Modern Epiroc surface drill rigs, ready for projects across our multistate coverage.
On projects with thousands of holes, fleet size and rig condition set the pace of the drilling program. As an Epiroc drilling contractor, we invested heavily in SmartROC, FlexiROC and PowerROC rigs so we can staff multi-rig programs, hold production in hard rock and keep backup capacity close. DTH and tophammer rigs let us match the method to the ground: 3" to 10" holes for construction and 4" to 10" for solar, 4" to 6" seismic shot holes and up to 8" for quarry and open-pit work.
Proven at the top of the range: 10" holes on a 2023 solar project in Upstate New York, and More than 400,000 holes drilled from Texas to New York since 2024. See the projects
Official manufacturer graphics and capacity for each model. Hole ranges below are Epiroc machine capacity — not a substitute for XCEL’s project service ranges (3" to 10" construction; 4" to 10" solar; 4" to 6" seismic; up to 8" quarry and open-pit).
How it works: A compressed-air hammer strikes directly behind the bit at the bottom of the hole.
Performance: Direct impact at the bit avoids sending blows through the full rod string, helping maintain energy transfer and hole straightness as depth increases.
Typical fit: Larger-diameter and deeper holes, including demanding hard-rock work.
How it works: A rig-mounted rock drill sends impact energy through the drill rods to the bit.
Performance: High penetration potential in favorable conditions, particularly on shorter holes. Rod length and joints influence energy transmission as depth increases.
Typical fit: Smaller-to-medium diameters and shallow-to-medium depths. Also effective in hard rock with suitable tooling.
Both methods drill hard rock. Results depend on ground conditions, bit/tool selection, air supply, flushing and rig setup—not the method alone. These are general method characteristics, not guaranteed production rates or XCEL service limits. Model capacities and XCEL project ranges are distinguished in the introduction above.
Manufacturer guidance: Epiroc drilling methods (PDF) — external site ↗ · Epiroc hard-rock field example — external site ↗
Typical use at XCEL: High-production, larger-diameter holes; blast holes and pre-drill
Manufacturer capacity from Epiroc. Configurations may vary. XCEL service ranges are listed in the Fleet lead above and can differ by program.
Official specs → Epiroc SmartROC D65 specs — external site ↗
Typical use at XCEL: Production DTH drilling across solar, construction and mining
Manufacturer capacity from Epiroc. Configurations may vary. XCEL service ranges are listed in the Fleet lead above and can differ by program.
Official specs → Epiroc FlexiROC D65 specs — external site ↗
Typical use at XCEL: Versatile DTH drilling for pre-drill and construction
Manufacturer capacity from Epiroc. Configurations may vary. XCEL service ranges are listed in the Fleet lead above and can differ by program.
Official specs → Epiroc FlexiROC D60 specs — external site ↗
Typical use at XCEL: Dependable DTH drilling for construction and quarry work (quarry holes up to 8")
Manufacturer capacity from Epiroc. Configurations may vary. XCEL service ranges are listed in the Fleet lead above and can differ by program.
Official specs → Epiroc PowerROC D60 specs — external site ↗
Typical use at XCEL: Fast tophammer drilling in hard rock
Manufacturer capacity from Epiroc. Configurations may vary. XCEL service ranges are listed in the Fleet lead above and can differ by program.
Official specs → Epiroc PowerROC T50 specs — external site ↗
Typical use at XCEL: Agile tophammer rig for smaller holes and tight sites
Manufacturer capacity from Epiroc. Configurations may vary. XCEL service ranges are listed in the Fleet lead above and can differ by program.
Official specs → Epiroc PowerROC T45 specs — external site ↗
Self-driven Doyle Rambo 500 pile drivers for utility-scale solar tracker and fixed-tilt pile installation. Manufacturer capacity below; configurations may vary. XCEL installs piles for solar — not a claim of construction pile driving.
Typical use at XCEL: Solar pile installation for tracker and fixed-tilt systems
Manufacturer capacity from Denis Doyle Ltd. Configurations may vary. Ownership confirmed; quantity not published.
Rubber-track carrier in the XCEL fleet. Manufacturer specifications below describe standard configurations; installed equipment may vary.
* Maximum payload: dumper model with standard bed. ** Maximum carrying capacity: carrier model with standard bed. Manufacturer ratings are configuration-specific, not a statement of the capacity of XCEL’s installed attachments.
Morooka rubber-track carriers support our operations in rough terrain and harsh environments. Set up with fuel service beds and other support configurations, they keep rigs fueled and supplied across soft, rough and remote ground, so production doesn't stop when trucks can't get in.
Preventive maintenance, field service and staged spare capacity keep our rigs drilling. When the schedule tightens, we add rigs, not excuses.
We coordinate rapid mobilization with trusted third-party haulers, so rigs arrive when your schedule needs them.
Tell us the hole count, diameter and start date. We respond to every quote request within 24 hours.