Pile Top

drill rigs
Reliable systems for on- and offshore
3 About us
Pile Top drill rigs

Experts at your disposal

Aker Wirth: the

Our expertise is available to you throughout your
project.

worlds market leader From the pre-engineering and bidding phases, we

can assist in the selection of the right equipment
for your individual site conditions.

for Pile Top systems
References on successful
projects have established the
legendary name of Aker Wirth rigs.
Wherever pioneering construction
work is performed you can be
sure Aker Wirth is there.
We can indicate expected progress rates and
advise on any necessary supporting equipment.
Our advanced technology and high performance
equipment allows our customers to reduce their
costs and bid more aggressively.
During the foundation drilling phase, our drilling
experts are available for commissioning, staff
training and lifecycle service.

Venezuela
Orinoco Bridge
three rigs type PBA
818, one rig type PBA
612, bridge length
3.2 km, 156 piles with
a diameter of 2.4 m
and 1.8 m and a depth
of 60 m

Consrcio BRAVE

Australia
Tanker terminal
PBA 612/2000/200
for raker piles with an
inclination up to 1:3; at
a drilling diameter of up
to 1.25 m and depths of
up to 50 m
4 Main applications and special features
Pile Top drill rigs

Main applications
Your advantages at a glance
Modular design permits quick and easy assembly
of the drill rig

and special features
Main applications
Foundation drilling for large diameter piles
for super-structures and buildings
Anchor drilling executed from drilling platforms,
barges and jack-ups
Foundation drilling for harbours, jetties,
dry docks and dolphins
Bridge, pier and causeway foundations
Pile rock socketing
Riser shafts for marine sewerage diffusers
Only one rig operator and two assistant workers
needed for quick connection of drill pipes
Mounting of the complete Pile Top drill rig by
crane onto the casing
Safe clamping using pneumatic or hydraulic
clamping devices
Setting the Bottom Hole Assembly (BHA) by
crane with tilted mast
Exchangeable cutters for varying geological
formations
Exchange plates adapted to main bit body to
cover variable drilling diameters
The rig operates independently from the
installation crane during drilling operations
Service work can be executed by the on-site
hydraulic crane on the working platform

USA/New Jersey
Driscoll Bridge
widening
PBA 818/2500/300
Building of a third
bridge spanning of
4400 feet in length
and 28.3 feet wide at
a drilling diameter of
1680 mm and at depths
of up to 50 m

Hong Kong
Sunley
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
5 Reverse Circulation System
Pile Top drill rigs

The Reverse Circulation

System (RCD)
The RCD system, also referred to as air-lift drilling,
is well known as a robust and uncomplicated sys-
tem that is highly efficient for large diameters and
depths onshore and offshore.
The amount of the differential pressure and thus
the conveying capacity depends on the rate and
volume of compressed air injected, the depth of
injection and the delivery head.

The method of operation: compressed air is injected

into the drill pipe below water level, just above the
cutting head. As the air rises and expands within Aker Wirth provides
the drill pipe it greatly reduces the density of the in- detailed information
ternal fluid column, creating a differential pressure to assist you with your
between the fluid in the drill hole outside and the project planning
fluid inside the drill pipe. Due to the higher density
of the outer column, the solids pass from the drill
hole through the cutting head suction opening and mud v (mud) airflow injection
rise up through the drill pipe. Provided that the cor- m3/H m/s m3/min pressure, bar
rect air/fluid flow is established within the drill pipe,
1500 2.33 51.60 12.36
the airlift principle is utilised for transporting solids
1600 2.48 54.08 12.39
to the surface.
1700 2.62 56.80 12.41
1800 2.76 59.79 12.43
1900 2.91 63.10 12.44
2000 3.05 66.76 12.45
2100 3.19 70.83 12.46
2200 3.34 75.39 12.47
Air-lift swivel
2300 3.48 80.53 12.47
2400 3.63 86.39 12.46
Power swivel or rotary table
2500 3.77 93.14 12.46
Compressed-air from compressor
2600 3.91 101.04 12.45
Discharge hose
2700 4.06 110.51 12.44

