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Abstract
Access to affordable groundwater extraction technologies continues to pose a major challenge in many rural and residential communities, where conventional rotary drilling rigs are often impractical due to their high cost, technical complexity, and demanding maintenance needs. This study introduces the design, fabrication, and experimental evaluation of a low-cost, mechanically simple, and locally manufacturable portable drilling rig developed for residential borehole construction and small-scale agricultural irrigation. The system was engineered to balance functional efficiency with affordability, utilizing readily available materials and straightforward mechanical components to ensure ease of replication, repair, and maintenance in resource-constrained settings. Experimental tests were performed across sandy, clayey, loamy, and gravelly soils at various rotational speeds to measure penetration rate, torque, power consumption, and overall drilling efficiency. The prototype achieved its best performance in sandy formations, recording a penetration rate of 18.3 cm/min, a torque of 45 Nm, and power consumption of 1.6 kW. In contrast, cohesive or coarse formations required greater torque and energy input. Comparative benchmarking with commercial systemsincluding the Hydra-Drill MUD-2, LoneStar LS100, and PAT-301Trevealed that while the prototype exhibited lower penetration rates (0.95–1.25 m/hr compared to 2.1-3.5 m/hr) and shallower depth capacity (up to 22 m), it offered distinct advantages in energy efficiency (0.06–0.14 kWh/m versus 0.14-0.33 kWh/m), portability, ease of setup, and minimal operational cost. Overall, the results confirm the system’s potential as a sustainable and low-resource solution for shallow to moderate borehole drilling applications. Future work will focus on integrating hydraulic-assist mechanisms, modular power sources, and sensor-based torque control systems to enhance performance, adaptability, and efficiency across diverse geological conditions
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