How To Decide When Choosing A Water Well Drill: Petrol Or Diesel?

A major factor when choosing water well drilling rigs and other water drilling equipment is whether gas or diesel is more suitable for the intended application. The most basic requirement for any engine is power, but assuming that power is comparable, the petrol versus diesel debate boils down to a less specific list of criteria.

In outdoor power equipment, diesel engines are often preferred because of their increased torque and therefore greater power than similarly sized gas engines. However, leading manufacturers offering gasoline and diesel models of equipment address the power difference by increasing the horsepower of the gasoline option. Rigs in the same class with diesel and gas engines have different power but similar torque output, ensuring the right amount of power for any application.

What is well rig?

A drilling rig is an integrated system that drills wells, such as oil or water wells, in the earth's subsurface. Drilling rigs can sample subsurface mineral deposits, test rock, soil, and groundwater physical properties, and also can be used to install sub-surface fabrications, such as underground utilities, instrumentation, tunnels, or wells. Drilling rigs can be mobile equipment mounted on trucks, tracks, or trailers, or more permanent land or marine-based structures (such as oil platforms, commonly called 'offshore oil rigs' even if they don't contain a drilling rig). The term "rig" therefore generally refers to the complex equipment that is used to penetrate the surface of the Earth's crust.

Water Well Drilling Rig

Gas or Diesel? How to Decide When Choosing a Water Well Drill. 

Availability

Is natural gas or diesel the main fuel in the area? Many parts of the world rely on diesel as their primary fuel source, making natural gas both a poor and expensive option. In contrast, some areas may be better suited to natural gas, with wider availability and lower pump costs.

Ease of access and cost

Is natural gas or diesel readily available on the job site? It may be easier to match up water well drilling equipment if all other equipment on-site uses gas. Major purchases such as borehole water rigs or robust drilling mud pumps should not be further inconvenienced by incompatible fuels.

Years ago, diesel was the equipment of choice because it was readily available and often much cheaper than petrol alternatives. However, in recent years, the cost of diesel has become equal to or higher than the cost of natural gas, eliminating the economic advantage.

Truck Water Well Drilling Rig     

Maintenance

How much time and money can be afforded for maintenance? Switching to diesel may be tempting due to the known mechanical problems associated with the increased ethanol content of gasoline. However, diesel units typically require more maintenance than gas units. Diesel engines tend to be more sensitive to dust and debris than gas, which can increase filter costs as well as increase fuel consumption. Diesel units are also more difficult to keep running - partly because temperature changes tend to have a greater impact on diesel engines, which can further drive up operating costs.

Despite these drawbacks, adhering to a rigorous and expensive diesel maintenance program can pay off in the long run by providing diligent owners with a more durable machine than their gas competitors, which should be weighed against fuel availability and convenience in order to get a full picture of the long-term cost of ownership. However, if staff is not disciplined about maintenance, petrol will be the better option.

If you want to know more information about types of drilling rigs, welcome to contact us today or request a quote.