26 NOVEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Conventional Drilling vs. Reverse Circulation Adapted from Information by Holte Manufacturing Conventional drilling has withstood the test of time, but do you know when it’s time to switch to reverse circulation? Every job requires something a little different as far as drilling tools go. With the creation of reverse circulation (RC) dating back 100 years ago, it is a newer form of drilling. It is even required for many jobs in urban areas or other places where it’s necessary for a more controlled way to exhaust cuttings or when there are sensitive borehole conditions. Many dual rotary drilling professionals also use RC, with great success! This begs the question, is one better than the other? Obviously the job itself will have a lot of bearing on which system works better. When working in construction and thinking about drilling for foundation, RC is used due to the heavily regulated areas of the construction site. Both conventional and RC drilling are used in the water well industry. Although conventional drilling is used most often, if a well is large (16 inches or more) or has unconventional requirements, a RC system may be useful to help speed up the project. RC is also great for unstable ground conditions, where blowing rocks up the hole might cause it to cave in. During exploration drilling, it may be necessary to examine cuttings coming up from the borehole. RC drilling is a great option to investigate cuttings because you can control where they are discharged. At the end of the day, the choice between conventional and RC drilling is a drill operator’s preference. There are pros and cons for each system and differ from job to job, industry to industry, and many other varying factors. Some industries may need a certain system due to the nature of the job, but both systems can usually be used for most jobs. Many drill operators like to use both types of drilling for various jobs, or they may have tools for conventional drilling, but need a reverse circulation system for one job. This is where a cuttings interchange and an RC air inlet, kelly reverse circulation conversion, or an interchange coupled with a thrust bearing may come in handy. Bottom line, conventional drilling will never be phased out, but RC drilling is a great alternative for many situations. With all of the options now available for RC, as well as its perks when it comes to drilling in specific industries, it looks like RC may be the best option to overcome some of the changes facing the drilling industry. Some of the Pros for Each Method Include: RC Drilling Conventional Drilling Cuttings are removed in a controlled environment Tools are cheaper to buy More control of your air and less air is needed Pipe is cheaper to buy Typically more efficient Readily available Less borehole stress Bigger differences in closed vs. open underreamer diameters More drilling options (flooded, grout through, partial RC) Fewer tool parts and less cleaning needed Lower lifetime operating costs (diesel is expensive) EXB 302-684-319 & Mfg., Inc. Atlantic Scree et om ducts 97 en E-mail: atlantic@ce.ne Atlantic-Screen.co Clear PVC Pipe j Inline Chemical Mixers j ell Rehabilitation Prod jW DE 142 Broadkill Rd Milton, ½” - 24 ranging fr Perforated of Slotted Manufactu Fax: 302-384-0643 more! MUCH And j Bailers Sampling j Locking Caps j Filter Sock j Bentonite j Manholes j Pipe Clear PVC 4” rom Pipe and urers E 19968 I really enjoy this magazine. I read it from cover to cover. Keep up the good work! Ed Wagner Marathon, TX
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