Suitability and Selection Recommendations for Different Drilling Equipment

Suitability and Selection Recommendations for Different Drilling Equipment

When choosing drilling equipment, it's crucial to understand that there's no "one-size-fits-all" drilling rig. Different types of equipment, due to their different working principles, each have their own "opponents" best suited for the "invisible battlefield" of the underground. Your choice essentially involves matching the most suitable tool to your specific geological and engineering goals. Understanding the suitability of mainstream models is fundamental to making informed decisions.

For soft to medium-hard formations, such as common soils, sand, clay, and some weathered rock layers, rotary drilling rigs are the most efficient and widely used choice. Their working principle is similar to cutting soil with a rotating drill bit, while circulating clean water or mud carries the cuttings out of the hole. This method offers fast drilling speeds, regular borehole walls, and relatively continuous and stable operation, making it ideal for drilling agricultural irrigation wells, household wells, and engineering exploration holes to depths of tens to two hundred meters. If your primary targets are these types of formations, rotary drilling rigs are usually the most economical option.

When encountering hard rock layers, large pebbles, or very dense strata, rotary drilling rigs become very inefficient, and the drill bit wears out extremely quickly. This is where percussion drilling rigs come in. Their working principle is more direct and powerful—relying on the heavy drill bit to repeatedly lift and then drop freely, using impact kinetic energy to break the rock. Although its drilling speed in hard rock may not be as fast as rotary drilling in soft soil, its ability to break hard rock is irreplaceable. Therefore, in mountainous areas dominated by bedrock such as granite and hard sandstone, or when penetrating thick layers of gravel, percussion drilling rigs are a more reliable tool. Their disadvantages are relatively high noise and vibration.

However, underground conditions are often complex and variable, with alternating soft and hard formations or unclear strata being common challenges. To cope with this uncertainty, multi-functional drilling rigs (also known as multi-purpose drilling rigs) become an ideal choice. These devices typically integrate both rotary and percussion functions, and some can also provide vibration. Operators can flexibly switch working modes according to the strata encountered in real time: rapid rotary drilling in soft soil, and immediate percussion drilling upon encountering hard rock. This "multi-functional" feature significantly reduces the hassle and cost of changing equipment mid-drilling due to geological changes. Although the initial investment in the equipment itself may be higher, the overall benefits are significant in complex geological formations.

Our recommendations are as follows: First, gather as much local geological data as possible or consult experienced well drillers to clearly identify the main strata you intend to drill. If it is confirmed to be soft soil, choose a rotary drill; if it is confirmed to be hard rock, choose a percussion drill; if uncertain or potentially involving both soft and hard rock, a composite drilling rig is a more reliable and adaptable choice. Second, consider your budget and long-term needs: if you are only drilling a shallow well, leasing or choosing a small-scale rig may be more cost-effective; if you plan to engage in well drilling long-term or need to handle various geological conditions, investing in a more powerful composite drilling rig may be more worthwhile. Finally, inform a reliable equipment supplier of your geological assessment, well depth requirements, budget, and site conditions. Their professional recommendations will help you make the most practical decision.