A major factor when selecting water well drilling rigs and other water drilling equipment is whether natural gas or diesel fuel is better suited for the intended application.
Ultimate Power
In outdoor power equipment, diesel engines are often preferred because they increase torque and therefore have more power than similarly sized gas engines. However, leading manufacturers offering gasoline and diesel models of equipment address the power difference by increasing the horsepower of the gasoline option. Sibling models of drilling rigs come with diesel and gas engines with different horsepower but similar torque outputs, ensuring the right amount of power for any application.
Availability
Is natural gas or diesel the primary fuel in the region? Many parts of the world rely on diesel fuel as their primary fuel source, making natural gas a poorer and more expensive option. In contrast, some areas may be more supplied with natural gas, with wider availability and lower pump costs.
Convenience and cost
Is natural gas or diesel fuel readily available at the job site? It may be easier to have water well drilling equipment if all other equipment on site uses natural gas. Major purchases such as drilling water rigs or rugged drilling mud pumps should not be further inconvenienced by fuel incompatibility.
Years ago, diesel fuel was the preferred choice for equipment because it was readily available and often much cheaper than gasoline alternatives. In recent years, however, the cost of diesel has equaled or exceeded the cost of natural gas, eliminating the economic advantage.
Maintenance
How much time and money can be spent on maintenance? Due to known mechanical problems associated with increased ethanol content in gasoline, there may be a tendency to switch to diesel. However, diesel units typically require more maintenance than gas units. Diesel tends to be more sensitive to dirt and debris than natural gas, which increases filter costs in addition to fuel consumption. Diesel units can also be more difficult to keep running, in part because temperature changes tend to have a greater impact on diesel engines, further driving up operating costs.
Despite these drawbacks, adhering to a rigorous and expensive diesel maintenance schedule can provide diligent owners with a more durable machine than its gasoline competitors in the long run, which should be weighed against fuel availability and convenience to get a full picture of the diesel engine. Long-term cost of ownership. However, if staff are not disciplined about maintenance, gasoline will be the better choice. This is more forgiving.
Post time: Apr-23-2024