A Bucyrus Erie Cable Rig Drill in Action

These drills, the same kind that used to be used by oilmen, are still in service around the country. Cable rig technology was first used by the Chinese over 4000 years ago.

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People & Blogs

Tags:

• drill
• cable
• rig
• technology
• water
• antique
• historical

[FallCreekVideo]

He's been doing it for about 50 years now, I think he's OK.

[FallCreekVideo]

well, it can, because it's on a cable, but that's not really the intended mechanical means of drilling the hole...

[Bucyruserie28W]

thanks for the info but I have been drilling for 38 years love the old cable rigs.

[MrJodyh54]

The amn wanting to drill his own well-I suggest you spend some time with and experienced driller before attempting one yourself. What about a drive shoe-do you know what it is, how to field dress a bit, adjust cultches, when to bale a well, how to keep a well straight? If you are not familiar with these terms-you could end-up loosing a bit, stem, and the well.

Regards,

Joe

[MrJodyh54]

Water depends on the region, and the rock formations underlying the surface (or overburden). In Erie County, Penna. rock formations are fairly consistant meaning that wells average from 40-80 feet. There is usually about 30 feet of glacial overburden consisting of gravel, then blue clay and then soft shale, then harder shale. As for turing the drill bit, the cable is 'left-lay', meaning that it automatically spins the drill stem after each hit, and thus creates a round hole. .

Regards,

Joe

[Bucyruserie28W]

sign me up

[donyunger]

@mic38071 I have helped spud in water wells with no more than a mast, rope & shop built tools. The casing went into the holes under gravity

[donyunger]

@Bucyruserie28W LOL you should at sign on for the duration for at least 1 completed well

[donyunger]

@deauzie Rotate like drill? no. But for certain applications there are tools that install above the bit that will rotate the bit in increments with cycle of the drilling line, but they aren't need for "easy" drilling. Sometimes the driller will give the line a twist & hold. The hold part gives them some feed back from down the hole.

[donyunger]

@Drillinvillin4720w BTW a guide was shown being put in place here

[donyunger]

@yournomanlady Sorry, but your comment hakes no sense. No matter the method of drilling has no effect on the pre- existing facts of of how deep where the water exists or it's sulfur content. When it's expected that water will be found at shallower depth, the decision to spud in the well is decided for it's simplicity of the equipment that has to be moved into place. A well can be spudded in with simple derrick or mast, shop built tools & rope

[donyunger]

@Drillinvillin4720w Of course you wouldn't hire a FL outfit to drill a well in PA & you wouldn't hire a PA outfitto drill a well in FL. You could have pointed out that how operations in FL are different with a personal attack on this driller