Well drilling is the process of drilling a hole in the ground’s surface to extract natural resources, such as natural gas, petroleum, or groundwater.
Hundreds of years ago, people used shovels and buckets to dig deep into the ground until they hit the water source.
Today, drillers used different methods and techniques to conduct various drilling operations, including water well drilling.
For instance, drill rig sales Australia offers a wide range of water well drilling rigs, including several truck-mounted units designed to ensure flexibility and mobility, even in the most challenging environments.
In this article, we will be exploring the different methods and equipment used in water well drilling.
Water Well Drilling Techniques
There are several drilling techniques used to drill water wells. The most common among these methods are rotary drilling and sonic drilling.
Rotary Drilling
It is the most popular well drilling method that bore vertically into the earth. The principle behind this technique is based upon a rotating drill stem made of lengths of drill pipe about 15 feet long.
The speed of Rotary drilling is said to be 5 to 7 times faster than the cable tool and capable of several hundred feet per day, depending on geologic material.
However, this method is costly compared to other well drilling methods such as cable tools or jetting rigs.
And when it comes to maintenance, it is also more extensive and has higher fuel consumption.
Sonic Drilling
Sonic drilling is a highly advanced method that utilizes high-frequency mechanical oscillations generated from the sonic drill head.
The frequency is adjustable to suit a specific site condition depending on the subsurface conditions.
The vibrations from the drill head liquefy the soil particles around the bit face, allowing efficient penetration of the core barrel in most geological formations.
One of the significant advantages of a sonic drill rig is its ability to retrieve continuous core samples from unconsolidated and consolidated formations with accuracy and almost zero deviation.
Drill Rig Sales Australia for Water Well Drilling
Drilling rigs for sale in Australia cover a large spectrum of geotechnical works and are ideal for water well drilling.
The rigs are equipped with advanced modular hydraulic circuits that permit the installation of a variety of rotary heads capable of operating all rotary and/or rotary-percussive drilling systems, coring equipment, and wireline systems.
Truck-Mounted Hydraulic Drilling Rigs
From lightweight compact units up to high-weight class rigs, the truck-mounted hydraulic drilling rigs are built with strength, reliability, and high productivity and can operate even in the most difficult environments.
The range of uses of these drilling rigs includes public well construction, commercial, agriculture, industrial, and domestic water supply. The equipment is also suitable for instrumentation installation for groundwater monitoring activities.
Summary
Having a reliable and sustainable water source involves a lot of hard work, techniques, and technology for the drillers. Thanks to modern technology, drill rig companies are now capable of designing and developing drilling equipment that has maximum operational flexibility and mobility.