Waterlink Ltd has been in the drilling industry for over ten years and receives a lot of our work from referrals and word of mouth marketing . We undertake all our drilling works using hired equipment which has been a major challenge as our works are usually delayed since the equipment owner will have to finish their works first and hence our appetite for a drilling equipment of our own. To begin with the Equipment is itself a marketing tool as it is most of the time working in the open attracting potential clients. This together with advertisement in the print and electronic medias and cold canvasing in relevant industry players, there will be a guarantee of works
- Analysis of competition
Competition in any industry is healthy as it makes a business entity come up with workable marketing strategies. As mentioned earlier it is possible to get 1% market share which is good enough for a start. We have been in the industry for ten year and we loose a lot of would be clients when they do their due diligence and discover that we have no equipment of our own and this is the gap we intend to fill
Technical Aspects
- In the case of manufacturing activities, specifications of plant and equipment required and in the case of services, other resources required
Due to the fact that borehole drilling takes at most a week to complete unlike other construction works, and one has to have prepared all the material including consumable, it is ageneral that clients have to pay 50 to 70% of the contract value as down payment and thus there is really no constrain as to the operating capital.
The only requirement is only Transportation of material, and after a cost comparison it is cheaper to hire in the long run than to have a support truck that will require extra personnel and maintenance
- Comparative analysis of sources
There are different sources of drilling machines all of which are imported from either USA or India. It happens that the indian manufacturers have targeted this market and opened branches locally and coupled with the fact that they are almost 40% cheaper than the USA ones the remain the best option.
Over 80 % of the Drilling rigs in Kenya today are imported from india half of them being reconditioned and the work pretty well. A refurbished indian machine will give you Three years trouble free operation and even there after, spares and technical expertise is locally available and hence remaining the best option.
- Detailed description of production, operational or services offering process
Borehole Design, Drilling, Construction & Equipment – (A brief insight)
A borehole comes in handy to supplement other water sources that may not be having adequate amount s of water as may be the requirement for domestic, agricultural, industrial, communal usage etc. We have over the years undertaken hundreds of boreholes in various sectors. We herein briefly outline the most important basics that one need to know about borehole designs, drilling, construction and Pumping Equipment.
Design.
A well, be it shallow or deep (borehole) is a hydraulic structure which, when properly designed and constructed, permits the economic abstraction of water from a water-bearing formation. Successful wells are designed and constructed by using materials that will provide an efficient well with a long service life, taking maximum advantage of the hydro geological conditions, and applying the principles of hydraulics in a practical way to the analysis of wells and aquifer performance.
Typical borehole design
Ground Surface
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Annular space to be filled with gravel (optional)
Plain Casings
Slotted Casings
Final Borehole Depth |
Drilling
Various drilling methods have been developed because geologic conditions range from hard rocks such as granite and dolomite to completely unconsolidated sediments such as alluvial sand and gravel. Particular drilling methods are dominant in certain areas because they are most effective in penetrating the local aquifers and thus offer cost advantages.
The drilling procedure depends on the depth and diameter of the well, type of formation to be penetrated, sanitation requirements and the principal use of the well. No single drilling method is best for all geological conditions and well installation.
Well construction comprises four or five distinct operations: drilling, installation of casings, placing a well screen and filter pack, if required, grouting to provide sanitary protection, and developing the well to ensure sand-free operation at maximum yield.
The driller is expected to report changes or fluctuations in the static water level at various depths during the course of drilling. Whenever possible, pumping tests should be carried out to determine borehole yield.
Common Drilling methods
- In The Cable Tool Percussion, the borehole is stabilized during the entire drilling operation. Recovery of reliable samples is possible from every depth unless heaving conditions occur. The well can be constructed with little chance of contamination. Because of size, drilling rig can be operated in more rugged, inaccessible terrain or in other areas where space is limited. The well can be drilled in formations where lost circulation is a problem. The well can be bailed at any time to determine the approximate yield at that depth.
