Frozen soil poses core challenges to water well drilling rig due to its high ice content and significant freeze-thaw cycles,
showing dual-state properties of “
hard at low temperatures and soft when thawed”.
When drilling into permafrost layers,
drill bits face three major issues:
-
Rock-like hardness:
Frozen soil with ice can have a compressive strength over 100 MPa, causing ordinary alloy bits to chip easily.
-
Frost heave damage:
Water expands by 9% when freezing, and the borehole wall may squeeze the drill pipe, leading to stuck pipes.
-
Thaw settlement risk:
Heat from the drill thaws local frozen soil,
increasing the probability of borehole wall collapse by over 30%.

Solutions should focus on three aspects: upgrading drill power (e.g., increasing hydraulic torque by 40%), optimizing bit materials (applying tungsten carbide coatings), and improving mud systems (adding antifreeze agents) to form a systematic solution.water well drilling rig