LARGE HOLE DRILLING

AMAdrilling Truck

Large Hole Drilling – DR24

Our equipment is capable of drilling holes with diameters in excess of 24 inches for any application. This process involves boring into the ground to guide the casing. Casing is then inserted into the ground by rotation. This provides support for the newly created unstable ground.

Following completion of the large-hole drilling process, loose material is removed from the hole, and it is reinforced to prepare it for your application.

DR Overview

Foremost Dual Rotary drills feature two rotary drives, including a unique lower rotary drive that is used to advance steel casing through unconsolidated overburden such as sand, gravel, glacial till and boulders. The lower drive feeds and rotates the casing independently of the top drive. The casing is held securely in the lower drive by a set of power-operated jaws. A carbide-studded casing shoe, welded to the casing bottom, cuts through the overburden. Once the desired casing depth is reached, the DR continues drilling open-hole like a conventional top drive drill. There is no need to trip out or change tools when transitioning to open-hole drilling.

The independent rotary top drive simultaneously handles a drill string, which can be equipped with a down-the-hole hammer, tri-cone or drag bit. Cuttings are typically evacuated with air, but Foremost DR drills can also be configured with pumps for mud or flooded reverse circulation drilling.

The upper and lower rotary drives feed independently on separate hydraulic cylinders. This means that the bit position can vary in relation to the casing shoe. In most situations, the bit is advanced slightly ahead of the casing for best penetration rates. In heaving formations, or at times when it is desirable to obtain a clean sample of the formation, the casing can be advanced ahead of the drill bit.

Over the years, the Dual Rotary method has proven very effective for advancing steel casing in difficult unconsolidated overburden. In addition to the primary benefit of effective penetration, the rotation of the casing results in very straight holes and casing can be easily extracted using the lower drive, which is useful in well abandonment applications and for exposing well screens.

DR-24

The DR-24 will set casing up to 24″ (610 mm) in diameter. This model is commonly used for domestic and municipal wells, and construction applications such as foundation piling projects and holes for hydraulic elevator jacks.

The DR-24 is available in PTO or deck engine configurations and can be mounted on a truck, trailer or self-propelled tracked carrier.

DR-24 Specifications

TOP DRIVE

  • Stroke 26′ (7.90 m)
  • Pullback/Pulldown 58,000 lbs/20,000 lbs
  • Torque (stall): 116,000 in.lbs (13,100 Nm)
  • Rotation Speed: 0 – 116 rpm

LOWER DRIVE

  • Stroke: 12′ (3.66 m)
  • Pullback/Pulldown: 72,000 lbs/33,000 lbs (33,000 kg/15,000 kg)
  • Torque: 1,000,000 in.lbs (112,000 Nm)
  • Max. Casing Diameter: 24″ (610 mm)

COMPRESSOR

  • Air Flow: 900 – 1,150 cfm (25.5 – 32.6 m³/min)
  • Pressure: 350 psi (24.1 bar)
  • Power: 475 – 600 HP (354 – 447 kW)