Hand Auger Drilling

Description: Hand augering can be undertaken with a heavy tripod and winch (such as provided by the Vonder Rig in Figure - top left). Alternatively, very light equipment can also be utilised such as that common in Niger (Figure - top centre). Common to both of these rigs is the auger bit (Figure top right). A bailer can also be used to remove the spoil form the hole in the form of a slurry. Drilling is undertaken by rotating the auger into the ground, and adding additional drill pipe as the hole deepens.

Capability: Hand auger drilling can be undertaken in a limited range of unconsolidated formations i.e. non-collapsing sands and silts and some clays. Stiff clay, gravels and hard materials cannot be drilled unless the technique is combined with percussion drilling. Temporary casing can be utilised with some equipment. The depth limit for hand augering is about 20m. Diameters range from 50 to 200mm.

Locations: The Vonder rig has been used extensively in Zimbabwe and distributed widely within sub-Saharan Africa. Hand augering experiences have been made in Niger, Tchad, Senegal, The Gambia, Uganda, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Nigeria and Niger.

Equipment Availability: Off the shelf hand auger equipment (with heavy tripod) is available from:

• V&W Engineering (Zimbabwe) - &W Engineering in Zimbabwe (49 Leyland Road, P.O.Box 131,Harare
  Tel/Fax :04-663417 Phone: 666432/2912906-7
  Fax : 664365 (on request), Email: vwnima@zol.co.zw)
• Van Reekum Materials (Netherlands)
• Eijkelkamp (Netherlands),
• Dormer Engineering (Australia).

Lighter, but effective hand auger equipment is also manufactured in Niger by Chafagane Maiga, S/C BP: 10988 Niamey, Tel: +227 96 53 18 88.

Documentation:

• Blankwaardt. 1984. Hand Drilled Wells.  Rwegarilia Water Resources Institute, PO Box 35059, Dar Es Salaam Tanzania
• DHV. 1979. Shallow Wells.  Development Corporation Information Department, DHV Consulting Engineers DHV Consulting Engineers, PO Box 85, Amersfoort, the Netherlands, Available from: <http://www.dhv.nl>
• Koegel, R. 1985. Self Help Wells.  FAO Irrigation and Drainage Paper, FAO, Rome. 
• Naugle, J. 1996. Hand Augered Garden Wells, Lutheran World Relief (3rd edition 1996). Available (in English and French)
• Carter R.C 2005.  HUMAN-POWERED DRILLING TECHNOLOGIES an overview of human-powered drilling technologies for shallow small diameter well construction, for domestic and agricultural water supply. First Edition, May 2005 Cranfield University UK. 
• Danert, K.2006. A brief history of Hand Drilled Wells in Niger: Only the beginning.  RWSN/WSP Field Note.  Available in English and French)