AJ Lucas Group is an Australian drilling contractor and engineering services provider. Founded in Sydney in the 1950s and listed on the ASX since 1999, the group operates through Lucas Drilling, delivering exploration, directional and production drilling, well planning and engineering, geosteering and well servicing to the coal, coal seam gas and civil infrastructure sectors.
What Lucas Drilling Does
Lucas Drilling provides end-to-end drilling solutions, from initial trajectory engineering and site setup through to drilling completion and ongoing well maintenance. The business has supported the development of Australia's resource sector for more than 60 years, working across the degasification of coal mines and the commercialisation of coal seam gas.
Its operating model combines technical drilling engineering, production execution and specialised steering. In-house engineering teams and well-modelling software are used to de-risk programmes before mobilisation, and field operations run to the safety, environmental and risk management standards required by major resource operators. The group undertakes more than 120,000 metres of directional drilling annually.
Services
- Well Planning & Engineering — design, feasibility studies, detailed engineering and operational support across the well lifecycle.
- Directional Drilling — horizontal and directional boreholes, surface to inseam (SIS) wells and horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for mine degasification and dewatering.
- Geosteering, Ranging & Well Intersection — precise wellbore placement using BMR, MWD and LWD tools to maximise zone residency and avoid hazards.
- GOAF Drainage & Service Wells — vertical and angled goaf wells and service bores for mine ventilation, gas drainage and production, with capacity to drill and case wells up to 36" (914 mm) diameter.
- Exploration Drilling — down hole hammer, diamond core, conventional core and rotary mud drilling, including large-diameter rotary mud and air programmes and high-accuracy coring.
- Well Servicing — well installation, commissioning and maintenance, surface infrastructure, monitoring systems, gas gathering lines and flares.
Industries Served
Coal mining. Lucas designs and executes high-precision directional and vertical well programmes ahead of active longwall faces, providing methane degasification for underground coal operators and supporting compliance with mine ventilation requirements.
Coal seam gas. Advanced well planning, geosteering and precise ranging tools are used to optimise commercial gas extraction from narrow horizons under complex geological constraints, maximising zone residency and long-term asset value.
Civil and infrastructure. Heavy-duty engineering capability and advanced trajectory control support major infrastructure works, using HDD and vertical bores up to 36" to navigate dense sub-surface environments and collision risks.
Fleet, Engineering and Facilities
The company operates a multi-purpose directional drilling fleet of purpose-built rigs configured for directional drilling and deep-hole applications, supported by directional bores and exploration tooling. An in-house team of engineers and steerers works alongside the rig crews.
A purpose-built facility in Moranbah serves as a strategic hub for equipment, maintenance and field personnel, supporting rapid response and reliable delivery across projects. Safety and quality management systems are accredited to AS/NZS and ISO standards.
Projects and Operating Record
- Bulga Open Cut Mine — open cut depressurisation.
- Arrow Energy – MGP CSG — a complete lateral programme in a depleted reservoir.
- Anglo American – Multiple Mines — exploration drilling, gas drainage and mine infrastructure services, including a Surface to In Seam bilateral gas drainage programme that drilled 6,309 metres across six laterals in 4.5 months.
- Oaky Creek Mine — pre-drainage of longwall blocks.
Across these programmes the group reports more than 852 wells completed, 270,000+ metres drilled, 138 km+ of precision trajectories steered and 176 km+ of casing strings run.
Corporate and Governance
AJ Lucas Group is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange under the ticker AJL. Andrew Purcell is Non-Executive Chairman, and Greg Runge is Group Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, appointed to the role in October 2024 after leading the group's Australian drilling and directional drilling operations. The company publishes ASX announcements, annual reports and AGM notices, maintains corporate governance policies, and operates a health, safety and environmental management system across its field operations.
Australian office: Level 22, 167 Eagle Street, Brisbane QLD 4000. Further information is available at lucas.com.au.