The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
MarketsEquipmentWater WellsDrill Rigs & Heavy Equipment

Custom Drill Rig Keeps Alaska Company Versatile

By Jeremy Verdusco
Hefty's CH10 drilling rig

Hefty Drilling’s custom “CH10” drill mobilized on a muddy jobsite. The lightweight rig has served the company since the ’80s.

Johnny Kay
Johnny Kay, president of Hefty Drilling, which works all over Alaska. Loaded on the barge in the background is the custom rig the company developed.
Curt Hefty working on the CH10

Over the years, the rig has been built on and built up. Here, Curt Hefty, Johnny Kay’s father-in-law and the one who first started the rig project, works on the CH10.

Source: Johnny Kay photos

CH10 rig mounted on track
The drill has been mounted and trucks, tracks and trailers, and transported by road, barge and cargo plane.
Hefty's CH10 drilling rig
Johnny Kay
Curt Hefty working on the CH10
CH10 rig mounted on track
January 8, 2020

Drillers have a special talent for grabbing what’s on hand and innovating to get the job done. Such is the case with Hefty Drilling in Anchorage, Alaska. Terrain and weather challenge the best crews. The remoteness of the 49th state, particularly before widespread Internet, makes resourcefulness a necessity. Johnny Kay and the crews at Hefty show it.

The company developed a specialized drilling rig back in the ‘80s that shows that resourcefulness in action. The lightweight rig and has traveled mounted on tracks and tires, and gotten to remote jobs via barge or disassembled on a cargo plane. It’s far from the most powerful drill in the fleet. But some jobs call for a Swiss Army knife, and their custom “CH10” — named for original creator Curt Hefty — has that versatility.

We recently interviewed Kay at the National Ground Water Association’s 2019 Groundwater Week event in Las Vegas about the rig. Our conversation here is edited for space and clarity.


Q. First off, before we get to some of the features, tell me what were some of the problems you were trying to solve with building this thing.

A. My father-in-law actually started the rig, putting it together from various other drills, like an Ardco mast and top head, and started out with an Ingersoll Rand air compressor. He got the 375 series with the Deutz air-cooled diesel for light weight. He really built this thing to be flown in the back of a cargo plane to remote villages.


Q. So that was really the thrust of it? Alaska’s a rugged place and you needed something rugged that could go anywhere.

A. Yeah. I mean back in the mid-’80s, early to mid-’80s, there was really nothing kind of like that. He kind of had the market on that to start out with.


Q. How long has this rig been in service?

A. Since the early ’80s. I mean we’ve been modifying it over the years, of course, for different jobs we go to. You modify it for different situations. 


Q. What are some of the, I guess, atypical features of this machine, and how have those helped you get into these remote areas?

A. The first thing is being lightweight. We just have the necessities on it for ease of transport. We’ve recently been putting it on trucks. We’ve had more jobs where it’s able to be barged in, which makes it easier because now we can haul our rods on the rig. We don’t have to hand carry anything.


Q. Tell me a little bit about the capabilities. What does it look like when it’s performing for you? 

A. The deepest I think we’ve drilled was probably in the 240-foot range, 6-inch diameter.


Q. Is that is that typical water well depth for Alaska?

A. It is. Well, actually, when you get around the coast, 40-footers … are kind of, I wouldn’t say average, but 40 to 100 maybe. 


Q. What kind of material are you are you dealing with up there? 

A. Glacial till and silt and gravels. 

Q. Are there any modifications that you’ve done that are specific to that kind of geology?

A. In our drill system, we use a different type of drive shoe, since our rig is so small that it doesn’t have too much for pullback. Because we use telescoping screens, we use an inside drive shoe ... so you don’t have a drive shoe hanging out where it’s hard to pull back. That’s one of the modifications we use. We use a downhole hammer for drilling instead of a tricone or anything like that.


Q. Were you raised in the business?

A. My father-in-law started the business, of course, in the late ’70s and I started dating his daughter in high school. I didn’t have a job at the time, so he put me to work. I was 20 years old at the time.


Q. Are you involved in the industry, for example with any associations?

A. We belong to, of course, the NGWA and the Alaska Water Well Association. I’m past president [of AWWA] now. But I was the president for the last few years.


Q. As far as this rig goes, tell me about a really challenging job.

A. Sure. One of our jobs was in Mekoryuk. It’s on Nunivak Island — a volcanic island [about 30 miles off Alaska’s west coast]. The barge service only runs twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall. It actually tied our rig up for a full season. The job wasn’t challenging. We were only there for four days. But it just getting there, you know.


Q. What kind of conditions are you dealing with? A lot of us lower-48 folks don’t have a concept for what weather conditions might be like in Alaska.

A. We do a lot in the Bristol Bay area and Dillingham, and our last job out there was at Pilot Point. We went out there in the fall. That’s when the storms are coming through and it’s blowing 40 knots and raining.


Q. From driller’s perspective, what do you brag about when you talk about this rig?

A. I guess the light weight of it and the ease of mobilization. It works really good for — I mean we got it set up for what we do. Since we only use 10-foot casing rod, it’s easier for handling. When you’re out there, you’ve got to do a lot of lifting.


Q. You ever get the truck-mount stuck?

A. Oh, yeah. Usually at villages they’ll have some equipment or something, where they  can build us a road or pull us out.


Q. What are what are some of the challenges of drilling up in Alaska that folks down here might not be able to wrap their head around?

A. Occasionally, we get into boulders, but I’m sure they go through that out here too. We sometimes get into heaving sands.


Q. Do you deal with much wildlife?

A. Not usually. I mean we do see the occasional moose, stuff like that, but moose really don’t bother you. When we were out at Ivanof Bay, I guess that’s a pretty big bear population, but we didn’t see any bears out there. But we did bring guns if we needed them.


Q. This barge, is this something that your company owns or do you rent or lease it?

A. We just use their service.


Q. And same with the cargo plane?

A. Yeah, we just call.


Q. Do you have other rigs in your fleet or is this just your star girl?

A. Well, this one actually is one of the main moneymakers just because of what it is and where it goes. But we do have big rigs. We have Schramms and Atlas Copcos.

KEYWORDS: drilling technology water well drilling well drilling

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

Jeremy verdusco 200px

Jeremy Verdusco worked as Editorial Director for The Driller from late 2012 through early 2024. He’s worked in publishing since 1997, including stints as a reporter, copy editor, page designer and technical writer.

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Markets
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Water Wells
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Water Wells
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

Tariffs

Tariffs Shake Up the Drilling Industry

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • subcontracting drillers

    Custom Builder Talks about Hiring Drillers as Subs

    See More
  • drill rig development

    Drill Rig Development, Supply Chain with Tom Moffitt

    See More
  • Sebastian & Sons Well Drilling

    Building a Drilling Business Ready to Buy that Next Rig

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9780128034170.jpg

    Formulas and Calculations for Drilling, Production, and Workover, 4th Edition

  • 1119083621.jpg

    Formulas and Calculations for Drilling Operations, 2nd Edition

  • managed.jpg

    Managed Pressure Drilling 1st Edition

See More Products
×
Hefty Drilling’s custom “CH10” drill mobilized on a muddy jobsite. The lightweight rig has served the company since the ’80s.
Johnny Kay, president of Hefty Drilling, which works all over Alaska. Loaded on the barge in the background is the custom rig the company developed.
Over the years, the rig has been built on and built up. Here, Curt Hefty, Johnny Kay’s father-in-law and the one who first started the rig project, works on the CH10. Source: Johnny Kay photos
The drill has been mounted and trucks, tracks and trailers, and transported by road, barge and cargo plane.

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP