FAQs
How much do your rigs cost?
We offer basic water well drill rigs starting at $7,000 and complete water well rig packages starting at $11,000. Discounts are available for qualified missionary and humanitarian organizations. Please contact us for a complete price list, including our soil sampling rig pricing.
How do I order one?
You can call us at 800.227.7515 (+1.936.327.3121) from 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. U.S. Central Time to speak with one of our representatives. You can also contact us through our website form or email us directly at sales@littlebeaver.com.
I see many cheap water well rigs on the web. Why should I buy yours?
The old adage is “you get what you pay for.” With Lone Star Drills, you can be assured of the highest quality product manufactured by a company that has been around for more than 75 years. We have a reputation for quality and great customer service. You also get a warranty from a company that will stand behind it. Little Beaver and Lone Star Drills provide the advice and support you need both before, during and after the sale.
How do I ship a drill rig to Africa (or anywhere else)?
Most of our rigs are crated and ready for shipment via ocean or airfreight no matter the destination. The LS300T+ requires a 20-foot container and can only be shipped by ocean freighter. The LST1 and LST1+ can be shipped by container or knocked down and palletized for air or ocean shipping. We work with several forwarding agents to arrange for shipment at your preferred price and service level. You will need to make arrangements in the destination country for receiving the equipment. You may also be required to pay duties, taxes and customs fees upon arrival.
How do your water well rigs work?
Our mud rotary water well drills rotate the drill bit and raise or lower the drill pipe during the project. We offer two types of mud rotary drills:
- Mechanical: The rotary is driven by an engine through a gearbox, and the pipe is raised with a hand winch.
- Hydraulic: Both the rotary and the draw-works are powered by a remote power unit.
With both types of drills, a separate mud rotary pump circulates drilling mud from the suction pit and pumps it through the three-way valve, swivel and drill pipe to the bit. The mud then travels up the borehole, removing the cuttings and carrying them into the settling pit.
We also offer the option to use a DTH air hammer with some of our rigs. This requires an air compressor in addition to the drill rig.
Should I buy a mechanical or hydraulic water well drill?
This depends on how you plan to use the rig. If it will be occasional use (once a month or less) and there’s little or no rock, the LS100 or LS200 will be fine. For more frequent drilling or in areas where you’ll encounter rock, we recommend the hydraulic series or our hydraulic trailer-mounted rigs for their ease of use and efficiency. Another consideration is the maximum depth. If you’ll be consistently drilling to 150 feet or more, a hydraulic rig will be best.
Should I buy diesel or gas engines?
In our opinion, this decision should be driven by the availability of fuel. If you can get good quality gasoline (and in most places you can) then you should select a gas engine. Diesel engines are a little more fuel efficient, but the initial purchase cost and long-term maintenance costs can be much higher than gasoline engines. We use quality Honda engines on all of our gas-powered rigs.
What are the advantages of using Lone Star Drills for soil sampling?
We offer a line of soil sampling drill rigs that are ideal for geotechnical testing in remote locations or other areas that large rigs can’t access. Our soil sampling equipment can be mounted on light- to medium-duty trucks or on trailers light enough to pull with an ATV or UTV. We even offer a track-mounted unit with remote-control operation. These portable drills offer accurate sampling and efficient drilling in challenging locations.
How are soil sampling rigs configured compared to water well rigs?
All of our soil sampling rigs can be configured to use a dry auger in addition to — or in the place of — mud rotary. This can be accomplished using an auger adapter for the swivel or, more commonly, with a separate rotary head.
What type of bits come with a water well rig package?
The typical water well rig package includes 3-7/8-inch and 5-7/8-inch drag bits and a 5-7/8-inch reamer. These bits are sized to fit through 4- and 6-inch casing pipe. A 7-inch reamer is also included for use where it is necessary to set a surface casing. Larger reamers are available, as are tricone roller bits and PDC diamond bits for rock.