Stand-pipe 2800 4.20 122.29 12.43

2900 2.34 137.91 12.42

150

Muck

Mud pit
Air-lift drill-pipe

100
airflow m/min

Compressed-air inlet valve

50

Rock bit

0
1500 2000 2500
mud m/H
 1

Pile Top rig

1 Mast
6 2 Guide carriage
3 Power swivel
4 Pull back and thrust cylinder
5 Tiltable working platform
6 Clamping device
7 Technical data
Pile Top drill rigs

Pile Top drill rig 408/1300/200 612/2000/300 818/2500/300 936/3000/300 1245/4500/330

Maximum drilling diameter 1.3 m 2.0 m 2.5 m 3.0 m 4.5 m

51 inch 79 inch 98 inch 118 inch 177 inch
4.3 ft 6.3 ft 8.0 ft 9.8 ft 14.8 ft

Maximum power swivel torque 81 kNm 119 kNm 180 kNm 360 kNm 403 kNm
58600 ft lb 86100 ft lb 130200 ft lb 260400 ft lb 291500 ft lb

Maximum drilling speed

38 rpm 60 rpm 64 rpm 20 rpm 20 rpm
infinitely variable

Maximum drill string weight 40 t 45 t 90 t 120 t 150 t

Maximum thrust force 400 kN 550 kN 800 kN 1000 kN 1450 kN

88200 lb 121300 lb 176400 lb 220500 lb 320000 lb

Maximum pull back 600 kN 650 kN 1100 kN 1700 kN 2450 kN

132300 lb 143300 lb 242500 lb 374740 lb 541000 lb

Hydraulic power pack 162 kW 273 kW 273 kW 403 kW 403 kW

220 hp 371 hp 371 hp 548 hp 548 hp

Unit weight drill rig 17.0 t 22.0 t 28.0 t 32.0 t 51.0 t

Unit weight hydraulic power pack 4.0 t 6.5 t 6.5 t 9.0 t 9.0 t

Unit weight hydraulic

3.0 t 7.0 t 9.0 t 12.5 t 15.0 t
clamping device

Drill pipe data

NW (internal diameter) 200 mm 200/300 mm 300 mm 300 mm HT 330 mm HT

7.87 inch 7.87/11.80 inch 11.80 inch 11.80 inch 13.0 inch

Maximum length per rod 3/6 m 3m 3m 3m 3m

118/236 inch 118 inch 118 inch 118 inch 118 inch
9.8/19.7 ft 9.8 ft 9.8 ft 9.8 ft 9.8 ft

Weight per rod 275/510 kg 275/540 kg 540 kg 540 kg 678 kg

606/1124 lb 606/1190 lb 1190 lb 1190 lb 1495 lb

BHA stabilizer/drill collar data

Standard flange diameter

BHA stabilizer and drill collar 500 mm 700 mm 1000 mm 1400 mm 1400 mm
20,0 inch 27,6 inch 39,4 inch 55,1 inch 55,1 inch

Standard length
BHA stabilizer and drill collar 1.5 m 1.5 m 1.5 m 3.0 m 3.0 m
59,0 inch 59,0 inch 59,0 inch 78.7 inch 78.7 inch
4.9 ft 4.9 ft 4.9 ft 6.6 ft 6.6 ft

Weight without lead filling

(drill collar only) 700 kg 900 kg 1620 kg 3780 kg 3780 kg
1543 lb 1984 lb 3571 lb 8335 lb 8335 lb

Weight with lead filling

(drill collar only) 2000 kg 3160 kg 6620 kg 31400 kg 31400 kg
4400 lb 6966 lb 14600 lb 69237 lb 69237 lb

