Drill Your Own Wells

Drill Your Own Wells SPECIALTY/SERVICES Specialty/Services 5-5-35 A scaled-down rotary well drilling rig, designed for use by the farmer or rancher himself and priced accordingly, is new from Orion Mfg., Dexter, Oregon. "It's a mini-version of large, commercial-scale rigs," Vice President Chester Anderson told FARM SHOW. He compares the all hydraulic Orion 55 to the Kubota tractor -"Small in size but very well made, and capable of doing the job, except a little slower." Anderson suggests that, to cut costs, the Orion-55 can be purchased jointly by groups of neighboring farmers or ranchers for use cooperatively. Cost, including an 18 hp diesel engine, is $11,350, fob Dexter, Oregon. A tractor PTO-driven model is also available at $8,650. "The new Orion-55 rotary should not be compared with hand-held well-drilling rigs being widely advertised," explains Anderson. "This rig weighs 3,000 lbs. and has an industrial-grade hydraulic system, oil coolers, and a 40-gal. hydraulic reservoir system." The rig is capable of drilling wells, 3 in. to 6 in. in dia., to depths of 600 ft., says Anderson. Wells 8 in. in dia. can be drilled if the depth is shallow. With the proper bits, the rig can drill through rocks, according to Anderson. A book of operating instructions comes with each unit. For more information, contact: FARM SHOW Follow-up, Orion Mfg., P.O. Box 107 Dexter, Oregon 97430 (ph 503 937-3732).

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