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Precautions for Water Well Drilling Rig Operation: A Must-Read for Beginners, Ensuring Water Output and Safety

Water well drilling operations require design and operation specifications tailored to groundwater source exploration, formation stability, and water quality protection. Compared to ordinary engineering drilling rigs, it is even more crucial to focus on three core objectives: "preventing borehole collapse, protecting the water source, and ensuring water production."

New operators who neglect the following precautions are prone to borehole failure, insufficient water production, or even equipment malfunctions. These points must be firmly remembered.

1. Pre-construction: Accurate geological survey and equipment parameter matching.

Two key surveys must be conducted before water well drilling:

① Geological structure: Determine whether the drilling area is sand, gravel, clay, or hard rock (this can be confirmed through a geological drilling report). For example, sand layers are prone to collapse, so mud wall protection materials need to be prepared in advance; hard rock layers require replacing the drill bit with a wear-resistant one.

② Groundwater level: Understand the water level depth (to avoid insufficient drill rod length) and the thickness of the aquifer (parameters need to be adjusted to protect the permeable layer when drilling to the aquifer). Simultaneously check the equipment: Focus on testing the drill rod's sealing performance (to prevent leakage from affecting water output) and the mud pump pressure (to ensure effective wall protection), avoiding starting the machine with malfunctions.

2. During Drilling: Strictly Control Hole Wall Stability to Avoid Aquifer Damage

① Mud Slurry Matching: When drilling through sand and gravel layers, the mud concentration should be controlled at 1.2-1.5 g/cm³ (too thin and the borehole will collapse; too thick and it will affect slag removal); in clay layers, the concentration can be appropriately reduced to 1.1-1.2 g/cm³ to prevent excessive mud cake from clogging the aquifer;

② Drilling Speed: When encountering an aquifer, the speed should be reduced to 5-8 cm/min (10-15 cm/min in ordinary formations) to avoid disturbing the permeable layer structure with high-speed drilling, which would reduce the water output;

③ Do Not Blindly Deepen: If an aquifer is not encountered after reaching the designed depth, drilling must be stopped and a new exploration should be conducted. Do not forcibly deepen the borehole, as this could cause borehole deviation.

3. Water Quality Protection: Prevent Pollution and Ensure Drinking Water Safety

Water well drilling operations are directly related to water quality. The following precautions must be taken:
① Toxic wall-protecting materials (such as chemical mud containing heavy metals) are prohibited. Environmentally friendly materials such as bentonite should be prioritized.
② Promptly handle equipment leaks: Hydraulic oil and engine oil leaks can seep into the aquifer. If a leak is detected, immediately stop the machine for inspection and repair, and flush the contaminated area with clean water.
③ After drilling is completed, first inject clean water to flush out the mud in the borehole (flushing time ≥ 30 minutes) before lowering the well casing to prevent mud from clogging the well casing's filter holes.

4. Safe Operation: Be Aware of Risks in Field Construction

① Electrical Safety: Waterproof distribution boxes must be used for field construction. Electrical wires should be overhead or protected by conduits (to prevent them from being soaked by rainwater or crushed by drill pipes);

② Anti-slip and Anti-sinking: The work site must be level. After rain, lay steel plates or gravel on it (to prevent the drilling rig from sinking and operators from slipping);

③ Emergency Handling: In case of borehole wall collapse, immediately lift the drill pipe and increase the mud pump pressure. Do not forcibly pull out the pipe, as this may cause it to break.

The core of water well drilling is "accurate exploration, stable operation, and protection of water quality." New operators should avoid the misconception of "emphasizing speed and neglecting details." It is recommended to operate under the guidance of professionals initially, recording operating parameters for different formations (such as mud concentration and drilling speed) to gradually accumulate experience. This will ensure both the water output and quality of the well, and extend the service life of the equipment.

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