Drilling a water well with a Bucyrus-Erie 22-W Cable Drill Rig

Allegheny Mt. Water Systems
We drill wells, install the pumping systems, and we treat the water correctly, for removal of minerals and bacteria.
We're serious about your water.
Jeff Ford
3733 Route 155
Port Allegany, PA 16743
814--642-9283

[@sharonbenes8338]

thank you for the memories. My dad and I used to drill with a 20W that sits on a Diamond Reo. He has been gone since 2012 and I just needed to hear the old rig run again. You have given me that. Nothing beats an old cable rig.

[@PersMachinist]

you are very good business about water drilling to serve the people.thanks you good luck.

[@JoeJohnson269]

The old boy has it under control and his helper still has a buzz from the night before. Welcome to well drilling y'all. I've put lots of pipe in the ground with a cable tool and don't think the rotary boys have any room to comment on this video. You make your mess and we'll make our good wells

[@weldersandblaster]

A buzz from the night before. Yeah, that's what it looks like, or he's permanently dense like some of my employees.

[@absentbrainded]

Just before I was born, a well was dug at the hilltop home I grew up in. I was told that at some point, a drill just like this one stopped making that sound while the drill head passed through a cavity of ten feet or more in height. Apparently there was a cave or cavern down there somewhere. The total depth of the well was 175 feet, and I was told the cavity was hit around half way down. It was just one of those neat things about growing up in that house.

[@nailhead73]

This brings back so many memories. I believe I was about 10 when I started helping Dad. It was so cool when he started the sputter.

[@ibrahimturay491]

This is the best drill rigg on the planet. Im a operator. I took it to west africa. It was the best time i had using this rigg. The experience was unforgettable. Im making plans on doing it again. Thanks for this video. Please do not take it down. Im using it as a presentation to display for my investors. You guys did a wonderful job.

[@Kustomgadget]

Our old 22W mounted on a duce and a half 6x6 army truck was donated and went to West Africa. I miss that machine. I always hated the rotary machine. Loud obnoxious fuel guzzling widow maker. You can get a consistent 6 foot per hour with a mixing sub.

[@jimwilson1439]

18:25 Wow so modern now . Back in the 70s dad wound the derek by hand and level the truck by hand also with bottle Jack's and 6x6 blocks of wood. The truck was a 51 GMC

[@lazharlazhar3829]

I am working on this well driller in Algeria. You work very hard. Let the pitcher descend to the ground and place the tube so it is easy to work

[@30khalif]

Good job 👏🏻

[@weldersandblaster]

That was very cool. Thank you for sharing.

[@russelrapp482]

Absolutely awesome !!

[@cindytepper8878]

The hood on that R Model is from the 60's, with a 73 to mid 80's cab. Tough trucks

[@joelhenderson5526]

Those old cable rigs were the berries in their day my dad had two wells dug that way!

[@bgreen518]

We had one 10 years back the boss sold it to a farmer now that I've learnt more about drilling I wish we still had it all our potential customers have water bound river gravels

[@Mkrainc]

In response to the thisisme0214's comment, of course there are faster rigs and faster ways to drill water wells. But I defy you to find a straighter way to drill a hole. Also there are some formations where a rotary rig cannot drill. I learned to drill with a cable tool in '77. It was with a 29T Bucyrus Erie. Quite the monster.

[@derekrugby]

What imparts the spin on the tool bit?

[@melthoresen]

Left lay drilling line stretch and zero gravity on top of up stroke

[@jasongreek2342]

I'll also add that cable drilled wells consistently deliver better water volume of higher quality, from shallower depths, compared to rotary drilled wells.

[@michaelloder2016]

Love your work and relaxed attitude when your both working as a team with this beautifully preserved cable rig. I’m down in Australia and after watching this am really keen to fire up our own old cable rig and start drilling our limestone country for more water. Keep up the good work and post more videos of these efforts. Don’t concern yourself with any negative comments coz there only watching (like me) and not actually doing it real like you guys.

[@gqp3215]

ran mine faster with less slack. its a bunch of fun when it is solid rock right away, starter pipe like this is used then.Need 20 feet of casing at least, must be 2 feet or more into bedrock 10 inches. neat cement grouted around casing after drilling. worst case senerio is caving sand and cobble. have driven 10 inch thick wall casing 295 feet through these conditions with a big rig coming in behind me to drive 8 inch 400 feet, then 6 inch 450 before getting acceptable water. maryland and every occupation needs a state license. was a master there and south central pa. 30 years.my best rig was one of these. is in haiti now. had six rigs in 90s. scrap metal when worn out. never wore out that 22 though. this guy didn't use 10 inch bit 2 feet into bedrock, and was real slow.drilled 100 feet in 1 day once in 35 years of drilling. most days averaged only 20 feet, maybe. fishing is a bad word

[@davidcopeland1599]

We always picked the drill string up off the bottom a couple of inches and set the bull reel brake to maintain that while drilling. In my experience that makes for faster production. (The disk plates at the top of the derrick give to allow the drill string to hit the bottom and rebound quickly when running this way.)

