| Application | 274 Geothermal Heat Loop Holes |
|---|---|
| Location | Pennsylvania, Eastern USA |
| Hammer | Patriot® 60 Hammer |
| Bit | Conventional |
| Hole Size | 6-1/8 inches (156 mm) |
| Depth or Length | Average 400 feet (122 m) |
| Formation | Hard Limestone |
| Rig Type | Schramm T450 & T660 |
Description
Reith Brothers Inc. is a drilling contractor in central Pennsylvania that has been instrumental in utilizing down hole hammers in various types of applications. For the past ten years, Reith Brothers has earned a reputation as an expert in the geothermal heat loop industry where they have found an excellent application for advanced drilling technology. They have used DTH products on an increasing number of geothermal projects over the past few years, which has resulted in completing installations faster and at a lower cost. To ensure their continued success, Reith Brothers Inc. uses Numa down hole hammers and bits.
Geothermal is an emerging energy source that provides advanced, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems that can provide savings up to 60% over conventional heating and cooling systems. It is environmentally friendly as it generates zero hazardous emissions. This helps to minimize many common problems such as acid rain, air pollution and the destruction of the ozone layer that are typically found in fossil fuel systems. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has endorsed this system as a viable alternative for heating and cooling homes and businesses. There is even legislation being reviewed that, if passed, will require geothermal heat loops in all government financed building projects.
They are many different types of geothermal energy systems available today and one of the most widely used is the closed loop system. The closed loop system harnesses both the energy sources inside the earth and solar heat radiating down from the sun. These forces combine to provide a fairly constant temperature of 50° F (10° C) in the outer layer of the earth that is used in these revolutionary energy systems. A geothermal heat loop system consists of series of pipes, a heat exchanger and ductwork that goes into the structure being heated and cooled. During the winter months, heat from the earth is collected in the exchanger and distributed into the structure. In the summer, the heat is absorbed from the air and the water source carries the heat back to the earth in order to cool. The system is also very beneficial for heating water.
A key element in establishing a geothermal heat loop system is the ability to drill into the earth’s surface to harness the available energy. It is imperative to the process that a drilling system be used that can reach the desired depths quickly and efficiently. Reith Brothers Inc. has been a guiding force in installing heat loop systems throughout Pennsylvania and has had great success drilling with the Numa Patriot® 60 down hole hammer.
On a recent heat loop project for a new school, Reith Brothers was required to drill 240 vertical holes to a depth of 400 feet (122 m). To accomplish this demanding task, they used Patriot® 60 hammers with 6-1/8 inch (156 mm) concave, double dome bits to drill through hard limestone. The Patriot® hammer was chosen due to its outstanding reputation for incredible penetration rate, extremely long life and ability to drill under large volumes of water.
The Patriot® 60 is made from the best materials, to insure it delivers outstanding penetration rates and durability every time you drill. Its compact design allows for the transfer of drilling energy to the bit quickly and efficiently to promote faster drilling speeds and allows Reith Brothers to complete more holes in less time. On this particular project, the Patriot® 60 worked so well that they were able to almost double their daily drilling output compared to other hammers they had used in the past.
The Patriot® 60 is not only faster than competitors’ hammers but one that stands up to demanding drilling environments. It is the ultimate goal of the hammer to provide the industry with a complete combination of speed and long life. The Patriot® 60, with only 8 major parts, is a simplified hammer design that was accomplished by eliminating several internal components. Fewer parts make the Patriot® 60 easier to maintain than competitor hammers, which means more time can be spent drilling. Numa engineers also designed the hammer so the feed tube assembly attaches directly to the backhead of the hammer to provide outstanding alignment of all hammer parts. This enhancement results in longer hammer life and improved overall hammer performance.
Throughout this project, Reith Brothers drilled with Schramm T450 and T660 rigs utilizing 840/350 and 900/350 compressors respectively. They have experienced tremendously long life with the Patriot® 60 hammer as they have drilled in excess of 30,000 feet (9,150 m) without replacing any parts or experiencing any decrease in performance. In addition, they have seen the Patriot® 60 handle difficult back pressure drilling conditions without a flaw. When faced with high heads of water, the Patriot® continued drilling efficiently where other hammers would have stopped working.
Just like the geothermal heat loop system is providing exciting, cost-effective results so does the Numa Patriot™ 60 down hole hammer. Reith Brothers has been fortunate enough to reap the benefits from both. So no matter what your drilling need, you can count on the Patriot’s® overall combination of speed and performance to provide you with successful results. Contact Numa today at 800-356-NUMA or 860-923-9551 to get a head start on drilling with the best hammer in the business – The Numa Patriot® 60.
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