WorldWide Drilling Resource

39 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MARCH 2015 - penetration rates which are extraordinary in this basin. The “Superior” Oil and Gas Hammer Range from Halco Adapted from Information by Halco Rock Tools Halco Rock Tools, a world-class manufacturer of down-the-hole (DTH) dr i l l ing equipment , pioneered the development of DTH hammers in the 1950s. Their range of hammers and drill bits have been offering optimal drilling per formance in civi l engineer ing, exploration, geothermal, blasthole, oil & gas, and water well industries for the past 66 years. Recent oil and gas prices make reaching the pay zone quickly even more critical. Research indicates air drilling can help achieve lower drilling costs, faster drill rig installation, an increased rate of penetration (ROP) - with a ROP up to five times faster than mud, reduced hole deviation, and effective pressure control through lost circulation zones. Halco launched their Superior deep-well range of hammers in June 2014, which consisted of 6-, 8-, 10-, and 12-inch DTH hammers. The range is expanding with the addition of 15- and 18 - i nch DTH hamme r s cu r r en t l y undergoing trials. Standard features of the Superior range include diamond-enhanced drill bits and a bi t retent ion s y s t e m . Va r i ab l e b y p a s s p o r t i n g has been added to t h e t o p adapters, a n d t h e r a n g e con t a i ns l i v e a i r b l e e d p i s t o n s , which together, give the ability to inject greater volumes of drilling additives and air to increase uphole velocity. This is particularly important when drilling deep wel ls. More shank options are also available. The Halco Bit Catcher system has a specially designed chuck and drill bit arrangement, to ensure there is no loss of drilling performance from either the hammer or bit while providing the drill operator with the reassurance that should a breakage occur, the drill bit will be securely retained within the bit retention system. This saves the time and expense of challenging fishing procedures to save your hole. Feedback from the Marcellus region of the U.S. has reported the Superior 1200 fitted with a 12-3/8-inch drill bit has achieved a ROP of 210 feet per hour to a depth of 2998 feet. The Superior 800 and 8-3/8-inch drill bit ran at a ROP of 250 feet per hour to a depth in excess of 3000 feet