1,300–1,500 cfm high-pressure drilling compressors

We supply all types, all brands and all models of borewell compressors: new sales, used and refurbished machines, rentals, service and spare parts. This page explains when this class is the right choice, how to confirm the duty and what to check on a machine before you buy, hire or rebuild one.

Where the 1,300–1,500 cfm class sits

Borewell and DTH compressors fall into clear pressure and flow bands. The 1,300–1,500 cfm class sits at the top of our standard range:

Machines in this class are large diesel-driven, two-stage oil-injected screw packages, usually truck- or trailer-mounted or carried on the rig. A flow figure means nothing without its pressure. One rating may be 1,300 cfm at 350 psig; another 1,500 cfm at a lower pressure. Always compare machines at the pressure your hammer and hole need.

When do you need 1,300–1,500 cfm?

The two drivers are hole-cleaning flow and pressure against depth and water.

• Large diameters: cleaning air rises with the annulus area. A 10 in bit on 6⅝ in pipe needs roughly 900–1,400 cfm for uphole velocities of 3,000–4,500 ft/min; a 12 in bit on 7⅝ in pipe needs about 1,400 cfm at 3,000 ft/min. An 800 cfm machine cannot clean those holes properly.
• Deep holes with water: each 10 m of water above the hammer adds about 1 bar (14.5 psi). A hammer that works at 17 bar with 50 m of water above it needs about 22 bar at the compressor, before losses.
• Large DTH hammers: 8 in and larger hammers consume high air volumes at high pressure; the hammer chart will put them in this class.
• Quarry and blast-hole drilling: production drilling where penetration rate decides the number of holes a rig completes in a shift.
• Government and industrial water projects: deep, large-diameter production wells where a slower, smaller machine would add many hours per hole.

If your work is 6½ in holes at moderate depth, this class is usually oversized, and a machine in the 800–1,200 cfm band will use less fuel per metre. See the DTH compressor sizing and duty confirmation method for the calculation.

How these machines are built

Understanding the package helps when choosing a new or used unit.

• Airend: high-pressure units normally use two-stage compression, which spreads the pressure ratio across two rotor pairs, keeps discharge temperature in check and improves efficiency at 20 bar and above.
• Engine: a large multi-cylinder diesel. Fuel use depends on load, pressure setting and condition; typical litres per hour should be taken from the machine’s own records, not assumed.
• Capacity control: an inlet regulator modulates or unloads the airend as demand falls while the engine slows. Good control saves fuel when the rig is adding pipe or the hammer is off bottom.
• Cooling: oil cooler and engine radiator in a cool-box with ample airflow. In Indian summers of 40–45 °C, and above 45 °C on open sites, cooler capacity and cleanliness decide whether the machine runs all day or trips.
• Separation and filtration: oil separator, heavy-duty two-stage air filters for dusty sites, and fuel water separators.
• Protection: shutdowns for high discharge temperature, low engine oil pressure, high coolant temperature and engine overspeed. These must be working; bypassing them is how airends and engines are lost.

Pressure, flow and hammer matching

A big compressor does not fix a mismatched hammer. Check three things together:

1. The hammer’s rated working pressure and air consumption from its chart.
2. The cleaning flow for your bit and pipe size.
3. The pressure budget: hammer pressure plus water head plus line and return losses.

If the budget exceeds the machine’s rated pressure, consider a booster or a special unit up to about 35 bar (507.6 psig). If cleaning flow exceeds what the hammer passes, ask the hammer supplier about an approved flushing or bypass arrangement before simply buying more air.

Comparing machines in litres, metres and hours

A 1,300–1,500 cfm machine uses more diesel per hour than a smaller one, but it may use less per metre because it drills faster and cleans the hole properly. Compare options only in physical units:

Illustration only: a smaller machine burning 45 litres per hour at 8 m per hour uses about 5.6 litres per metre; a larger one burning 60 litres per hour at 14 m per hour uses about 4.3 litres per metre and drills a 250 m hole in about 18 hours instead of 31. Record your own rig’s figures; they vary with rock, water and operator.

Buying new, buying used or hiring

• New: suits rig owners with steady deep or large-diameter work and long programmes. For long-term projects we can supply brand-new machines to site.
• Used or refurbished: a practical route into this class. Insist on a delivery and pressure test, airend and engine condition check, cooler inspection and service history. See our used and reconditioned borewell compressors page.
• Hire: for a project of known length, a seasonal peak or a deep hole beyond your own machine. Our rental range covers 50–2,000 cfm and 2–30 bar, diesel and electric.

