Water well drilling for cash crop cultivation (fields) is different with well drilling for personal water use. Cash crops require a significant amount of water, and plantations must ensure a continuous water supply throughout the year. Their areas are often located in high-altitude regions with ample sunlight, which may experience seasonal water shortages and unstable irrigation water supplies.
They cover large areas, often spanning dozens or even hundreds of acres. A single well cannot adequately serve such a vast area, so multiple wells must be drilled within the area. Additionally, water levels are not static and may be affected by tectonic movements or weather changes, impacting well water supply. Therefore, for plantations, drilling wells is not a one-time solution; additional wells may need to be drilled promptly in response to changes in water supply.
Such extensive and frequent well-drilling requirements would entail significant expenses if contracted out to a well-drilling company, posing a substantial burden on farm or plantation owners. In such cases, purchasing own water well drilling rig is highly advisable. While this may involve a substantial initial investment, it is beneficial in the long term for reducing the overall operational costs of the farm or plantation.
Rather than speak how to choose the right water well drilling rig, it is better to say that how to customize the drilling solution according to your requirements.
It’s easy to select a individual water well drilling rig, and prices are readily available (click here to get the price now). Search for keywords on Alibaba.com or Made-in-China.com, and prices may appear directly.
Although the supported depths vary, so do the prices. However, water well drilling rigs are more like standardized products. The different depth levels determine the number of drilling tools installed, which in turn determine the rig’s power, torque, and lifting capacity, among other specifications. This means the cost of the rig can be easily estimated, and manufacturers usually have a pricing table.
However, only a water well drilling rig cannot directly drill a well. It is merely one part of the process. You must also consider how to remove drill cuttings from the hole. If you choose air drilling, you need to buy air compressor additionally. And beside regular size drill pipes, you need to buy appropriate bits based on geological conditions, \hole diameter, and local usage habits (which also affects the convenience of purchasing drill tools locally), and determine whether to use casing pipes, among other issues. All these factors mean that selecting a water well drilling rig is not a one-size-fits-all solution. Drilling rig manufacturers cannot ignore these factors and simply provide customers with a price for a water well drilling rig; that would be irresponsible.
So let’s take a step-by-step look at how to customize the drilling solution according to your requirements:
Different countries may have various water levels. Below are the common depth requirements for different countries based on our past completed orders:
Central Asia (Pakistan, Afghanistan,etc.): Over 300 meters
Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia,etc.): Over 200 meters
South America (Peru, Chile,etc.): 200m or deeper
Africa: Vehicle-mounted type: 250m or deeper
As can be seen, the majority of regions where cash crops are grown require well-drilling depths of 200m or deeper, with a few exceptions at 300m due to they are in inland locations and short of water resources.
So I will use a depth of 200m as the baseline for well-drilling solutions in cash crop plantations (fields).
As I mentioned in this article ‘How to Choose the Right Water Well Drilling Rig According to its Traveling Method?‘, mobile drilling rigs are categorized into fixed, trailer-mounted, crawler, and truck-mounted types. The portable small fixed drilling rigs can only reach depths of up to 100 meters, and even 100 meters is somewhat challenging, so they can be ruled out.
Truck-mounted rigs generally have higher costs and are only recommended for long-distance relocation needs, such as for well-drilling companies. Otherwise, they are not recommended.
If your farmland or orchard has relatively flat terrain and you have vehicles capable of towing, trailer-mounted units are a enough option. For mountainous or uneven terrain, crawler ones are better. The cost difference is small(even same)between them, so choose based on your specific needs.
I recommend crawler one, as they feature retractable outriggers. If long-distance transportation is required, loading and unloading is also convenient.
The two do not refer to drilling methods, but rather different methods of debris removal.What types of water well drilling rigs according to the circulation method? In this article, I discussed the differences between water drills and air drills. We can refer to this table to see the specific details in various aspects:
| Water Drills | Air Drills | |
| Main equipment | Mud Pump | Air Compressor |
| Applicable drilling tools | Tricone drill bit/PDC drill bit (cheaper) | DTH hammer + DTH drill bits |
| Effectiveness | About 3-5 days | 1 day |
| Cost | About USD$ 3000 | At least $15,000+ (for 200m depth models) |
Based on the differences, you make your choice according to your budget. If low budget, choose water drills; if high, choose the more efficient air drills.
The drilling stage and geological conditions affect the choice of drilling tools.
| Hard/soft rock | Loose soil such as sand and gravel | |
| Ground hole | Auger drill rod, mud drill bit/integrated auger drill rod | |
| Deep hole | Air drill: DTH hammer + DTH drill bit Water drill: tricone drill bit |
Eccentric drill set/concentric drill set + casing pipe |
Different countries have different geological conditions, so decisions should be made based on actual circumstances. Generally, I would recommend: a DTH drill set + an eccentric set.
Agricultural projects usually require high flow rates (≥20 GPM), so the well diameter cannot be too small.
The following table summarizes water demand, expected depth, and recommended well diameter for different scenarios based on online data. For medium-sized agricultural irrigation projects, the recommended well diameter is 6–8 inches. Among our clients, most choose a depth of 200 meters, with a diameter ranging from 6 to 8 inches.
The industry standard for well diameter is 203 mm (8 inches) to 219 mm. All drilling rigs are designed to drill wells within this diameter range. This diameter typically accommodates standard submersible pumps.
In summary, if agricultural project owners are unsure about well diameter, I recommend starting with an 8-inch diameter.
| Water Demand | Expected Depth | Recommended well diameter (inches) | Recommended well diameter (mm) | Common scenario |
| ≤10 GPM | 50–150m | 4″ | 100–110 mm | Households, small-scale irrigation |
| 10–20 GPM | 100–200m | 5″–6″ | 125–150 mm | Small farms, orchards |
| 20–50 GPM | 150–250m | 6″–8″ | 150–200 mm | Medium-scale agricultural irrigation projects |
| 50–100 GPM | 200–300m | 8″–10″ | 200–250 mm | Large farms |
| ≥100 GPM | 300m+ | ≥10″ | ≥250 mm | Agricultural joint irrigation, industrial water use |
| Configuration Components | Air Drill | Water Drill |
| Rig Type | Crawler MW180/MW200 | |
| Drill Depth | 200m | |
| Hole Diameter | 203mm(8 inch) | |
| Main Equipment of Slag Removal | Air Compressor 18-20 bar，20 m³/min Choose Atlas Copco for a higher budget. Choose Chinese brands for a lower budget. (Air compressor parameters are not fixed; these are only recommended parameters.) |
1.5－2.5MPa Mud Pump |
| Drill Tools | φ76mm Drill Pipe 8″ DTH Hammer 8.5″-9″ DTH Drill Bits |
φ76mm Drill Pipe 8″ Tricone Bits |
| Optional upgrade accessories for drilling rigs | Electric Welding Machine、Ladder、Foam Pump、Remote Control Module | |
| Accessories | Hose (for connecting the drilling rig to the air compressor) Reducing joints, etc. |
Hose (used to connect the mud pump and drill rig/drill pipe) Water tap (recommended; this component allows the mud pump to be connected directly to the drill pipe, avoiding wear on the drill rig rotary head) |
If you are planning to purchase a water well drilling rig, whether for agricultural, orchard, or commercial irrigation projects, or for well drilling companies or mineral water companies, we can provide you with comprehensive configuration recommendations, quick quotes, and technical support.
D Miningwell, a 20-year drilling rig manufacturer and expert in drilling industry program planning, has served more than 30 countries. We sell not only products, but also services. We consider more details for our customers and reduce their worries. Choosing us is choosing to save your heart!
