This summer, I have spent much time in the field working with drillers on water well, geothermal, construction and cathodic projects. Regardless of the geographic location, I always approach a project with this goal in mind: To drill an efficient borehole safely utilizing the tooling and equipment on site with the least amount of impact to the environment. As a drilling trainer, I understand that the ideal equipment and tools to complete the job the most efficient way may not be available. It is equally important to comprehend that there are multiple ways to drill a hole, and the equipment and tools on site are best because they are available right now. The key is adjusting your expectations — and the customer’s expectations — of how much time is required to complete the hole. No matter what technology, tooling or equipment is on site, the basic principle stays the same: to drill the formation by creating a drill cutting that can easily be removed from the borehole. To keep with that principle, we must understand the cutting action of the bit, how it reacts to the geological formations and how the cutting is removed from the hole.
The best-designed drill rigs in the world are only as good as the drill bit. Drilling was revolutionized when Howard Hughes introduced the tri-cone drill bit. This innovation had 100-percent market dominance until the patent ran out. The next significant improvement was tungsten carbide inserts, which improved the cutting action and life of the bit. Now the industry has progressed to diamond tips, other hardening features, and hybrid bit types to cut a hole anywhere.