With the growing demand for sustainable farming practices, agricultural wells have become increasingly essential for reliable irrigation. Farmers use these wells to supply natural, chemical-free water to crops and livestock, unlike municipal sources that may contain additives.
There are various drilling methods and equipment available for drilling farm wells. But for those considering using well drilling machines, this article offers an in-depth analysis of the options available online. This will ensure that retailers can select the best options for their prospective buyers in 2025.
Table of Contents
The global market for water well drilling
What is farm well drilling?
A sample of well drilling machines available
Final thoughts
The global market for water well drilling
The demand for self-provided water for farming has grown over the past few years. The increase in global demand for agricultural produce, combined with the increasing costs of public utility water supply, drives a need for self-supply.
Add to this the challenge for farmers of using a water supply that has chlorine and other additives that can be harmful to their crops and animals, and this increases the desire for a home supply of untainted water.
The global demand for water well drilling rigs was US$ 4,757 million in 2021, and this is now expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% to reach US$ 6,408.8 million by 2031.
What is farm well drilling?
Farms require a ready and consistent source of water of a reliable quality to irritate crops and for livestock. Although municipal water supplies can meet the need, they can be expensive, sometimes erratic, and often contain chemical additives such as chlorine which can harm crops and livestock over time. Farmers therefore turn to home-drilled wells to provide a regular free supply of water, at a quality and volume that can be controlled.
In simple terms, an agricultural, or farm well, is drilled into the ground to meet a suitable water source. Wells are usually drilled to around a 6 inches (0.15m) diameter, and can be shallow to around 20 feet (0.5m), or can be drilled down to several hundred feet.
Shallow boreholes can be drilled using a simple hand-operated drilling machine, but more commonly a portable drilling machine is used, with the most common being the rotary drilling method.
Once drilled, the borehole is lined with a casing to prevent collapse and provide the water through a pumping mechanism. Sealing mechanisms are incorporated to prevent water contamination below ground or at the surface.
A sample of well drilling machines available
The drilling rigs used on farms are necessarily mobile to be moved to wherever on the farm they are needed. Most large drilling rigs use a crawler track to move around, which is ideal for the uneven and muddy ground found on a farm. However, some smaller machines have two wheels and are designed to be towed by a tractor, and others have four wheels and a tractor-like chassis, or are actually tractor-mounted. There are also a few larger truck mounted machines, where the drill rig is fitted to the back of a 6-wheeled truck body.
Most drilling machines are pneumatic, with an air compressor, and powered by a diesel engine, although there are also a few gasoline or electric powered drilling rigs available. Different drilling methods are used for rock and soft ground and some machines come with variable methods and drill bits.
NKHZ-160 two-wheeled well drilling rig
This small drilling rig has two wheels and can be ‘walked’ or towed to site, and has four extendable hydraulic pegs for stability. It has a maximum drilling depth of 656 feet (200m), using a diesel engine generating 60 Kw of power. It has a total weight of 6,835lbs (3100kg), and is available for between US$ 900 and US$ 1,000 per unit depending on order quantity.
Yide YD-100 2-wheeled drill rig
This small 2-wheeled drill rig is marketed as a household and agricultural well drilling machine weighing 1,984lbs (900 kg). This model is diesel driven, although the supplier states that it is available in gasoline or electric options. This model generates 18 Kw of power to drive drilling down to a maximum of 427 ft (120m). The rig is available for US$ 2,100 per unit, with discounts down to US$ 1,999 for orders of more than one unit.
Lihua crawler well drilling rig
This model from Lihua is only 1,984lbs (900kg) and moves on a small caterpillar track. It is stabilized using extendable hydraulic legs. It can drill up to 2” (50mm) width pipe, down to around 427 feet (130m) depth. It operates with a diesel engine with up to a 27 Kw power rating. Pricing is US$ 1,000 per unit, reducing to US$ 600 per unit for large orders. As drilling machines get bigger, they offer more power and more flexibility in drilling methods.
Wetop WTM236
This pneumatic model is tractor mounted and the drill rig takes its power from the tractor power take-off shaft. With four-wheel drive, the drill rig has the speed and mobility of any similar tractor base. The drill rig gets 22 Kw of power from the tractor and has a drill depth of 656 ft (200m). The model, including the tractor, is priced at US$ 13,150, down to US$ 12,150 for ten units or more.
Xuchang FY200 track mounted drill rig
The diesel powered Xuchange FY200 is a track mounted crawler drill rig that weighs in at 5,000kg. The diesel engine generates 65 Kw of power that gives a drill depth of 656 ft (200m) at a rate of between 33-115 ft (10-35m) per hour. Pricing is between US$ 13,600 reducing to US$ 13550 for volume orders.
Four-wheel mounted drill rig
Similar in capacity to the FY200, this pneumatic model is mounted on a four-wheel tractor-like base with a diesel engine that produces 76 Kw of power. With a total weight of 11,500lbs (5,200 kg), it has a drill depth of (200m) at a rate of between 33-115 ft (10-35m) per hour. Prices range between US$ 13,400 for a single unit to US$ 13,250 for larger orders.
Hengwang HQZ320L crawler drilling rig
This large drilling rig is almost 17,500lb (8,000 kg) and has a diesel engine that generates 85 Kw of power. It moves on caterpillar tracks, although a four wheeled version is available. With that power it can drill through rock at between 66-132 ft (20-40m) per hour, to a depth of almost 1,000 feet (300m), and has options for different drilling methods.
Diesel driven, it comes with a separate air compressor for pneumatic drilling, can add drill fittings for hammer and rock drilling, and can add a mud pump or foam pump. It is priced at US$ 6,000 per unit, but this can reduce to around US$ 3,000 per unit for orders above five units.
CSD600 Truck mounted drill rig
This very large, heavy duty drilling rig is truck mounted and weighs a total of 48,500lbs (22,000 kg) together with the truck chassis. The diesel engine generates a power of 132 Kw and the rig can drill down to almost 2,000 feet (600m). This multifunctional rig can drill using pneumatic pressure, can use hammer drilling for rock strata, and has a mud rotary for soft ground. The model is available for between US$ 103,000 to US$ 105,000 depending on the order volume.
Final thoughts
Farms need water, both for crop irrigation and for livestock. Public utility supply is not always the preferred option for farmers due to cost and quality issues, and therefore farmers will drill their own water wells to provide the supply they need.
Agricultural water well drilling machines are widely available, with different sizes, power and drilling capacity. A range of models can be sourced online from the showroom at www.alibaba.com.
