Application:	Telephone Pole Piles & Grounding Rods	Click photo for larger image (37K).
Hammer:	Champion 40, Challenger 100
Hole Size:	4 inches (102 mm), 6 inches (152 mm), 14 inches (356 mm)
Depth:	7 feet (2 m) & 20 feet (6 m)
Formation:	Limestone
Rig Type:	Pole Truck & TEI HEM1000

FULL PROJECT SUMMARY

Searcy, Arkansas USA - Companies all across the world are looking for ways to cut costs and become more efficient with the services they provide their customers. In a sense, they are looking to do more with less. The utility industry is no stranger to this movement. With utility markets being opened up to widespread competition, many utility companies are implementing aggressive plans to insure they best meet customer needs while still holding down costs.

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Entergy of Searcy, Arkansas, a division of Arkansas Power and Light has been at the forefront of this effort by changing the way they conduct their utility pole drilling. Recently, Entergy purchased a pole truck outfitted with a HEM1000 drilling attachment designed and manufactured by Technological Enterprises Inc. (TEI) of Montrose, CO. The HEM1000 provides Entergy the flexibility to drill with an auger or down hole hammer that enables them to do all drilling themselves instead of using costly sub-contractors. Entergy now has complete control over how and when each job is done. This provides them with the ability to better plan drilling activities which has considerably lowered costs. In addition, they can now drill considerably faster and they are better prepared to deal with emergencies, which has allowed them to react more quickly to customer needs.

In order to drill the required utility holes in limestone ground formations in northern Arkansas, Entergy purchased Numa Champion 40 and Challenger 100 down hole hammers. The Champion 40 hammers are used to drill holes for anchoring commercial grounding rods. These holes are typically 4 inches (102 mm) or 6 inches (152 mm) in diameter and are drilled to a depth of 20 feet (6 m).

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The Challenger 100 hammers are used for drilling piles for telephone poles. These holes are normally 14 inches (356 mm) in diameter and go down 7 feet (2 m). All drilling is conducted with 1100 cfm (472 l/sec) and 150 psi (10.2 bar) of air that is supplied by a tag along compressor.

Entergy knew that in order to maximize the projected cost savings, they had to choose a hammer and bit manufacturer that could produce reliable consistent results. The decision to purchase Numa products was based upon the overall cost effectiveness of Numa’s products. Numa’s hammers and bits have a long track record of providing a combination of fast penetration rates and long life to yield cost effective results. In fact, for the past fifteen years Numa has provided world-class hammers and bits along with outstanding customer service which has enabled the company to become the leader of the DTH industry.

In the short few months that Entergy of Searcy, Arkansas has been conducting their own drilling, they have seen tremendous cost cutting, performance-enhancing results that they look to continue in the future. These positive results can be attributed to the great planning and execution by Entergy and the great drilling products manufactured and supplied by TEI and Numa. On your next drilling project, look to Numa for results.