In the last two articles we informed what types of water well drilling rigs according to the drilling method and circulation method, and described the suitable drilling situations of every types.

In addition, the working condition of a drilling rig is different from that of a normal machine, as drilling rigs are used for mobile operations in mines, mountains, deserts, swamps, the Gobi, farmland, residential neighborhoods, and so on. This requires that the drilling rig must have better relocation and transportation performance, that is to say, the drilling rig should be detachable, and the size and design are suitable whole consignment. Therefore, water well drilling rigs can also be divided into (trailer/fixed)small water well drilling rigs, crawler water well drilling rigs and truck-mounted water well drilling rigs according to the traveling mode.

So what kind of water well drilling rigs should be chosen for different countries, different terrains and different purposes?

(Trailer/Fixed)Small Portable Water Well Drilling Machine

Characteristics: This kind of machine is equipped with simple wheels, which are easy to be towed by a trailer/people. And it is categorized into electric power and diesel power.

Advantages: low cost, easy to operate

Limitations:

• Depth and hole diameter: Suitable for shallow wells within 20-50m, 50-100m is extreme
  
• Terrain: Due to the simple structure, the legs are just fixed metal brackets, can not be raised and lowered, only suitable for flat ground

• Geological condition: The torque of its electric motor is small, weak power, and basically unable to drill when encountering rocky and pebble layers. The motor is mostly 2-4kw asynchronous motor, no frequency converter, no torque system, drive system is simple, so it can’t play out the electric motor’s torque potential. This point can be made up by using diesel-powered drilling machine, it can realize the low-speed, high-torque drilling into hard rock formations.

• High failure rate: One is a low-priced products are generally equipped with air-cooled engine, the heat is relatively poor. Another is that the structure of this model is simple, the diesel engine does not have any protective measures, exposed to the hot and dusty environment, will damage to the engine. Manufacturers of this kind of machine won’t inoform how to do a maintenance to the customer generally. Finally, all of them will lead to the engine breaking down.

• Low efficiency: This is a common problem for all types of small water well drilling rigs. Except for manual drilling equipment, it can be said the simplest drilling equipment. All the components of the lowest price, then the performance, the automotion is also the lowest, so the efficiency is naturally not too high.

Recommended scenarios: suitable for individuals or rural wells, small farms, water replenishment wells

Crawler Drilling Rigs

Crawler water well drilling rigs were designed from the surface DTH drilling rigs, which are generally diesel engine driven and fully hydraulic controlled (other types are available, but are not commonly used). The difference is that crawler water well drilling rigs have a fixed drilling direction, drilling only vertically, and are equipped with adjustable legs for stability in complex terrain.

As the track can carry heavier and bigger machines, it makes it possible to carry higher rig towers, more powerful engines, and more torque rotary heads, which means it can be paired with longer drill rods to drill deeper and bigger wells. It is also possible to integrate some other equipment on the drilling rig to facilitate the use of well drilling, such as hoist, welding machine, foam pump, climbing ladder, mud pump, etc., which makes the drilling rig more multifunctional and automated. Even the remote control module can be added to make it more intelligent.

The crawler chassis has strong climbing ability and is more suitable for complex terrain. However, compared with the truck-mounted drilling rig, the transfer speed is slow, and another transportation vehicle is needed on the highway.

Suitable depth: 100-800m

Recommended scenarios: mountainous areas, farmland

In addition, this type of drilling rig has two kinds of tracks, one is rubber track and the other is steel track. The price difference is small between the two types of tracks, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages.

Rubber tracks

• Advantages: No damage to the road surface: the hardness and lightness of the rubber determines that it can do as little damage to the road surface as possible. For example, in farmland and orchards, it can minimize the damage to cash crops. Also will not be limited by the mud in the farmland. Easy maintenance: no lubrication, no rust
• Disadvantages: Limited support: only suitable for rigs not exceeding 10 tons. Only rigs up to 200 meters are equipped with rubber tracks, while rigs over 200 meters are equipped with steel tracks. Poor abrasion resistance: The rubber hardness is low, and walking on a road with a lot of gravel will accelerate the wear of the rubber track. Easy to aging in high temperature environment

Steel tracks

The advantages and disadvantages of steel tracks are the opposite of rubber tracks. If you choose a drilling rig with a depth of 200 meters or more, it is usually equipped with steel tracks.

Truck-Mounted Drilling Rigs

Truck-mounted drilling rigs are generally used by customers who have frequent transshipments and work sites that are far apart. It is usually a large professional drilling company, or even a government tender project. For example, the Zimbabwe project we did before.

This kind of drilling rig has many kinds of assembly methods, according to the customer’s needs. One truck can be equipped with a hydraulic top drive water well drilling rig and an air compressor, and another truck can be equipped with drilling tools, including drill pipes, drill bits and casing pipes. This option is more expensive, but the drilling efficiency is very high, but the support depth is limited. With just an air compressor, it may only support up to 500m. If add a mud pump, it can rise to more than 500m. For a specific explanation, you can see the principle of conventional gas drilling rigs that we talked about in our previous article.What types of water well drilling rigs according to the circulation method?

However, most of the customers installed only one water well drilling rig on their trucks, which may be top-driven or rotary table drilling rigs type. In the latter case, the rig tower can be loaded very high and long, and can drill water wells of more than 1,000 meters, and the cost is also higher.

Disadvantages: High cost; not suitable for narrow/complex terrain.

Recommended scenarios: government well-drilling projects, urban suburban projects

Comparison Table

Key Considerations When Choosing a Traveling Type

• Transportation mode (whether highway access is required, whether access to the site is possible)
• Project Location (mountainous, dirt, city streets)
• Frequency of operations (frequent transitions)
• Budget Constraints and Equipment Requirements
• Maintainability and Support

Conclusion

Although I’ve listed the advantages and disadvantages of various rigs and the scenarios for which they are suitable in several articles, there are even more details when it comes to actually getting into the business of drilling water wells. For example:

what are the local usage habits?

What are the different parts, in their various forms?

What is the difference between different brands of the same kind of parts?

What kind of drilling tools should be used in different geological conditions?

What are the requirements of different countries’ laws and regulations on the product standards of drilling rigs?

All these questions determine that buying a drilling rig is not buying a standard product, but a highly customized precision equipment.

This requires customers to look at the quality of the rig itself, as well as the customization capability, industry experience, technical level and service attitude of the rig manufacturer when purchasing a water well drilling rig.

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!