[@752brickie]

Nice 22-W

[@stonetempelpug655]

Use to run a 22 with a Continental flat head 6.

[@leonarddalton8968]

Looks like Mack and Mya for hire!

[@thomassullivan2674]

You guys always just run 6in no 8in to start?

[@lilianmaltez6242]

Tengo una igual montada en remolque pero no tengo las herramientas balde barratijera y brocas donde las consigo stay en el salva

[@stevecummins7834]

What prevents the cable from twisting up into a knot when the drill head stops downward momentum on the down stroke and "unloads" the cable? I assume the cable has a left hand (?) twist that resists the clockwise rotation of the driveline cable? What are the specifications for the drilling cable like is it a LH twist and how many rotations per lineal foot is there? Is there some sort of bevel-gear attached to the end of the cable that is driven off the end of the engine shaft? I know almost nothing about how these systems actually work. There is very little explanation or close-up camera work that helps me understand what I am seeing.

[@davidcopeland1599]

The top of the drill stem has the cable attached through a swivel attachment; but yes if that swivel becomes jammed the cable will have a tendency to twist. (which is an indication it's time to clean the swivel out)

[@mikevandyke5408]

Yeah the good old days

[@palmrose2]

Tough start to the hole. I heard you say the start of the well is the slowest and that is the truth. Especially when you are dealing with rocks and cobbles. Starting straight with cable tools is imperative. I've never used an internal drive head, and after seeing this I don't think I ever will. I'm not big on getting my clamps muddy. Geology is a big deal. A rig like this with enough water and a sand pump baler, can complete a screened 8" well 100' deep, in a day, in sand. A top head mudder can't do much better, and will make a lot more mess. I know cause I've done it. Years ago I watched a couple of young guys put in 100' of 8" casing through soft clay in 4 yrs with that diameter drill stem, a 6" bit, a 6" baler, and that model drill. I've done 80+ feet of 4" through marl in a couple hrs and half that time was welding pipe. I usually figure an average of 50' a day in the drift. Some days more, some less. A man elevator with 20' of travel for the assistant helps. Best I ever did with cable tools was 180' deep screened well, drilled, test pumped, and owners pump installed in two days. Best I ever did with top drive rotary was a 450' test hole with bagged samples every 5'. I once put in about ten 2" 30' deep wells with hollow stem augers in about 2/3rds of a day. You can complain about the speed of cable tools, but that's it. The wells are generally straighter, and you KNOW when the sand/gravel/rock is wet. What we have here is labor intensive. How much gas you got in you? And can you stay out of trouble?

[@Kustomgadget]

That's impressive. You can make great time in sand if you're not afraid of missing the gravel vein. The toughest well I ever did was in quicksand. You can't get ahead and you can't drive through it. Welded casing deformed at the top needed trimming on each joint for 180 feet.

[@ozzieulloa6088]

Hi great video im looking for a modle that can reach 200meters with 12 inch stem i know a 36BE CAN can a22 .any advice i live in mexico most are 32 /36 any advice. Im prity good at finding water even hiting depth by 1 meter. Im working whith the guy drillig my wells. But his bos pays 10 us dollars per day.any advice on modle machine. Thanks..

[@user-yd9fu2bq4r]

هههههههه انت مسكين عزيزي المكسيكي انا اعمل على منصة حفر رستون 71 نحفر المتر بخمسين دولار وانا اخذ الثلث لدينا حفارات تصل لخمسمية متر وتغلف قطر 12 بوصة لحد مئتين متر

[@johnbulard5274]

Hate to pick on stuff but it's not the rig, it's the way it's being operated. I have 2 of these and operate them by myself - when you work smart, not hard this is a productive and profitable method. I can be set up and done in a day up to 70ft and I've had 90ft days in the right formations. Drive the 1st 6 - 8 feet or more in before you even start drilling - everything is stabilized then and not a drop of mud ANYWHERE. Throw it in gear and walk away.

[@dancross4444]

john bulard Wouldn't the casing tend to go crooked if it's started without a hole?

[@asonze52]

Hi John - are you still drilling? Or retired? Sounds like you've got a great experience on the BE-22W. Looking for some consultation or help with a charity that had one of these donated and no one to operate it. Any thoughts?

[@johnbulard5274]

@@dancross4444 actually it usually goes much straighter than setting the casing into a hole that ends up being over drilled by 3 or 4 inches. Also the casing is snug in the ground and not being snagged on rocks and launched into the air on every other up stroke

[@johnbulard5274]

@@asonze52 I'm still working - and unfortunately it's not something that can be taught in a weekend but if you're in NW PA you're welcome to watch one in action...... depends on your situation of course, but honestly if you only need a few wells done sell it and use the money to pay someone else to drill them quickly and correctly

[@thomassullivan2674]

Where you live where you are able to do that?

