Pile Top Drill Rigs

Pile Top Drill Rigs

Pile Top Drill Rigs

2

Solid Foundations With Pile Top Systems

About Us
MHWirth is a leading global provider of first-class
drilling solutions and services designed to offer
our valued clients with the safer, more efficient and
reliable alternative. Our company vision is centered
on an unparalleled commitment to quality and
yielding economic advantages for our customers and
stakeholders.
MHWirth has a global span covering five continents
with offices in more than 20 countries. Drawing upon
our global market success, we continue to seize
opportunities through an established strong regional
presence in the Americas, Asia and West Africa.
Our dedicated professionals consistently strive to
enhance customer satisfaction and form meaningful
collaborations by creating a personalized experience.

Experts at your disposal

MHWirth is your first choice for reliable pile top systems
for onshore and offshore applications. Cost efficiency
and outstanding performance are the key factors that
make us stand out from the competition.
Our experienced specialists provide comprehensive
advice on selecting the correct equipment for the
individual site conditions from the tender phase right
the way through to project execution.

Consrcio BRAVE

Venezuela Orinoco Bridge

Three Wirth PBA 818 and one Wirth PBA 612 to install 156 piles (bridge length: 3.2 km), with diameters
of 2.4 m and 1.8 m, and depths of up to 60 m

RG Tanna Coal Terminal Wharves,

Port of Gladstone, Australia, Courtesy
of Central Queensland Ports Authority

Australia Tanker terminal

Wirth PBA 612/2000/200 for raker piles at an inclination of up to 1:3, with drilling diameters of up to 1.25
m and depths of up to 50 m

Pile Top Drill Rigs

3

Areas of Application
Wirth pile top drill rigs by MHWirth provide the most
efficient solution when it comes to setting up deep and
large-diameter foundations in hard rock. They have
been successfully deployed in various applications,
both onshore and offshore:

Superstructures and buildings

Drilling platforms, barges and jack-ups
Harbours, jetties, dry docks and dolphins
Bridges, piers and causeways
Marine sewerage diffusers
Offshore wind farms
Dam rehabilitation

The Wirth PBA with the high torque power swivel is

the ideal machine for hard rock drilling, applying the
following special methods:

Pile rock socketing

Hard rock drilling
Anchor drilling
Secant wall
Overreaming
Bell-out of the rock socket

USA/New Jersey widening of Driscoll Bridge

Wirth PBA 818/2500/300 used for the building of a third bridge spanning a distance of 4400 feet
and 28.3 feet wide, with a drilling diameter of 1680 mm and depths of up to 50 m

Hong Kong Sunley

Wirth PBA 936/3000/300 Ventilation shafts for a metro tunnel, shaft diameter 3.0 m up to 90 m
depth including 19 m rock socket in hard granite with 230 MPa

Pile Top Drill Rigs

4

Deeper and Faster Drilling through

Hard Rock
Close consultation and support
Our experts provide comprehensive advice, right from the pre-engineering and tender
phases. This includes giving an indication of expected rates of progress along with
advice on the selection of supporting equipment. MHWirth drilling experts are available
for commissioning and for training personnel.

Outstanding drilling performance

In each class, Wirth PBAs have an excellent power/weight ratio. Maximum drilling
performance is guaranteed, even under the toughest conditions, along with easy and fast
equipment handling.

Economical RC drilling
MHWirth is the world market leader in reverse circulation drilling. This method is highly
efficient, especially for large diameters and great depths.

Quick assembly
The modular design and the quick-action multi-couplings ensure a fast and easy set-up of
the drill rig.

Unmatched availability
The use of special select materials, combined with experience gained over more than
25 years, has led to higher demands concerning the quality of production. As a result,
MHWirth has achieved the highest availability for years, combined with a low spare-part
consumption rate and low maintenance costs.

Maximal versatility
Exchangeable cutters ensure that drilling is possible in varying geological formations.
Different diameters can be created by just one machine, by exchanging the drill bit
accordingly. The drilling depth can be increased simply by extending the drill-pipe length.

High independency
An onboard crane allows equipment to be handled independently of the installation crane.

High availability of spare parts hotline

Our spare parts service guarantees you receive original spare parts.

Pile Top Drill Rigs

5

Rig Arrangement

Pile top drill rig

Auxiliary crane

Tiltable working
platform

Drill-pipe chute
(optional)

Clamping device

Mud tank system

Backfilling system

Hydraulic power pack

Crane for handling of

drill rig/drill string
Compressor
Drill string with bottom
hole assembly (BHA)

Close loop circulation

Environmentally friendly closed loop circulation

Water from a tank fills the borehole
Water and cuttings are flushed out by RC through the drill pipe into the tank
Cuttings are settling out in the tank
Clean water fills the hole as per step 1
No spillage, no environmental pollution.