- In The direct Rotary Drilling method, penetration rates are relatively high in all types of material. Minimal casing is required during the drilling operation. Rig mobilization and demobilization are rapid. Well screens can be set easily as part of the casing installation. This method has of late been adopted in most drilling operations due to its flexibility in mobilization High penetration rates and overall reduced cost since there is no need of establishing a site camp as tents will serve for the few days(mostly less than a week) that the work will be in progress.
Borehole construction Casing
The casing serves as a housing for the pumping equipment, holds the borehole walls from colapsing and as a vertical conduit for water flowing upward from the aquifer to the pump intake. Selection of casing material is based on water quality, well depth, cost, borehole diameter, and the drilling procedure. Steel is used most commonly, but thermoplastic materials can be used especially in areas where groundwater is highly corrosive and the depth of the well is less than 200 meters.
Gravel pack
The choice of gravel pack material used for screens depends on the rock layour and formation, potential presence of iron bacteria and strength requirements. Water quality analysis show whether groundwater is corrosive or incrusting or both. It is therefore important to use a well screen fabricated from corrosion-resistant material. Incrusting water deposits minerals on the screen surface and in the pores of the formation just outside the screen. These deposits plug both the screen openings and the formation.
Gravel Pack permits water to enter the well from the saturated aquifer, prevents sediment from entering the well and serves structurally to support unconsolidated aquifer material. The value of a Gravel Pack depends on how effectively it contributes to the success of a well. The Gravel Pack should not clog at any time and should thus be correctly sized , sufficient column and collapse strength. It should also be easily developed and resistant to corrosion.
Pumping Equipment
Selection of the type of borehole pump to be installed in a productive borehole will depend on a myriad of factors some of which may border to affordability of day to day running expenses and maintenance and/or the quantity of water required. Other factor will be chemical and physical components of the water, available mode of power ( Electrical, Fuel, Solar and Manual). There are different types of pumps namely:
- Piston Pumps
- Spiral/helical Pumps
- Centrifugal Pumps
The Last is the most commonly used type of pump and
installed right at the bottom of the borehole with the only
difference being the Power source, which are Mainly
Electricity, Diesel Generators and solar power. In spite
of all the different type of pumps the basic determinant
of the size and the eventual cost of the pumping Equipment
is the Depth of the borehole and the sustainable Maximum
borehole yield that is usually determined during the test pumping
process after completion of drilling.
- Capacity of the project activity
- Type and source raw material and other inputs required
The main raw material in drilling is Steel casings which is available locally from various manufacturers. Other materials include Filter media made of selected river gravel and is also readily available .
Diesel which and drilling chemical are consumables required in the drilling process and also available locally.
Organization and Management
- Detailed Organizational Chart
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- Proposed management of the project including qualifications and experience
Attached
- Project implementation schedule/plan
Borehole drilling is a dynamic exercise and the key to success is proper management of movement of materials and equipment as each site will take 3 to 7 days and as such a competent logistics manager is a key member if not the most crutial personnel.
Financial Aspects
- Estimated project costs
The project is expected to cost approximately Ksh 15,000,000 as per the invoice attached
- Proposed financing plan
- Projected financial statements including proforma income, cash flow and balance sheet statements for at least the duration of the financial service to be offered by the Bank
To attach
Risk Assessment
- An evaluation of the weaknesses of the business.
The main greatest in Drilling business is the risk to lose drilling tools in the event that the compressor fails midstream and in collapsing formation. The beauty of it is that nowadays the machine are fitted with a hydraulic motor specifically for pull back unlike in the past and as such this risk has been brought under control fi not eliminated.
The other risk is of coarse mechanical breakdown of the equipment but this is occasioned by lack of good care and maintenance.
- Identification of the risk associated with the nature of business.
We have been in this business for long enough and we thus understand all the dynamics including market trends
- Proposed plans to mitigate the risks identified.
The challenges that may occur during the operation and execution works just require some contingency sums to be spared and saved from each contract to cater for the unknowns that may happen.
Environment, Social and Gender Issues
- The client should carry out impact assessment of the project to ensure environmental soundness and sustainability. The environmental feasibility should taken into account in project design.
N/A ..as its carried out per every site
- The client should demonstrate impact of the projects on promotion of gender equality.
We are non-discriminative when it come to gender parity and always ensure that both genders are substantially represented within our structures.