directioal drilling geo

[killerloop]

Anyone need geo drilled in??? curious to see what methods and applications you are all using

 

[Bill Arden]

I am planing on drilling 12 wells for a ground source heat pump myself this summer.

The current plan is to drill each well 60 feet down and insert a smaller tube inside to make a closed loop. There would be a cap at the bottom along with a one time use drill paddle bit.

I've also looked into directional drilling using a star configuration. In this method you start in a pit drilling downward and curving upwards. Once the bit pops up someplace in the distance a backreemer bit and a swivel is attached. A plastic pipe is then folded in half and the resulting pair is pulled back to towards the pit until the far end is pulled below the frost line.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[killerloop]

Bill,

When you directional drill in the pin wheel style grid, after you pullback the product, don't you have to pump bentonite into the bare hole? or just pump bentontie the entire application? also if you use a 4.5" bit why is there a need for a reamer? is the product over 2.5 dia??? Reason I ask is I'd really like to start drilling some geo,,, in between my fiber jobs.

Also it would seem to me that each job would have variables as in which method would best suit the lot. Probably need a long lot to do the directional and then why would you ever want directional if vertical is an option... Can't vertical be used in almost every application???

 

[Bill Arden]

Around here we have about 30 to 60 feet before you hit rocks. That means that the directional drilling is a lot easier and just uses a paddle bit. Drilling really deeply as in done in the large casing deep geo wells requires a lot more work.

The back-reamer would only be used if you are drilling with a small bore rig.

You don't need to use bentonite as long as you do not go deep enough to risk contaminating the ground drinking water supply. The hole would fill in over time by itself. You should target the 10 to 30 foot deep area.

Check your local code rules since this is what made me switch to the vertical plan. Some areas require all holes below a set level be grouted with an approved concrete mix and you might have to have a drilling license.

For long skinny lots you could start with a trench and run parallel runs.

 

[killerloop]

Bill,

I own a directional bore rig and was looking to do some of these installs in between my fiber jobs. Whose the biggest company here in MN doing these installs?

Regards,
Spencer

 

[Bill Arden]

I don't know of anyone doing directional geo. I've only heard story's of people trying it by fishing one pipe at a time and connecting up the ends. Pulling a pair back is the easiest method so far.

The main reasons that I think directional drilling and vertical drilling are both about to become more common is that energy costs are likely to increase and people are starting to think longer term again.

I'd like to put a large deep system in both my place and at one Alt energy research location. Both are up here in north central MN.

You might want to start talking to the Heat pump reps since they might know who's putting systems in.

 

[killerloop]

I don't know of anyone doing directional geo. I've only heard story's of people trying it by fishing one pipe at a time and connecting up the ends. Pulling a pair back is the easiest method so far.

The main reasons that I think directional drilling and vertical drilling are both about to become more common is that energy costs are likely to increase and people are starting to think longer term again.

I'd like to put a large deep system in both my place and at one Alt energy research location. Both are up here in north central MN.

You might want to start talking to the Heat pump reps since they might know who's putting systems in.

Thanks Bill