prospecting and exploration to bringing deposits into commercial operation — and drills process wells for mine-development work at uranium operations.
Drilling
Drilling fleet and drilling volumes
Volkovgeology JSC drills with its own rig fleet, ranging from light self-propelled units to mobile drilling systems manufactured in-house.
1998–2025
Drilling volume
3.46million metres drilled, 2025
8,123 wells · average depth 426 m
+56% vs 2021
over 76 million m
drilled since 1948
million metres drilled
Data table
| Year | Wells | Metres drilled | Average depth, m |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 242 | 82,488 | 341 |
| 1999 | 523 | 159,523 | 305 |
| 2000 | 884 | 254,700 | 288 |
| 2001 | 715 | 227,076 | 318 |
| 2002 | 1,234 | 265,080 | 215 |
| 2003 | 938 | 295,028 | 315 |
| 2004 | 1,153 | 373,094 | 324 |
| 2005 | 1,318 | 450,737 | 342 |
| 2006 | 2,250 | 909,304 | 404 |
| 2007 | 3,135 | 1,281,041 | 409 |
| 2008 | 4,031 | 1,703,589 | 423 |
| 2009 | 4,202 | 1,878,200 | 447 |
| 2010 | 4,801 | 2,191,348 | 456 |
| 2011 | 5,006 | 2,430,036 | 485 |
| 2012 | 5,673 | 2,994,659 | 528 |
| 2013 | 6,489 | 3,100,217 | 478 |
| 2014 | 4,754 | 2,242,805 | 472 |
| 2015 | 6,602 | 3,107,313 | 471 |
| 2016 | 6,106 | 2,397,069 | 393 |
| 2017 | 5,951 | 2,525,984 | 424 |
| 2018 | 6,127 | 2,416,356 | 394 |
| 2019 | 5,900 | 2,463,536 | 418 |
| 2020 | 4,120 | 1,768,048 | 429 |
| 2021 | 5,454 | 2,215,038 | 406 |
| 2022 | 6,415 | 2,447,954 | 382 |
| 2023 | 6,316 | 2,752,413 | 436 |
| 2024 | 7,235 | 3,203,336 | 443 |
| 2025 | 8,123 | 3,457,058 | 426 |
Source: Volkovgeology JSC. The total covers 1948–1990 and 1998 to the first half of 2026; data for 1991–1997 are not included.
Drilling rigs
BPU-1200 MKG
Mobile rig for exploration and hydrogeological drilling
- Drilling depth, m
- 800
- Power, kW
- 65
- Configuration
- Upgraded in 2025
KZ-800
Mobile rig for hydrogeological drilling
- Drilling depth, m
- 500
- Power, kW
- 120
- Configuration
- Factory standard
SP7000 (DESCO)
Self-propelled crawler rig
- Drilling depth, m
- 500
- Power, kW
- 150
- Configuration
- Factory standard
URB-2A2
Self-propelled wheeled rig
- Drilling depth, m
- 150
- Power, kW
- 45
- Configuration
- Factory standard
URB-3AM
Self-propelled wheeled rig
- Drilling depth, m
- 300
- Power, kW
- 85
- Configuration
- Factory standard
Drilling in extreme climatic conditions
Long-standing experience in rapidly mobilising drilling equipment and conducting continuous exploration and production drilling in Kazakhstan's harsh natural and climatic conditions.
- down to −30 °C
Winter
Deep core drilling programmes at the Semizbay and Kyzyltu deposits in Northern Kazakhstan. Insulated rigs and special freeze-resistant mud formulations keep the drilling fluid circulating without interruption.
- off-road
Spring and autumn mud season
Heavy equipment is mobilised and moved to drilling sites across off-road terrain and waterlogged ground at APPAK and Ortalyk sites and at the Zhalpak deposit. The high cross-country capability of the BPU-1200 MKG, KZ-800 and SP7000 rigs and well-coordinated crews keep wells on schedule, with no seasonal downtime.
- up to +40 °C
Summer and dust storms
Drilling at uranium deposits in the Shu-Sarysu and Syrdarya uranium provinces involves extreme heat, squally winds and dust storms. The hydraulic and diesel systems of the rigs, including the SP7000, are fitted with enhanced cooling and multi-stage air filters that protect components from abrasive dust.
Technology development
Research and development
Volkovgeology JSC conducts research and development in drilling technology and the introduction of new equipment. The company has developed and implemented improved well-completion units equipped with new types of process tools and devices, including jet apparatus and hydraulic impulse systems; polymer fluids for process and exploration drilling; and bentonite sleeves that replaced conventional cement-based annular sealing, providing high-quality isolation and significant cost savings.
The company continues to develop and introduce modern rock-cutting tools and technical solutions designed to improve drilling productivity and reduce non-productive costs and downtime.
Developments and implemented solutions
- Well-completion units
- Jet apparatus and hydraulic impulse systems
- Polymer drilling fluids
- Bentonite sleeves
- New-generation rock-cutting tools
Official materials