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VEDCO says its new company, Virginia Core Drilling LLC, expects to have a prosperous future ahead as it plans to grow its fleet and its reach. VEDCO , founded in 2002, has emerged as a leader in drilling and blasting services for surface coal mining in the Central Appalachian region. Based in Vansant, Va., the firm offers its services through three separate companies – Austin Sales, Virginia Drilling and Virginia Core Drilling – President and CEO Dave Fortner says. Virginia Drilling Company LLC is a highly specialized drilling and blasting company that performs work for surface coal mines, road building and various heavy construction projects. In addition, VEDCO’s Austin Sales LLC distributes explosives to clients that perform their own drilling and blasting. “The Austin Sales part of the company has been in existence since 1935,” Fortner says, adding that VEDCO also manages Hazard Explosives, a company that sells explosives to clients in eastern Kentucky. VEDCO’s latest venture is Virginia Core Drilling LLC, which the company formed in 2007. Fortner notes that many of its current clients include longtime VEDCO customers in Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky. Investments in Success As it has grown Virginia Core, VEDCO has purchased five used drills, as well as a new Atlas Copco Christensen CT14 core drill that is “a major investment,” Fortner says. “[The] Christensen CT14 exploration rigs give us the ability to drill as deep as 6,000 feet. That’s probably more than double what we could do with the older model drills we purchased.” VEDCO’s willingness to purchase new equipment reflects its commitment to Virginia Core’s success, Fortner says. In addition, “We will be receiving our second new Christensen CT14 core drill [in] the third quarter of this year,” he says. VEDCO also has assembled a qualified staff for Virginia Core, Fortner says. In March of 2008, Charlie Hale, a mining engineer with experience in coal, gold, copper, industrial mineral and regulatory affairs, was hired to be the manager of Virginia Core Drilling. Additionally, the company hired several of the former owners of its used drills, including Operations Manager Billy Basham, who has 35 years of experience. Goals for Growth Virginia Core’s continued success will be based on its ability to continue hiring qualified drillers and purchase quality equipment, Fortner says. Additionally, “The drilling equipment must be constantly maintained to provide a high percentage availability to our customers,” he says, noting that Virginia Drilling has a 5,000-square-foot shop dedicated to the vehicles and surface blast hole drills located in Vansant, and most of the core drill service and repairs have to be performed at this time in the field. Virginia Core Drilling is also planning for continued growth. “Our goal is to have 20 core drilling rigs operating by the end of the year [in] 2010,” Fortner says, adding that Virginia Core also wants to expand its reach beyond Virginia, West Virginia and Kentucky and to provide exploration services to other industries such as aggregates, minerals, metals, tar sands and natural gas in the Central Appalachian region.

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