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The Village Drill Hybrid surpasses traditional manual drilling techniques in every way. For a sustainable, self-managed drilling business, it’s the most cost-effective and reliable solution for borehole development.
Soft substrates
Gliding through soft ground with effortless efficiency
In ideal conditions, an experienced crew can average 20 m (65 ft) or more per day.
Hard substrates
Steady, slower, but strong through tough ground
The Village Drill can drill a borehole in almost any substrate.
Comparing drilling methods
Drill in 75% more areas for 75% less cost.
In some cases, manual methods like water jetting, auguring, or cable tools work well for single wells in areas with a high water table and predictable soil.
But many drills can’t handle shallow groundwater, sand, hard substrates, or depths beyond 30 meters (100 feet). This often leads to abandoned or dry holes, leaving drill crews unpaid and communities without clean water. These challenges are the main reason small drilling businesses fail.
For long-term, versatile operations that can serve more people in more places, the Village Drill is the superior choice.
| Auger drilling | Cable tooling | The Village Drill | Big rig drilling | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Areas where drills are effective | 30% | 25% | 78% | 22% |
| Cost per borehole | $2,000–$3,000 | $2,000–$3,000 | $2,000–$3,000 | $15,000-$25,000 |
| Typical drill depth | 9 m (30 ft) | 18+ m (60+ ft) | 45+ m (150+ ft) | 90+ m (300+ ft) |
| Drilling time | 1-3 days | 10-14 days | 2-7 days | 1-2 days |
| Complexity | Easy | Easy | Easy | Difficult |
| Labor intensity | High | High | Low | Low |
| Transportability in remote areas | Easy | Easy | Easy | Difficult |
| Durability | Low | High | High | Low |
| Local drill ownership | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Substrate — rocky effectiveness | No | Low | Medium/high | High |
| Substrate — wet effectiveness | No | No | High | High |
| Substrate — sandy effectiveness | Low | No | High | Low |
| Weight | 70 kg (150 lbs) | 90 kg (200 lbs) | 1,350 kg (3,000 lbs) | 9,000 kg (20,000 lbs) |
| Total cost | $5,000 | $8,000 | $34,900 | $550,000 |
Cost, capability, and susainability
More effective, more affordable
In the long term, the Village Drill is much more effective and affordable on almost every level.
Trailer-mounted motorized drills may offer similar drilling capabilities, but their complex parts (motors, pumps, hydraulics, etc.) are prone to breakdowns, making them costly and unsustainable. The constant vibrations they create also lead to more cave-ins and less precision, causing costs to rise from lost or stuck bits.
Large truck-mounted rigs can drill deep but are inaccessible to 75% of the most vulnerable populations, as they need improved roads and can’t fit into tight spaces. The Village Drill’s compact design allows it to reach these communities at a fraction of the cost.