Bailing

Bailing

Bailing, or removal of drill cuttings, is very important in cable tool drilling. There is no magic number for bailing; frequency depends strictly on the formation and how you're cutting through it.

The bailer is a section of pipe with a check valve on the bottom. The valve is either a flat pattern or a ball-and-tongue pattern called a dart valve. This tool is suspended by a handle from a cable called the bailer line or sand line. It also may include a suction rod and plunger called a sand pump, and this is the author's preference.

Clean gravel or heavier materials require bailing more often than clays or shales. The longer the stones you can pull into the bailer, the less drilling is needed. But a bailer is not made to drill with, so treat it with care. Don't hit the bottom too hard or fast, and don't pick it off the bottom too fast. Keep the plunger in repair so that it will suck without speed action. Build a good trough to lead the bailer dumpings away from the rig and work area.