A new down-the-hole (DTH) drill hammer designed for geothermal well drilling in Scandinavian and Nordic terrains has emerged from US-headquartered consumables firm TerraRoc .

Developed on the back of real-world insight into what drilling contractors need, the TerraRox GT4 is cited as being the shortest and lightest 4in DTH hammer on the market.

Based on a proven, foot-valve-free tubeless TD40 design, the GT4 is claimed to eliminate one of the most common failure points in the industry to deliver greater reliability and reduced maintenance.

According to the product sheet, rock-breaking efficiency and part longevity have been optimised by way of advanced impact dynamics simulations using Finite Element Analysis.

A wear-resistant casing, optimised piston geometry and premium materials add to the hammer's performance, while an innovative aligner flange has been incorporated into the design to deliver high back pressure resistance without compromising parts alignment. This is also said to reduce internal wear.

The GT4 also introduces and new thread design for fast, reliable bit changes in the field, again  minimising downtime

"The GT4 strikes the ideal balance between low fuel consumption and high back pressure resistance – making it the smart choice for most professional drillers in the Nordics," says TerraRoc.