The DD-240T Midi Rig, uses a 523-horsepower Mercedes Tier 4-F engine and features a modular, configurable design new for the line of horizontal direction drills. The unit is designed to be self-contained and easily mobilized to work in both “wide-open landscapes or tight urban spaces,” says the manufacturer. Two frame sizes are available: the Range 2-pipe model with a 52.6-foot length, and the 20-foot-pipe version at 40 feet, both with an 8.2-foot width to facilitate transport and set-up/take-down. Maximum thrust and pullback force are rated at 240,000 pounds, with 30,000 lb.-ft. of rotary torque at 50 rpm. Maximum rotary torque is 43,900 ft.-lb. at 37 rpm.
The new rig can be ordered with or without an onboard fluid pump, with pipe-loader or full-length manway. The patented, moveable cab accommodates both driller and wire-line operator and can be either set off-board to reduce, or on-board to work in confined spaces. The new operator’s platform features touch-screen control, and individual controls can be programmed to match any control system the drill operator might prefer.
Other features include fully traveling wrenches that can be positioned anywhere, from front to carriage, and are convenient for use breaking stuck pipe. They can be moved out of the way for hammering in casing, while still using the frame as an operating platform. DD-240T drilling productivity can be further optimized, says the company, by pairing it with the American Augers M-300D “next-level” fluid system, which is designed to provide 300-gpm, first-cut cleaning capability for keeping pace with the high productivity of the DD-240T.
