cable-tool drilling

Cable-tool drilling, also known as rope drilling, is an early method for sinking wells or creating boreholes. This technique involves using a chisel-shaped bit attached to a cable. An up-and-down motion at the surface causes the bit to chip away at the rock at the bottom of the hole. Periodically, drilling stops so that loose rock chips and liquids can be removed with a collecting device. The bit's tip also needs to be sharpened during this process. For effective rock removal, the borehole must remain dry. This dry condition could lead to oil and gas flowing to the surface when a producing formation was hit, creating the image of a gusher.123