Makes Work Less Work

Tripping heavy rods dripping with mud out of deep geothermal holes was a messy, difficult undertaking until co-founders Joseph Dalba and Ryan Maletta of Island Geo Drillers in New York tried the DRILLMAX^® by Geoprobe^® spring assisted swivel hoist plug.

“The mud weight made the rod heavy and we were having to use a pipe wrench to unthread them and then quickly try to put the wrench down to shield ourselves from spewing mud,” Joe Dalba, president, said. “The spring in the spring assisted swivel hoist plug takes the weight of the rods so you can spin them by hand and not use the pipe wrench. This makes it easier to deflect mud and stay cleaner.”

Simply staying clean comes in a close second to faster, safer production for the company drilling geothermal wells.

“It increases speed of tripping out by 15 percent, and in geothermal mud rotary you have a ticking clock for that hole before it collapses,” Dalba said. “The spring assisted swivel hoist plug allows us to get the rod out faster and get the loop in sooner, minimizing chance for hole to collapse. The faster production gives us extra time to get the loop in safely.”

Standard hoist plugs would bind up in freezing conditions Dalba explained. The additional swivel action on the spring assisted swivel hoist plug keeps the cable from winding up and trying to sling the rod back in the hole. Steve Simmons, owner, Roy Simmons & Son Well Drilling in Michigan, agrees the spring assisted swivel hoist plug is a lot more user-friendly.

“They’re a lot easier and a lot faster ­— not scrunching the line up when tripping out,” Simmons said. “It pulls up on the line the whole time so you just give it a twirl and pop you’re done.”

Both appreciate how the spring assisted swivel hoist plug minimizes effort required to unthread and return rods to the box.

“It's a lot easier on the wrist when spinning off rods to put in rod loaders,” Dalba said.

The spring assisted swivel hoist plug applies just the right amount of tension to make rods unscrew easier.

“It takes the effort out of what the driller and helper have to do, making job easier and better,” Simmons said. “Anytime you buy a tool that makes life a little easier, it’s a good value. Just makes work not so much work.”

Dalba concurs the tool is a good value when drilling geothermal wells.

“It paid for itself in the first day,” Dalba said. “It’s definitely a good buy, I just wish they had made them sooner.”

SPRING ASSISTED SWIVEL HOIST PLUG

Bears rod string weight for efficient removal of rods from tool string. 

• eliminates need to bump controls to keep winch tight
• reduces use of pipe wrench to break threads
• minimizes wear on threads thanks to less binding
• lessens frustration and strain on driller and/or helper
• 12,000 lb in-line working load limit
• available in multiple rod sizes