17 MARCH 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Bringing Modern Technology to a SIMCO Classic Adapted from Information by SIMCO Drilling Equipment, Inc. In 1976, only five years after the formation of SIMCO Drilling Equipment, the company began development of the SIMCO 5000 WS with the first rig being shipped in October of 1977. This drill rig was designed primarily for mud rotary water well drilling in the 250- to 400-foot depth range. The 5000 WS was a huge success from day one, with more than 65 built and shipped to customers between 1977 and 1982. The original concept was an affordable tophead-driven water well drill which used 20-foot drill pipe. SIMCO also wanted plenty of torque and pullback while on a small truck to get into limited-access jobsites. The SIMCO 5000 was the first hydraulic tophead drive drill rig in its class size. SIMCO still supports the old 5000 WS drill rigs, and the very first 5000 WS drill rig from 1977 is still in operation in Puerto Rico. The 5000 WS was in production for over 25 years, but with the demand for bigger drill rigs with more capabilities SIMCO stopped building the drill rig and concentrated efforts on the larger SIMCO 7000 and the smaller, more compact, SIMCO 2800. For years, customers shared stories of their old 5000 drill rigs and how great they were. Many of them shared how it was the drill rig they learned everything on, or the rig that built their business. They shared fond memories of their fathers and grandfathers putting the SIMCO 500 WS to work. For several years, the company discussed bringing back the 5000 and reengineering it for today’s market. Finally in 2020, after years of discussion, the decision was made to bring back the ever-popular SIMCO 5000 drill rig. In addition to updates for today’s drilling operations, several other features were considered essential for the new 5000 rig, including: . 22-foot Stroke Mast - 14,000 pounds pullback/pulldown . Drill head - 2860 foot pounds of torque and 300 rpm . Ability to handle 20-foot drill pipe . Carousel capable of holding 200 feet of 3-inch pipe . 2½-inch water plumbing or above on the drill rig . Development air and larger out put mud pump . It is mounted a small single-axle truck that doesn’t require a CDL . PTO driven to provide maximum horsepower By the end of 2023, SIMCO had the new 5000 ready to take to Groundwater Week in Las Vegas. With other competing drill rigs and more than 6600 attendees at the show, one thing was clear - SIMCO hit the nail on the head with the design of the new 5000 drill rig. The SIMCO 5000 has more torque, more pullback, and is the only one that can carry 200 feet of drill pipe in the carousel while still being underweight. Fully loaded, the SIMCO 5000 weighs 20,540 pounds and is under the trucks allowed 22,000 GVWR (gross vehicle weight rating). WWDR photo of the SIMCO 5000 on display during groundwater week. Photo of the SIMCO 5000 drill from the 1970s. WTR The redesigned SIMCO 5000 has big rig power in a compact package.
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