What other tools will I need in addition to those included in the rig package?
For water well drilling, there are many additional tools and items (gas cans, shovels, tarps) that you should be able to source in your country of operation. Our rig manual includes a mobilization checklist, but you can also consider our accessories section for useful suggestions, such as a pipe retrieval tool, mud kit and more.
We also offer a variety of soil sampling drill rig accessories to use alongside your rig for geotechnical testing and collecting soil samples. This includes hand sampling tools for environmental soil sampling, hollow stem augers for sampling in unstable soil, split spoon samplers and a cathead kit. Depending on the rig, we offer manual and automatic safety hammers as well. Our experienced team can help determine which tools are best for your operation.
Are there different soil sampling augers available for purchase?
Yes! We offer solid stem and hollow stem augers alongside other specific sampling tools. You can learn more about these soil sampling augers and when to use each in our blog.
Who is Little Beaver?
Little Beaver, the parent company of Lone Star Drills, is a third generation, family-owned company based in Livingston, Texas, about 75 miles north of Houston. We have supplied a unique one-man earth drill to the rental market and professional fence installers for more than 75 years. In 2005, we purchased the Lone Star product line from Harry Westmoreland with the intention that he would remain as a consultant while he pursued other interests in his Christian ministry. Unfortunately, Harry passed away in February 2007, but we are committed to honoring his legacy by providing the very best water well drill rigs in the market. We’ve expanded the water well drill line and, in 2014, we introduced our first soil sampling drill. We have a modern manufacturing facility that features five CNC machine tools, a high-definition plasma plate cutting machine and a powder coat finishing line. We have an in-house engineering staff and a dedicated, caring production and customer service staff with an average length of service of 20 years.
Can your soil sampling drills be used for Standard Penetration Testing (SPT)?
Yes! We offer an optional 140-pound manual safety hammer, which pairs with our cathead kit to drive our split spoon sampler into the soil. For added precision, some of our soil sampling rigs — the LST1G+HDA and the LSGT+HDA — come with an automatic hammer. Contact our team for more information about the best equipment for your soil sampling techniques.
What is the maximum depth your rigs can reach for soil sampling?
We offer a wide range of auger depth limits, depending on the soil sampling rig. On the shallower end, our LST1A+ and LST1G+ can drill a 6-inch borehole to 35 feet with a hollow stem auger or as deep as 50 feet with a standard auger. Our larger models, like our LST1G+HD, LST1G+HDA and LSGT+HDA, can drill to a 100-foot auger depth with a 6-inch auger.
What borehole diameters can I drill with your soil sampling rigs?
We offer multiple auger diameters for sampling. Our hollow stem augers are available in a 6-inch diameter with a 2-3/4-inch internal diameter and an 8-inch diameter with a 3-3/4-inch internal diameter. When working with solid stem augers, our Lone Star Drills soil sampling rigs are compatible with auger diameters ranging between three and eight inches. The depth capacity for our soil sampling rigs is based on a 6-inch borehole. Contact our team to determine the best soil sampling augers for your operation and equipment.
How do different soil types affect the sampling process with your rigs?
The soil types and sampling locations will impact your soil sampling drill choice along with the accessories you use. Drilling in sandy or confined environments may call for a highly maneuverable drill, such as our Little Beaver Hydraulic Earth Drill with a tripod kit. More robust auger drill rigs, such as the Big Beaver, can handle tough clay sampling and still remain maneuverable and compact. Our Lone Star Drills soil sampling line offers additional drilling power for tougher applications. The soil type will also affect your choice of auger points and blades. These important components maximize your drilling performance when properly selected to match the soil type. Contact our team to discuss the best equipment for your drilling conditions.
Can I leave the water well drill pipe in the hole while I break for lunch or overnight?
NO. You may get away with this but there is a great risk that the borehole will collapse and trap your pipe in the ground. The best practice is to remove the drill pipe when you take a break. If that’s not practical, then for a short break, you can pull the bit up about 5-10 feet and leave the mud pump running to maintain circulation. For an overnight break, always remove the pipe.
