What Access Does a Drilling Rig Need?

With most projects that require drilling geothermal or water boreholes, one of the most important logistical considerations of these projects is how to get all of the necessary equipment to the site in question. 

It’s not overly complicated, but having a rough idea of what’s involved can make it easier to put some basic plans together. Below, we outline some of the things to keep in mind, from road access to stability. 

Getting the rig to the site

Standard rigs aren’t massive, but they’re not tiny either. They’ll typically need an access route that’s around 3 metres wide, and with sufficient clearance overhead under bridges and trees. 

That access road will also need to be stable enough to carry the weight of the rig and the vehicle that’s delivering it. In some cases, such as in more rural areas, that might require installing some kind of modular pathway. 

The site itself

At the drilling site itself, you’ll typically need a clear space of roughly 10 by 10 metres. This leaves enough space for the drilling rig, but also for the crew and other materials such as pipework and grout.

This is obviously quite a lot of space, and can be restrictive in more urban settings. As we’ll see, there are alternative solutions that can be used in sites with limited access, but they’re less efficient and more expensive than full-sized rigs.

Stability

Drilling rigs are pretty heavy pieces of equipment. As a result, access requirements revolve around ground stability as well as clearance concerns. 

Some basic tests can be done to determine the stability of access paths in contexts where there aren’t more established roads. A combination of blocks and metal, wooden or plastic sheets will then need to be rigged on the site itself, to ensure that the drilling rig has a stable base to operate on. 

Drilling with limited access

In some cases, it can be necessary to use specialist drilling rigs that are designed for use in spaces with limited access. Some of these rigs are modular, and will need to be disassembled and reassembled on site.

Others have telescopic components and width-adjustable legs, allowing them to be transported down narrow streets or otherwise more restrictive gaps.

Planning

All of these issues are much easier for an experienced contractor to sort out. During the planning stages, someone from the drilling company you’re using can come to the site, walk the access paths, and take some basic measurements. 

This will allow them to provide you with an accurate contract, timescale and quote that accurately reflects the conditions of the project at hand, limiting the probability that any issues pop up unexpectedly at the last minute.

Getting drilling rig access just right is critical for project success, and it isn’t something that you can just avoid. If they aren’t properly identified and mitigated during the early planning stages, physical access constraints can result in serious delays and unexpected costs, all of which are typically completely avoidable with just a bit of planning.