Understanding how to structure your drilling data in CorePlan is key to keeping operations organised and aligned with budgets, teams, and reporting needs.

Here’s how Projects and Drill Programs work, and how to set them up based on real-world mining and exploration workflows.

How CorePlan organises drilling data

CorePlan follows a structured hierarchy to manage drilling data effectively:

Organisation: Represents the mine site, or collection of projects independent of a mine site.
Project: A working set of drill holes and drill programs assigned to a specific team, budget, and data boundaries for different drilling activities.
Drill Program: A group of drill holes focused on a specific goal.
Drill Hole: The individual drill hole, linked to workstreams and drilling types.

Projects and drill programs are set up to match how drilling is managed on-site, ensuring clarity in reporting and access control.

What is a Project?

A Project in CorePlan groups multiple drill programs under one operational unit, defined by your company.

That unit can be structured based on:

Mine Sites: Separate projects for production vs. exploration drilling, aligning with different teams and budgets.
Resource Definition: Projects structured by region or deposit, ensuring financial and operational clarity.
Exploration: Projects organised by geographic area, with drill programs aligned to specific targets.

Projects also control user access, reporting, and budgeting, ensuring that each team operates within a clearly defined unit. One team, one budget, one project. This structure makes projects the foundation of your CorePlan workspace.

What is a Drill Program?

A Drill Program is a subset of a project, representing a defined set of drill holes focused on a specific objective. Each program is managed within a project and tracks progress, costs, and outcomes at a more detailed level.

By organising drill programs under a project, your can manage multiple workstreams while maintaining a clear, structured approach to your drilling operations.

How to Structure Projects

There is no single way to structure your workspace. Your setup should reflect how your teams and budgets are managed.

When to Group Multiple Drill Programs Under One Project

Shared Team & Budget: If multiple programs are run by the same team under a single budget, combining them in one project makes sense.
Simplified Reporting: A single project allows for unified reporting across related drill programs.
Operational Overlap: If drill programs are closely linked in execution, keeping them together reduces administrative complexity.

When to Keep Projects and Drill Programs Separate

Distinct Budgets: If different funding sources apply, separating projects ensures financial clarity.
Access Control Needs: Sensitive data can be isolated in dedicated projects with restricted access.
Complex Workflows: Large-scale operations often require separate projects to prevent confusion.

Real-World Examples of Project Structures

1. Mine Site with Both Production and Exploration Drilling

Project 1: Production drilling
Project 2: Exploration drilling
Why? Keeps teams, budgets, and reporting distinct while maintaining clear oversight.

2. Regional Resource Definition Operation

Project Structure: One project per deposit, grouped within regional hubs.
Why? Enables clear financial tracking and structured operational management.

3. Global Exploration Team

Project Structure: One project per geographic region (e.g., Australasia, South America).
Why? Ensures regional teams manage their own drilling while maintaining company-wide visibility.

Final Thoughts

CorePlan is built to match the way mining and exploration companies operate. Whether you need a single project to manage a drilling program or multiple projects for better oversight, CorePlan provides the flexibility to structure your drilling data effectively while keeping your teams aligned and budgets on track.

Looking for the best setup for your operation? Contact us to discuss how CorePlan can support your drilling needs.

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