One of the interesting facets of water well drilling is the wide variety of formations we drill in. It is pretty difficult to have a rig that will drill any formation, so most drillers own rigs that suit their particular area. Sometimes, the formations vary so much that a driller may have to have a mud rotary rig, an air rig and a cable tool rig — just to cover his home area.
Since I have usually drilled in coastal areas, mud rotary has been my choice for years, but it can be a challenge in some areas. One of the most challenging things in formation for a mud driller is lost circulation. Simply put, you can’t get as much mud back as you pump down the drill string.