Russia Launches Its First Test Complex for Surface and Underground Drilling Rigs in Orenburg
A new fully domestic drilling‑rig testing complex, developed in Orenburg, marks a major step toward Russia’s technological independence in mining and energy equipment
Tested by ‘Granit’
The Granit test complex, developed by engineers at the Orenburg Drilling Equipment Plant (ZBO), is the first facility in Russia designed to test drilling rigs under full operational load, including emergency scenarios. The stand measures pulling and pushing forces, drill‑string rotation and other core performance parameters.
The first machine to undergo testing was the ZBO S15 self‑propelled drilling rig, manufactured at the same plant. The unit features a telescopic mast and is designed for drilling and core sampling to depths of up to 1,500 meters.
ZBO has spent more than 12 years supplying drilling rigs and tools for Russia’s oil, gas and mining industries. Its equipment is widely used both domestically and across CIS markets.
Orenburg as a Drilling Hub
Technological sovereignty remains one of Russia’s national goals through 2030. The Granit complex is the only such system fully assembled from Russian components. Regional authorities are actively supporting manufacturing expansion and infrastructure development to strengthen local industrial capabilities.
The stand took nearly two years to develop. ZBO’s product portfolio now fills niches previously occupied by foreign manufacturers in oil and mining. With federal and regional support funds, the plant also launched a robotized shop for producing universal steel drill pipes. More than 90,000 tools and at least 20 drilling rigs are produced annually, enabling the plant to meet both domestic and export demand.
Founded in 1957, the Orenburg Drilling Equipment Plant originally produced spare parts for heavy oil equipment. By the 1980s, it expanded into geological‑drilling components and later into full drilling systems based on truck and tractor chassis. Since 2014, the product line has included both drilling tools and full-scale rigs. In 2024, production output increased by 159 percent, while exports doubled compared to 2023.
Deep‑Level Independence
ZBO’s drilling systems will replace imported rigs at JSC Rusburmash, a key part of Rosatom’s mining division. The agreement was signed at the WorldAtomicWeek international forum.
In September, ZBO delivered its first fleet of universal ZBO S50 self‑propelled drilling machines, built on a KAMAZ 65201 chassis and capable of drilling to depths of up to 3,000 meters. Rusburmash plans to fully transition to Russian rigs within five years.
Management at Rusburmash notes that dependence on foreign machinery had long caused delays in fleet renewal, maintenance and spare‑parts procurement. New Russian rigs not only match but in some cases exceed foreign analogs in performance.
Real‑time drilling‑process control is ensured by the Smart Drill digital system, included under the agreement. The software monitors torque, drill‑string weight and drilling‑fluid pressure, significantly improving accuracy and safety. The electrohydraulic system is a first step toward fully robotized drilling operations, with AI integration expected in future iterations.
The transition to Russian equipment supports import substitution and opens the path for innovative technologies in exploration and mining. The new national GOST standard for rotary drilling rigs, effective since September, ensures consistent equipment quality for operations from –40°C to +40°C.