I’m drilling my first well. Should I go for the maximum depth?
In our experience, it is best to drill your first well in a location where water is within 100 feet, and the resources you need for support are close by. Then, you can build on your success with future projects that are farther away or more challenging.
How can I tell when I’ve reached water?
As you’ll learn in training, it’s very important to examine the cuttings and drilling mud as they exit the borehole. When you drill through a possible water bearing strata, you may notice that the cuttings change to a fine or coarse sand or gravel. You may also notice that the mud dilutes and the temperature drops as the groundwater mixes with it. All of these are signs of water, but you can never be sure until you begin to develop the well and test its yield.
What diameter borehole do I need?
The typical borehole for a 4-inch casing is 6 inches. Depth capacity for all of our rigs is based on this borehole size. We also have 7-inch and 8-inch reamers available if a larger diameter is required, although the maximum depth will be reduced.
Can I use a DTH air hammer with the rig?
Yes, a DTH hammer can be used with the LS200H+, LS300H+ and any of the trailer-mounted water well rigs (LST1, LST1+, LS300T+ and LS400T+). We recommend the use of a shock sub for all hammers. For 5-inch or 6-inch hammers, we recommend the LS400 rig with optional 3-1/2-inch OD drill pipe to provide the proper up-hole air velocity. With 2-inch and 3-inch hammers you can get by with a 185 cfm/125 psi air compressor in most circumstances. With larger hammers, you should use a minimum 380 cfm/175 psi compressor. Our rigs can be configured with an interchangeable air manifold and pumps for injecting foam and/or hammer lubricating oil.
Can I drill through rock with your rigs?
If you’re using a LS100 or LS200 mechanical rig, it is best to move to a location where there is no rock. Depending on the formation, that could be a few yards or a substantial distance. Continuing into rock with these machines can cause damage to the clutch or other components. The LS200H and LS300H standard hydraulic rigs can tolerate some soft rock formations, but you should avoid hard rock, especially if there is excessive vibration or chattering of the drill pipe. The “Plus” hydraulic rigs, such as the LS200H+, LS300H+, LS300T+, LS400T+ or LST1+, are recommended when it is necessary to drill in rock formations because the hydraulic system can push down on the bit after the rig is anchored into the ground. You can use drill collars (heavyweight sections of drill pipe) and tricone rock bits with these machines to penetrate most rock formations. If all or most of your drilling is through hard rock, then you should consider a rig with a DTH air hammer.
How many people does it take to operate the rig?
The minimum crew size for safe operation is two people, although most training programs use a crew of four. Learn more about the drilling team in our blog.
What type of drilling mud should I use?
For most soils, bentonite is the best choice. Bentonite adds viscosity to the water and forms a “wall cake” on the inside of the borehole. Some believe that the wall cake can block the aquifer, however, so the use of a viscosifier such as guar gum (Poly-Sal) can prevent this. One technique is to drill the pilot (4-inch) hole completely and the 6-inch borehole using bentonite to just above the aquifer, then empty the pits and use guar gum to finish. This can result in reduced development time. Other additives are available to help prevent clay swelling, etc. Contact a mud products company such as Baroid or Economy Mud Products for additional information.
What kind of water pump can I install?
Most Lone Star Drills users are putting in hand pumps for remote village wells. The most popular options are the India Mark II and the Afridev. Both are very durable and easy to repair using simple tools and semi-skilled labor. An advantage of the Afridev is that the foot valve can be replaced without removing the drop pipe. You can also install a submersible pump if it’s sized to fit the casing. There are many models that will fit into a 4-inch casing. These can be powered from the mains or by a generator or solar cells. Keep in mind that these items may be a target for theft or vandalism.
I have an aquifer that is trapped under a layer of rock or one that is charged through fissures in the rock. Is there an economical way to reach this?