Air compressor

Delivered air volume 1015 m3/min 1025 m3/min 2025 m3/min 2025 m3/min 2025 m3/min
353529 ft3/min 353882 ft3/min 705882 ft3/min 705882 ft3/min 705882 ft3/min

Minimum operation pressure 7 bar 10 bar 13 bar 13 bar 13 bar

100 psi 142 psi 185 psi 185 psi 185 psi

Filling pump for

air-lift circulation system

Delivery volume 1000 m3/h 1000/2000 m3/h 2400 m3/h 2600 m3/h > 3000 m3/h
590 ft3/min 590/1180 ft3/min 1412 ft3/min 1530 ft3/min > 1765 ft3/min

Delivery head, approximately 5 bar 5 bar 5 bar 5 bar 5 bar

72 psi 72 psi 72 psi 72 psi 72 psi

Specifications subject to change

8 References
Pile Top drill rigs

References
Proof of the outstanding reliability and efficiency of Aker Wirths Pile
Top rigs, with some examples of our prestigious projects from around
the world.

USA/Wisconsin Elm
Road Generating Station
Four water intake shafts
with a diameter of 4.5 m
in limestone with 150 MPa,
a depth of 55 m, an average
penetration rate of 0.25 m/h

Brazil Peixe Angical

Pile with a diameter of 1.8 m
and up to depths of 78 m
for a secant cut-off wall to
stop the seepage of the
existing dam

China/Hong Kong
Stonecutters Bridge
PBA 936/3000/300
foundation of flyover piles
with a diameter of 3.0 m and
depths of up to 80 m
9 References
Pile Top drill rigs

USA/California
Carquinez Bridge
PBA 928/3000/300
bridge foundation with
a diameter of 2.7 m,
partially enlarged to a
diameter of 3.3 m

USA/California San
Francisco Oakland
Bay Bridge
PBA 933/3 000/300 for
reinforcement of the
San Francisco Bay
Bridge

Ecuador
Guayaquil Bridge
PBA 612/2000/200
bridge foundation with
2.5 m diameter piles and
depths of up to 55 m
10 References
Pile Top drill rigs

References

USA/Alabama W.F. Lake

George Dam
Cut-off wall in front of an
active dam with more than
450 piles, a diameter of
1.27 m and depths of up to
75 m.
Formation to be drilled:
various layers of limestone
up to 135 MPa (19 000 PSI)
and unconsolidated sand.
Performance: approximately
one pile/day, deviation
< 0.3 %

USA/Massachusetts
Wolf Creek Dam
A PBA 818/2500/300 for a
cut-off wall, drilling diameter
of 1.27 m and at a depth of
up to 90 m, rock strengths
of up to 150 MPa

TREVIICOS

Bahrain Saudia Arabia

Causeway
A 25 km highway with
bridges totalling 12.5 km in
length, 489 piles, diameters
rang-ing from 3.75 to
4.0 m, two rigs working
simultaneously from jack-up
barges, each rig drilled and
installed four piles per week

Walter Bibikow/JAI/Corbis
11 References
Pile Top drill rigs

UK/West Coast
Burbo windfield
Pile foundation for three
MW wind turbines, at a
drilling diameter of 4.5 m
and at a depth of up to
60 m

Australia North
West Shelf
PBA 936/3 000/300
for the foundation
of the Angel oil and
gas platform. Drilling
diameter of 3.0 m and
up to 110 m drill string
length

Woodside Energy Ltd.

Australia North
West Shelf/Goodwyn
A
Deepest offshore pile
foundation, 16 piles to
found the gas and oil
production platform
to the seabed, at a
diameter of 2.3 m and an
approximate depth
of 300 m, time of
execution: 20 days

Woodside Energy Ltd.

Pile Top drill rigs

Aker Wirth GmbH

Klner Strasse 7173
41812 Erkelenz
Germany
P +49 2431 83-0
F +49 2431 83-267
akerwirth.info@akersolutions.com
www.akersolutions.com/akerwirth

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