Water Well Journal

July 2015

Water Well Journal

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"Sometimes the expensive bit is the best choice," he states. "It can save the driller a lot of time with increased penetration rates; and with the high cost of diesel fuel, if the driller is in a formation that can be drilled with a PDC instead of a hammer, the savings in diesel alone will pay for the bit. "On the other hand, I've had drillers using a tricone trying to drill clay and sands when a less expensive drag bit will out- drill the tricone at a fraction of the cost. I tell all the drillers I can I couldn't drill a water well if I was thirsting to death, but I know what bit they need to drill one for me." Christensen encourages water well contractors to seek out assistance from a drill bit manufacturer who can readily assess the best option. He states: "The key is to drill faster at a lower cost per foot." Steve Warren, president/CEO of Asbury Machine/Throop Rock Bit in Tonkawa, Oklahoma, encourages contractors to do their research of the formation they're encountering. This makes problem-solving easier for Warren and his sales representatives. Drill bits are designed for specific conditions such as formation type, circulation media being used, RPMs being turned, and down pressure available. These are all critical in helping to make the right bit selection. "This is along the same principle, as any of you who has used a hand drill knows," Warren says. "You can have a sharp drill bit, the correct size ready to drill, but if you spin the thing and don't push on the drill bit, you're going to do nothing but burn the bit up. You could change to a carbide bit which maybe will keep your bit from burning up as quick, but you are still not likely to finish your job in a satisfactory manner. Same principle on a rig. If you cannot meet the minimum specifics of what this bit needs, you're likely to not be satis- fied with performance." Warren advises contractors to contact their sales represen- tatives or bit distributor and inform them of what conditions will be encountered and what International Association of Drilling Contractors codes are stamped on previous bits used in the conditions. While the economy continues to recover, Warren sees cus- tomers opting for the lowest bit prices. "My hope is folks realize buying domestic, in the long run, adds quality, consistency, and therefore value to the total package," Warren says. "Our hope is our fellow consumers will keep this in mind." Mike Price is the senior editor of Water Well Journal. In addition to his WWJ responsibilities, Price produces NGWA's newsletters and contributes to the Association's quarterly scientific publication. He can be reached at mprice@ngwa.org. WWJ To search for drill bit manufacturers, visit the NGWA Directory and Buyers Guide at http://ngwa.officialbuyersguide.net. Drill bit manufacturers want to provide their customers with the correct tool to complete their job in a timely and safe manner. Photos courtesy Wahlfield Drilling Co. in Comstock Park, Michigan. Proper drill bit selection can save a water well contractor time and money. 28 July 2015 WWJ waterwelljournal.com DACUM Codes To help meet your professional needs, this article covers skills and competencies found in DACUM charts for drillers and pump installers. DO refers to the drilling chart. The letter and number immediately following is the skill on the chart covered by the article. This article covers: DOB-1, DOB-3, DOE-1, DOK-10 More information on DACUM and the charts are available at www.NGWA.org. DRILL BITS from page 27

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