[@DILESHAW]

It’s been over 40 years since I’ve been on a rig but I still cringed when the hand put his fingers in the end of the casing as it was being hoisted up. I know it was only a ten footer but….

[@mpichon2532]

45 minutes I can drive 65 feet of 4 inch steel with a casing hammer on a top head rig and drill it out for water in Limerock. I cant imagine ever drilling a well with a cable tool rig. Ive run versadrill simco and best of all drillmax .

[@hellbred79]

M Pichon it’s a fraction of the cost and logistics. Less personal. Less maintenance. Less water. Can get in tighter spaces. There are advantages and disadvantages to both.

[@tonyhudson8698]

Yes maybe, but you can also drill past water and fool yourself and the client.. 27 years drilling here, cable tool loved the Keystone rig, Top drive, rotary, down the hole hammer. Auger rig, and large Bucket rigs. Test drilling, where wells, bridge piles, Dewatering wells. Go well THERE..

[@gjuropeti1987]

Can't see what is it that rotates the drill. Cant be a cable, so probably something in drill stem?

[@eskim0396]

It's the left last cable

[@weldersandblaster]

I was wondering the same thing.

[@davidcopeland1599]

rotating the tool string is not what causes the hole to get deeper. That's how a rotary drill rig operates not a cable tool rig.

[@petepeterson4540]

did not those drills still existed

[@vovhsik]

Шош там за грунты? Чего сразу стаканом не начять?

[@hichamkomha8359]

Hi . Could you send me the diagram of this well drilling machine

[@hichamkomha8359]

تم

[@Dag_bur]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@frankfelix7761]

I NEED TO BUY USED RIG PERCUSSION MODEL RUSTON BUCYRUS MOUNTED IN TRUCK THE PRICE IN DOLLAR TO MOMBASA - HOLILI PORT PLZ GIVE ME A REASONABLE PRICE AND AFFORDABLE ONE.

[@monzerhazem569]

goob bucyrus erie22w

[@gqp3215]

yes it is, one of best I've seen

[@smalltownrifleman]

Hope they don’t charge by the hour.

[@robertqueen2599]

How come everybody drills on level ground except me. That’s a walk in the par😒

[@ozzieulloa6088]

Robert Queen maybe most refuse the job and thy call you. 😀

[@leonarddalton8968]

Where’s the directions?

[@jimwilson1439]

It's called on the job training. Or if you buy it from a active drill he may work with you for a while

[@MoeWhiskey]

Damn that there is a stone age way in it

[@leethancarroll5259]

As a rotary driller it's hard to watch this and no pull your hair out lmao

[@jimwilson1439]

A Rotary will go about double the depth or more so the can pay for their rigs

[@rumetkobani5771]

kurdistan.kobani ..kurdish ..

[@judgetk8327]

I'd like to comment, but I don't want to sound cruel. You other guys? You don't dig holes you drill them. Painful video. Lol. Good drill bar.

[@user-tj8fn9ur1h]

انهم لا يعرفون ان يحفرو صفر في العمل

[@ahmedmw1932]

كيف عرفت ذلك ياعزيزي؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟؟

[@thisisme0214]

wow. one hour later and those guys are still trying to get 1 stick of pipe in the ground. what a waste of time doing it this way.

[@adamedward205]

I hand drilled a 8 meter - 25' 6" hole by hand in 5 hours one afternoon, how much they chargeing u!

[@lookingaround57]

Why does anybody care how long it takes, you pay by the foot not by the hour.

[@gfegfd4378]

شغل غلط

[@talusranch990]

I wouldnt hire you based on this video. Everyone is running at half speed.

[@weldersandblaster]

So you want to pay them by the hour and not by the foot?

[@VITATTA]

I WOULD HAVE SENT YOU GUYS PACKING. THAT RIG IS AN OLD (AND I MEAN OLD) STAR DRILL RIG MADE OVER 70 YEARS AGO FOR BLASTING HOLES. IT WAS MADE BEFORE HYDRAULIC MOTORS WERE INVENTED AND ROTARY DRILLS CAME TO BE. IF THE PRICE IS RIGHT AND THE WATER NOT TOO DEEP I GUESS IT WILL WORK WE SHALL SEE..

[@cindytepper8878]

Hydraulic motors have been around way way longer than 70 years

[@Kustomgadget]

That's not a star (speed star) rig newer than most that are out there and it will definitely get the job done.

[@keltonstukey962]

This is ridiculous. A drive clamp? Before you are done with the stem guid? Cmon now. Use a slightly bigger bit. How slim can can make this hole? Why no perfs? Wt fuck is wrong with y'all?

[@williamdebose8356]

What a joke. I can drill faster with a 10 horse engine a mud pump and some 1-5/8 pipe with a home made bit

[@jasonharper2601]

poor video quality