Need A Well? 3 Common Drilling Methods
If you need to add a well to your property, you will need to dig space for one. Different methods can be used to dig a well, based on the type of property you have, the soil you are dealing with, and how deep you need to dig the well. When it comes to residential wells, rotary drilling, auger drilling, and cable tool drilling are the three most common methods used.
1. Rotary Drilling
Rotary drilling is a classic method for drilling a well. With rotary drilling, a long drill pipe has an attachment added to the end of it. That pipe is then pushed through the ground, propelled by a hydraulic system. The drill is propelled through the earth until it reaches the aquifer that will supply you with water.
With a rotary drill, special drilling fluid is commonly used to ensure the drilled hole stays stable. Rotary drilling works well on hard soils.
2. Auger Water Well Drilling
Another method for drilling a well is with an auger water well drill. With an auger water well drill, a special augur drill is used to create the hole. However, the auger drill doesn't just drill the hole. In fact, it also helps to pull the material back up to the surface that is being drilled through.
Auger drills are often used on soft and sandy soil. A drill casing is also typically used in these situations to ensure the hole that is being drilled doesn't collapse on itself, which is a common occurrence when drilling through soft soil.
3. Cable Tool Drilling
The third method is cable tool drilling, which is also often referred to as percussion drilling. With this type of drilling, a heavy cable is dropped into the drill. Every time the cable is dropped and lowered into the hole, it chips away at the dirt and rock below. It is kind of like continually hammering at the ground.
With this drilling method, a bailing device is used to remove all the debris that is created from the drilling process. Cable tool drilling is often combined with auger drilling, although it can also be used as a stand-alone drilling technique.
If you need to dig a well, you are going to want to consult with a well drilling service. They can evaluate your property and let you know which well drilling method will work best for adding a well to your property. Rotary drilling works well on hard soils, and auger water well drilling is better for softer soils. Cable tool drilling can be used on a variety of different surfaces. For more information, contact a water well drilling service.
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