Yes, there is! You can use a combination of mud rotary and DTH air hammer to reach the aquifer. To start, drill a 6-inch borehole to the rock using the mud rotary technique, then install a 4-inch PVC casing and grout in place to seal. After the grout sets up overnight, drill through the rock using a 2-inch or 3-inch DTH hammer with a 3-7/8-inch bit. It’s not necessary to case the hole in the rock because, in most cases, the water level will rise into the PVC casing. With this system, you can get by with a smaller compressor (185 cfm/125 psi). The total cost can be one-third to one-half that of a system to drill a 6-inch borehole.
I was drilling and the water level in the pits suddenly dropped. What should I do?
You’ve likely drilled into a porous formation if this happens. Be prepared. Have a barrel or two of a thick bentonite mixture standing by to pour into the mud pump suction. In extreme cases, you may need to use a “lost circulation” material such as chopped straw to stop the loss of mud.
I can’t get the bentonite to thicken even though I put a whole bag in a 55 gallon barrel. Why?
Check the pH of the water. It should be at nine or above to ensure proper hydration of the bentonite. If it’s too low, add calcium carbonate (soda ash), which is available at swimming pool supply stores. Also, remember to give the bentonite about 30 minutes to fully hydrate. The best way to mix it is to use your mud pump. Put the suction and discharge hoses into a barrel of water and run it as you slowly pour in the bentonite powder. Work the suction around the bottom to pull up any lumps. It usually takes 10 to 20 minutes to mix thoroughly.
My bit keeps getting stuck after I add drill pipe. I have to raise it up a few feet before it will start to turn. What is happening?
Most likely, you’re drilling through sand or gravel, and the cuttings are settling around the bit when you stop circulation to add the next section of pipe. In this situation, you should allow the mud pump to run longer to clear the hole of cuttings, sometimes up to 10 minutes. You may also need to thicken the mud to ensure complete removal of the cuttings.
I’ve completed my borehole but when I try to put the casing down it hangs up. What’s happening?
There are a couple of possibilities. You could be in a clay formation that’s swelling and closing the hole between the time you remove the drill pipe and insert the casing. The best thing to do is pull the casing and ream the hole again to open it up. Forcing the casing down can lead to undesirable results. For instance, it can make it impossible to get the gravel pack around the screen. In this case, there are some mud additives that can mitigate this problem by encapsulating the clay and preventing it from hydrating.
If you’ve drilled through a rock layer, it’s possible that you have a crooked hole. You should try to use a reamer/follower above a tricone bit to keep it from wandering. In this situation, you could try to push the casing, but this could make it difficult to install the pump or drop pipe later on.
Where can I get training?
With the purchase of a hydraulic water well rig, we can provide a half- or full-day training session at our facility. Equip International offers complete well training classes lasting four or five days. For soil sampling training, your Lone Star Drills sales representative can discuss options. We also have a variety of water well drilling resources, online tutorials and soil sampling operation videos on our YouTube channel.
Where can I get a complete water well drilling manual?
Here are links to two of the best:
What other water well drilling resources are available?
Check out the National Groundwater Association bookstore for many helpful books on the subject. We especially recommend the Australian book “Drilling” (ISBN 1-56670-242-9) which is very easy to read and understand.
What do you recommend for maintenance and cleaning my equipment between jobs?
We’re glad you asked! Taking a few minutes to go through regular equipment maintenance like greasing and cleaning the rig helps to prolong the life of your drilling equipment. We’ve included some links below to resources on our website and YouTube channel, but you should also check the owner’s manual for your drilling equipment to see the specific recommendations.
My mud pump impeller/swivel stem has worn out. Why?
Silica and sand particles are very abrasive and can wear out moving parts quickly. Proper mud pit design can help to alleviate this problem. Always use two pits, the first to settle out the cuttings and the second for the mud pump suction. Make sure the mud stream has at least one 90-degree turn and does not travel straight through the pit.