So... what kind of rig capability did you build? There are rigs around that drill water wells with centrifical trash pumps. More serious rigs can have duplex plunger "slush pumps". I don't have brands that would mean anything to you, but if you're interested PM me an email address, and I'll send you some pictures of some rigs - some homebult - others commercially available.
Personally, I would only consider a trash style pump that could handle sand recycled in the fluid.
A lot of wells are drilled without shakers, using only pits. Most successful operations have a two compartment pit. The return flow is directed into the first compartment, then over a low weir, then the pump sucks from the cleaner second pit.
Hello,
Here is where I am at on this whole project:
IU have my prototype done. I predict it will drill over 200 ft given the right drill stem. I have a trash pump that will work on this unit for a few wells if I use a settling pan. I plan on using a feed troph and a divider in it for settlement. I will use bentonite in the mud. This will wear this type of pump out fast. I looked at a dredging pump from AMT and a semi trash from Flowtec. In the end, It looks like the flowtec with a pressurised grease seal is the best choice. In my research I found that Vermeer and Ditch Witch use them on there boring rigs.
I now have a 21 HP gas engine driving a 1.83 CI hydraulic pump. The engine is a bit undersized but because only one motor really pulls that much flow at any one time, it will work very well. Of course, I already have some refinements on it to make and this is a prototype. The next one that I plan will use all the same concepts but will have many refinements---27 HP. on board mud pump driven by a hydraulic motor, nicer control center, larger fluid container and a bit heavier pillow blocks. I will continue to use the 8 HP motors for drill head and chain hoist.
This unit is portable in that it can be mounted on many different trailers, even on the back of a full bed pick up truck. It weighs in at about 1200 pounds and folds down. It can use 5 to 7 ft drill stem but if it works well, I can produce this same type up to 20ft.
The swivel will be a big question? I made it from scratch with two sealed ball bearings, DOM tubing of different sizing, large washers, 1.5 inch black pipe and graphite PTFE packing with grease fittings. It held well against a 100 PSI air
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My drill head has 4-6000# drill head frame guides, 6000# thrust bearings for lift up and push down, No 80 drive chain and more. The lift capacity is over 4000# but I will rate it at the chain working strength of 2100.
So much more but you get the idea?
More input the better.
Gray
