Top Decisions a Drilling Contractor Makes Before Embarking On a Job

A drilling contractor is any individual or business that owns a drilling rig and does the business of drilling wells. If you want to dig a well, a drilling contractor provides both the equipment and the workforce needed to achieve the job. Before embarking on any job, some of the key considerations contractors need to make that significantly affect the success of the job include:

Type of well and its purpose

The kind of well required and its purpose is the primary determinant factor of what type of equipment the contractor uses. The next step is to determine a suitable location in the area to drill the well. When it comes to finding the exact spot to drill, most contractors will go about collecting information from relevant sources such as geological experts in the area who have an understanding of the area's geological make-up. They can also study logs gathered during drilling of nearby wells in the area. The drilling contractor must then back all this information up with their skills and experience to locate the most suitable spot and the appropriate drilling equipment to complete the job.

Drilling contract

Once a contractor has a good idea of the work at hand, their next step is to determine the best drilling contract. The main cost of the well is usually determined by the amount of time the job is expected to take. The contractor can go ahead and charge you a daily rate or charge per footage dug. Some contractors, through experience, determine all the costs involved and charge a lump sum for the entire job. Having good background knowledge of the different contracts available will help you make a sound decision on the most cost efficient way forward.

Suitable drilling gear

With all the information at hand, the next step is usually to study the collected data and plot the way forward, which involves selecting the right drilling method. There are different types of drilling rigs contractors can use like cable tool, air drills, driven casing, reverse circulation, and auger. All these are drilling gears that work in unique ways; they are also selected based on the work that is at hand. Also, the contractor has to pick the most suitable drilling fluid to use on the site. The work of drilling fluid is to suspend any cuttings and bring them back to the surface during the drilling process. The right drilling fluid prevents wear and corrosion of drilling equipment.