GTI Energy Ltd (ASX:GTR, OTC:GTRIF) is progressing well with planning for the 2024 field season in Wyoming, US, which will include drilling of uranium prospects.
The company has contracted a drilling services provider and locked in a schedule for its upcoming drilling program at the Lo Herma ISR Uranium Project in Wyoming’s Powder River Basin.
It is also gearing up for its maiden drilling program at the Green Mountain Project in the state’s Great Divide Basin, with ground truthing of drill holes now complete and the permit application nearly finalised.
Drilling services provider contracted
GTI has contracted its preferred Wyoming-based exploration drilling contractor, experienced and licensed in the construction of water wells, for its 2024 drill program at Lo Herma.
This has allowed GTI to lock in contract rates and a schedule in what appears to be a very busy 2024 drilling season in the uranium sector across Wyoming.
The planned 2024 drilling program at Lo Herma includes 71 drill hole locations and construction of up to five groundwater monitoring wells.
This next phase of exploration will be focused on expanding the resource areas and where possible, upgrading the current mineral resource classification.
Collection of important data including, hydrogeologic parameters of the mineralised aquifers and collection of rock core samples for metallurgical testing will also be prioritised.
GTI executive director Bruce Lane said, “We are very pleased to get our Lo Herma drilling contract locked in with our preferred supplier for what will be our third season working together in Wyoming.
"We are now waiting on the final approval of our amended drilling plan and the related bond assessment which should be completed in time for drilling to commence as planned in July.
"In addition, we look forward to submitting our drilling application for Green Mountain now that we have been able to complete the final on-site review of drill site access”.
An amended drilling permit has been lodged and is progressing with the Wyoming’s Land Quality Division review as expected. GTI intends to mobilise drilling rigs to Lo Herma once fully permitted and environmental clearances are finalised, and expects drilling to commence at Lo Herma in July.
Green Mountain drilling permit
The company’s technical team has finalised the maiden drill plan at Green Mountain, selecting 16 drill holes that are to be permitted for the 2024 drilling season, should funding and weather conditions allow.
This drill program is designed to test the validity of the historical Kerr McGee drill hole maps and the interpreted mineralised regions as determined from the airborne geophysical survey.
A final on-site review of drill site access was completed in mid-April — the earliest that weather conditions would allow.
GTI expects to lodge the drilling notification paperwork within the next 10 days and will consider a final decision to proceed with the Green Mountain drill program once reclamation bonding is approved by Wyoming’s Department of Environmental Quality and the Federal Bureau of Land Management.