Did you know that the United States uses roughly 19.4 million barrels of oil every day? To support this huge demand for oil the industry utilizes a variety of different oil rigs to access the fuel source.
But, exactly what are the different types of oil drilling rigs that exist today? If you want to learn the answer to that question, then you’re in the right place.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the popular types of drilling rigs that you’re likely to see being used today. Let’s get started!
Rotary Drilling Rigs
The first type of drilling rig is a rotary drill. As its name suggests, this type of drill uses weight and rotation to grind down the rock. It’s best used for soft types of soils. It’s also capable of reaching significant depths of roughly 5,000 meters.
Down-the-Hole Drilling Rigs
This type of rig uses a rotary cutter to drill, while a separate pneumatic hammer pounds away at the earth. This aggressive method of drilling is more ideal for handling harder rock, like limestone or granite.
It’s also capable of reaching depths that rival rotary drillings, usually around 4,000 meters.
Percussion Drilling Rigs
Percussion drilling rigs don’t use rotation to access the oil. Rather, they drop a drill bit repeatedly from a high place. This allows gravity to do most of the work.
This is a good method to tackle hard rock that isn’t responding to down-the-hole drilling. However, you can’t dig deep with it. Typically, only 100 meters.
Auger Drilling Rigs
These types of rotary drills use an auger or a worm screw. They’re ideal for areas with soft ground types, like sand or clay. However, they’re only capable of drilling a few dozen meters down.
What Else Do You Need Before Drilling?
As you can probably guess, drilling rigs aren’t the only things you need before you can start drilling. These days, there’s no telling what types of things are underground, whether it’s pipe infrastructure, cables, or reservoirs.
As such, it’s important to invest in survey equipment that lets you find out whether or not there’s something in the way of your drilling. Sadly, this type of equipment can get very expensive.
The good news is that there are a variety of vendors that offer used Digitrak equipment. So, you can survey properly without breaking the bank.
Enjoy Learning About Oil Drilling Rigs? Keep Reading
We hope this article helped you learn about the different types of oil drilling rigs that are used today. Keep in mind that these are just some of the most popular types. There are hundreds of variations in rigs.
That way, drillers can access oil in any environment or ground type. Did you enjoy this article? If the answer is yes, then you’re in the right place. Keep reading to find more topics that you’re sure to love.