B0080706
I0011689

Pile Top Drill Rigs

6

Experts at Your Disposal

Drill string
Modular design for every depth and diameter
Components are built for long life and rough use

Our experienced experts provide

comprehensive advice as early as
the pre-project phase. This includes
the indication of expected drilling
rates and cutter lifetime as well as
recommendations for the supporting
equipment to ensure the successful
operation of a Wirth PBA.

Drill pipe
stabilizer

Flanged air-lift
drill pipes

Cross-over
sub

BHA
stabilizers

Air-lift drill
collars

Large-diameter
rock bit

Pile Top Drill Rigs

7

References
More than 250 MHWirth pile top drill rigs have proven to be outstandingly
reliable and efficient in numerous projects around the world.

China/Hong Kong Stonecutters Bridge

Wirth PBA 936/3000/300 for foundation of flyover piles, each with a diameter of 3.0 m and depths of
more than 100 m.

UK/West Coast Burbo windfarm

Pile foundation for three MW wind turbines, with a drilling diameter of 4.5 m and depths of up to 60 m

Woodside Energy Ltd.

Australia North West Shelf

Wirth PBA 936/3000/300 for foundation of the Angel oil and gas plat-form. Drilling diameter of 3.0 m
and a drill string length of up to 110 m

Pile Top Drill Rigs

8

References

USA/California Carquinez Bridge

Wirth PBA 928/3000/300 for the bridge foundation with piles of diameter 2.7 m (enlarged to 3.3 m,
in part)

USA/California San Francisco Oakland Bay Bridge

Wirth PBA 933/3 000/300 for the reinforcement of the San Francisco Bay Bridge

Canada/Saint John Canaport LNG terminal

Wirth PBA 612 for foundation of 60 piles, each with a diameter of 1.12 m and a depth of 80 m

Pile Top Drill Rigs

9

USA/Alabama W.F. Lake George Dam

Cut-off wall in front of an active dam with more than 450 piles, each with a diameter of 1.27 m and a
depth of up to 75 m. Formation drilled: various layers of limestone, with strengths of up to 135 MPa,
and unconsolidated sand.

TREVIICOS

USA/Massachusetts Wolf Creek Dam

Wirth PBA 818/2500/300 for a cut-off wall, with a drilling diameter of 1.27 m, depths of up to 90 m,
rock strengths of up to 150 MPa

Walter Bibikow/JAI/Corbis

Bahrain Saudia Arabia Causeway

A 25 km highway with bridges totalling 12.5 km in length, 489 piles with diameters ranging from
3.75 to 4.0 m; two rigs worked simultaneously from jack-up barges, with each rig drilling and
installing four piles per week

Pile Top Drill Rigs

10

Highest Efficiency With Reverse

Circulation Drilling
MHWirth is the world market leader in reverse circulation drilling (RCD). This
method sets the standards for cost effectiveness and versatility.

The RCD method, also referred to as airlift drilling,

is well-established as a robust and straightforward
means of operation, which is highly effective for large
diameters and great depths, both in onshore and
offshore applications.
Principle of operation: Compressed air is injected into
the drill pipe below water level and just above the
cutting head. As the air rises and expands within the
drill pipe, the density in the internal liquid column is
greatly reduced, leading to a difference in pressure
between the liquid in the drill hole outside and the liquid
inside the drill pipe.

Due to the higher density in the outer column, the solids

pass from the drill hole through the cutting-head suction
suction opening, and rise up through the drill pipe.
Provided that the correct air/liquid flow is established
within the drill pipe, solids will be transported to the
surface according to the airlift principle.
The differential pressure and thus the conveying
capacity depend on the rate and volume of the
compressed air injected, the depth of injection and the
delivery head.

