Geotech Ekutak was created to provide opportunities in the drilling industry to Nunavut communities.

Geotech Ekutak is an Inuit-controlled company registered with the Municipality of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut. Geotech Ekutak received approval by Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., and is registered to operate in the following capacities:

• Boring test holes for metal mining on a contract basis;
• Drilling services for metal mining on a contract basis;
• Test drilling for metal mining on a contract basis;
• Drilling services for nonmetallic minerals mining (except fuels) on a contract basis;
• Prospect and test drilling services for nonmetallic mineral mining (except fuels) on a contract basis.

Recognizing an Opportunity

The Kitikmeot Corporation and Geotech recognized the opportunity to build a relationship between Geotech and the local Inuit groups in the area and our partnership was formalized in 2015. This partnership allows Geotech Ekutak the opportunity to give back to communities in the region, and offers training and employment for the Kitikmeot Inuit people. Concurrently, it contributes to the economic base of the Kitikmeot region.

The Kitikmeot Corporation is the business development arm of the Kitikmeot Inuit Association; responsible for developing business opportunities that will build an economic base in the Kitikmeot Region of Nunavut. Kitikmeot Corporation is 100% Inuit-owned (by the Kitikmeot Inuit Association) but more importantly, is working on behalf of the Inuit of the Kitikmeot Region.

Geotech Drilling Services Ltd (Geotech) provides industry leading exploration and geotechnical drilling services by providing a safe working environment for our solution minded personnel, maintained and current equipment, and long term client relationships. Since 1996, Geotech has achieved ongoing growth while remaining focused on the long-term objective of being operationally excellent. By adhering to Geotech’s core values and committing to a behaviour-based safety culture, Geotech is able to maintain a leading position in the exploration drilling industry.

Drilling Services

Geotech Ekutak primarily offers exploration coring drilling services to mining clients in the Nunavut region. Beyond exploration drilling, Geotech also offers services for infrastructure investigations to obtain information required by clients including boreholes completed with various in-situ tests and installations. Testing and installation techniques include, but are not limited to;

Projects

Geotech has participated in the Hope Bay drill program (700 kilometers northeast of Yellowknife), in the Arctic Circle since 2008. Over 370,000 meters of surface and 300,000 meters of underground have been drilled by Geotech on the Hope Bay Property between 2013 and 2023. The program consists of frozen lake drilling during the winter in severe arctic conditions; transitioning to helicopter portable drilling on land during the summer months, with up to 6 drills.

Winter conditions include temperatures as low as -40° Celsius with a high arctic wind-chill and flat landscape present challenges with whiteout conditions and blowing snow. Summer and fall conditions include helicopter portable land based drilling operations throughout the 40 kilometer greenstone belt. All land based drilling occurs in permafrost conditions with recirculation and capture of all drill cuttings. This technique is used to minimize the environmental footprint and potential risks to the tundra.