Keeping a high-pressure drilling compressor healthy

• Clean coolers and air filters frequently on dusty, hot sites; most summer trips start here.
• Follow oil, separator and filter intervals; on our hire jobs we change oil and service every 300 running hours.
• Drain fuel water separators and use clean diesel.
• Check safety shutdowns and the pressure regulator at each service.
• Watch discharge temperature and engine coolant temperature trends; a slow rise means fouling or wear.
• Record delivery pressure on bottom at known depths so loss of performance is noticed early.

Details are on our borewell compressor service and repairs page.

How Reddy Compressors helps

We supply all types, all brands and all models of borewell compressors: new sales, used and refurbished machines, rentals, service and spare parts. We are an independent multi-brand specialist working with ELGi, Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand, KAESER, Chicago Pneumatic, Doosan and other makes, not an authorised dealer of any brand, so we can recommend the machine that fits the duty. We have tie-ups with all major and reputed brands.

• Confirm whether your hammer, bit and depth truly need the 1,300–1,500 cfm class or a smaller band.
• Supply new and used high-pressure drilling compressors, and hire from our own fleet of diesel portables and high-pressure units.
• Service, overhaul and repair with more than 20 service engineers and technicians across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh; machines, rentals and spares supplied across India.
• Identify spare parts from the nameplate, serial number and old part, and confirm fit before supply.

Our team has also supplied and commissioned high-pressure temporary air on a natural-gas development project in Kakinada, including three compressors rated 1,100 cfm at 300 psig. Our office is at Srinilayam, 12-13-200, First Floor, Street No. 1, Tarnaka, Secunderabad 500017; call +91 99590 60718 or +91 92468 88812.

What to send us

• Bit diameter, drill-pipe size and hammer make and model
• Target depth, expected water level and formations
• Whether the work is borewell, quarry or blast-hole drilling
• Existing compressor make, model and nameplate photo, if any
• Site location and whether you want to buy new, buy used, hire or repair

Frequently asked questions

What is a 1,300 cfm compressor used for?

Mainly deep and large-diameter DTH drilling: borewells of 10 in and above, deep wells with high water inflow, quarry production holes and blast-hole drilling. At 300–400 psig it provides both the air volume to clean big holes and the pressure to keep a large hammer working under water. For smaller bits at moderate depth it is usually more machine than the job needs.

What pressure do 1,500 cfm drilling compressors work at?

For borewell and DTH work, machines in this class typically work at 300–400 psig (20.7–27.6 bar), and special units go up to about 35 bar (507.6 psig). The pressure always belongs with the flow figure: a machine may be rated at 1,500 cfm at one pressure and noticeably less at a higher one, so compare at the pressure your duty needs.

Is a 1,300–1,500 cfm compressor needed for a 6½ inch borewell?

Usually not. A 6½ in bit on 4½ in pipe needs roughly 360–540 cfm of cleaning air at normal uphole velocities, so the hammer’s demand and the pressure budget normally point to the 800–1,200 cfm band. The larger class is justified for very deep holes, heavy water inflow or a hammer that the manufacturer rates for higher air volumes.

Does a bigger compressor use more diesel per metre drilled?

Not necessarily. It burns more litres per hour, but if it drills much faster and keeps the hole clean, the litres per metre can be lower and each hole finishes in fewer hours. Measure litres per hour and metres per hour on your own rig and divide one by the other to compare machines fairly.

Can I hire a 1,300–1,500 cfm compressor for a single deep borewell?

Yes, hire suits one-off deep holes, project programmes and seasonal peaks. Our rental range covers 50–2,000 cfm and 2–30 bar, including high-pressure diesel units. Send the bit size, pipe, hammer, depth, water level and site location so we can confirm the right machine, hoses and support for the job.

What should I check before buying a used high-pressure drilling compressor?

Run a delivery and pressure test at the working pressure, check airend noise and discharge temperature, engine blow-by and oil pressure, cooler condition, separator pressure drop and the safety shutdowns. Ask for service history and hour records. A machine that cannot reach its rated pressure under load will drill like a smaller class.

Related pages

• Borewell and DTH compressor library
• New borewell compressor sales
• Borewell compressor rentals and hire
• Borewell compressor spare parts
• 1,150–1,300 cfm compressors
• Quarry plant compressed air