Airlift swivel

Power swivel or rotary table

Compressed air from compressor
Discharge hose
Standpipe

Muck
Mud pit

Airlift drill pipe

Compressed-air inlet valve

Rock bit

Pile Top Drill Rigs

11

Pile Top Drill Rig

408/1300/200

612/2000/300

818/2500/300

936/3200/300

1450/6000/330

Maximum drilling diameter

1.3 m
51 in
4.3 ft

2.0 m
79 in
6.6 ft

2.5 m
98 in
8.2 ft

3.2 m
126 in
10.5 ft

6m
236 in
19.7 ft

Maximum power swivel torque

81 kNm
59700 ft lb

120 kNm
88500 ft lb

180 kNm
132500 ft lb

360 kNm
269000 ft lb

500 kNm
368500 ft lb

Maximum drilling speed

infinitely variable

38 rpm

34 rpm

30 rpm

20 rpm

20 rpm

Maximum drill string weight

40 t

45 t

90 t

120 t

240 t

Maximum thrust force

400 kN
90000 lb

588 kN
132000 lb

800 kN
180000 lb

1000 kN
225000 lb

1450 kN
320000 lb

Maximum pull back

600 kN
135000 lb

650 kN
145000 lb

1100 kN
247000 lb

1700 kN
380000 lb

3 000 kN
675000 lb

Hydraulic power pack rating

162 kW
220 hp

261 kW
350 hp

261 kW
350 hp

447 kW
600 hp

470 kW
630 hp

Unit weight drill rig

17.0 t

19.5 t

27.0 t

33.0 t

64.0 t

Unit weight hydraulic power pack

4.0 t

6.5 t

6.5 t

10.0 t

11.0 t

Unit weight hydraulic

clamping device

3.0 t

7.0 t

9.0 t

12.5 t

Dependent on
diameter

200 mm
7.87 in
3m
118 in
9.8 ft

200/300 mm
7.87/11.80 in

300 mm
11.80 in

300 mm (HT)
11.80 in

330 mm (HT)
13.0 in

3m
118 in
9.8 ft

3m
118 in
9.8 ft

3m
118 in
9.8 ft

3m
118 in
9.8 ft

275/540 kg
606/1190 lb

540 kg
1190 lb

540 kg
1190 lb

678 kg
1495 lb

Drill Pipe Data

NW (internal diameter)
Maximum length per rod

Weight per rod

275 kg
606 lb

BHA Stabilizer/Drill Collar Data

Standard flange diameter
BHA stabiliser and drill collar

500 mm
20.0 in

700 mm
27.6 in

1000 mm
39.4 in

1400 mm
55.1 in

1400 mm
55.1 in

Standard length
BHA stabiliser and drill collar

1.5 m
59.0 in
4.9 ft

1.5 m
59.0 in
4.9 ft

1.5 m
59.0 in
4.9 ft

2.0 m
78.7 in
6.6 ft

2.0 m
78.7 in
6.6 ft

Weight without lead filling

(drill collar only)

700 kg
1540 lb

900 kg
1980 lb

1620 kg
3570 lb

3780 kg
8335 lb

3780 kg
8335 lb

Weight with lead filling

(drill collar only)

2000 kg
4400 lb

3160 kg
7000 lb

6620 kg
14600 lb

31400 kg
69225 lb

31400 kg
69225 lb

Delivered air volume

1015 m3/min
353529 ft3/min

1025 m3/min
353882 ft3/min

2025 m3/min
705882 ft3/min

2025 m3/min
705882 ft3/min

2 x 25 m3/min
2 x 882 ft3/min

Operating pressure

13 bar
188 psi

13 bar
188 psi

17 bar
246 psi

20 bar
290 psi

20 bar
290 psi

Delivery volume

800 m3/h
470 ft3/min

800/1200 m3/h
470/706 ft3/min

1200 m3/h
706 ft3/min

1400 m3/h
824 ft3/min

> 2500 m3/h

> 1470 ft3/min

Pressure at delivery head (approximately)

5 bar
72 psi

5 bar
72 psi

5 bar
72 psi

5 bar
72 psi

5 bar
72 psi

Air Compressor

Back Filling Pump For

Airlift Circulation System

Specifications subject to change

Contact
Klner Strasse 7173
41812 Erkelenz
Germany
Tel: +49 2431 83-0
North America
3010 Briarpark Dr. suite 500
Houston, TX 77042
USA
Tel: +1 713 988 2002
South America
Rodovia Amaral Peixoto,
km 162-ZEN CEP
28890-000, Rio das Ostras, RJ
Brazil
Tel: +55 22 3321 2400

51000236.9-0315

Middle East
Lvl 7, Platinum Tower, Cluster I, Jumeriah
Lakes Towers
PO Box 392815
Dubai
UAE
Tel: +971 4 550 6200

Asia
Powergas House, I-Think Techno Campus,
Beta Building, 4th Floor,
Zone-3 Kanjurmarg (East)
-400 042 Mumbai
India
Tel: +91 22 67 06 64 41

Australia
96 Raubers Road, Northgate
Queensland, 4013
Australia
Tel: +61 7 3164-9001

Contact Information
marketing@mhwirth.com
mhwirth.com

mhwirth.com