Why mobilisation and acceptance matter on a borewell job
A drilling compressor can be correctly sized on paper and still lose the first day on site. The truck cannot reach the plot after rain, the hose fittings do not match the rig, the fuel arrangement is unclear, or nobody checks that the machine actually reaches 250 psig (17.2 bar) under load until the hammer stalls at depth.
Mobilisation is the bridge between the selected air duty and productive drilling. Site acceptance is the moment both sides agree, in writing, that the machine arrived complete, works as specified and is handed to a named person. On a hire job this record is also the reference for the return inspection, so it protects the customer as much as the supplier.
For borewell and DTH work in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and across India, the conditions are demanding: rough access roads, black-cotton soil that turns soft in the monsoon, summer ambient temperatures of 40–45 °C, and above 45 °C on open sites, and dust at the rig. Planning for these before dispatch is far cheaper than solving them at the plot.
What should be agreed before the compressor leaves the yard?
Most site problems can be prevented with a short pre-dispatch conversation. We ask for, and confirm back, the following.
- Air duty: pressure and flow at the rig, for example 250–300 psig (17.2–20.7 bar) at 800–1,200 cfm, with the hammer size, bit diameter and expected depth that justify it.
- Site location and access: village or plot location, approach road condition, gates, overhead lines, turning space and whether a tractor, truck or crane is needed for the last stretch.
- Rig details: rig make or type, whether the compressor is truck-mounted with the rig or a separate towed or skid unit, and the inlet connection on the rig manifold.
- Hoses and connections: main air hose size and length, claw or threaded couplings, safety whip checks and any booster or manifold in the line.
- Fuel and lubricants: who supplies diesel, where it is stored, and whether lubricating oil for the hammer is on site.
- People: the customer’s contact at site, the person who will accept the machine, and who operates it on each shift.
- Dates and duration: planned start, expected number of holes or weeks, and whether night drilling is planned.
We then confirm the actual machine being sent: make, model, serial number, rated pressure and flow, transport dimensions and weight. A customer should never be surprised by what arrives.
Transport and placement at the rig
Borewell compressors in the 600–1,500 cfm range at 200–400 psig (13.8–27.6 bar) are heavy, high-value machines. They are either mounted on the rig truck or moved as separate towed or skid-mounted units. Each needs a different plan.
| Arrangement | Typical use | What to check before moving | Placement points at site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Truck-mounted with the rig | Contractor rigs moving hole to hole | Mounting bolts, drive coupling or PTO, hose routing on the deck, axle loads | Level standing, rig and compressor stable on firm ground, exhaust away from crew |
| Separate towed portable | Hire, second compressor, booster duty | Towbar, tyres, brakes, lights, lifting eye, canopy latches | Upwind of the drilling dust, clear cooling air, short hose run |
| Skid unit on a lorry | High-pressure special units, long-term projects | Lifting points, crane capacity, lashing, route clearance | Compacted base or timber mats, access for service and refuelling |
At the plot, the compressor should stand level on firm, drained ground, close enough to keep the hose run short but outside the immediate splash and cuttings zone. Cooling air must reach the cooler freely; in summer, a compressor placed against a wall or in the lee of the rig recirculates hot air and trips on high discharge temperature. Keep the engine exhaust pointing away from the crew and from any dry vegetation.
Check the ground again after rain. A machine that was stable on day one can sink on one side in black-cotton soil, which strains the hose connections and the chassis.
Pre-start checks before the first run
Before the compressor is started at site, the delivering technician and the customer’s representative should walk round the machine together. A simple checklist keeps this consistent.
- Identity: confirm make, model and serial against the dispatch note, and record the hour meter reading.
- Visual condition: canopy, panels, tyres, lights, hose reel and any transport damage. Photograph all four sides.
- Fluids: engine oil, coolant level, compressor oil in the separator tank, fuel level, and no visible leaks under the machine.
- Air intake: engine and compressor air filters fitted and clean, restriction indicators reset, pre-cleaner clear of dust.
- Belts, guards and battery: guards in place, battery terminals tight, emergency stop accessible.
- Safety devices: pressure relief valve present and not tampered with; shutdowns for high discharge temperature, low engine oil pressure and high coolant temperature confirmed as fitted.
- Hoses and couplings: correct rating for the working pressure, no cuts or bulges, whip checks and safety pins fitted on every joint.
- Service valve: closed before start, with the hose secured.
Only when these are complete and recorded should the machine be started and warmed up at no load according to its instructions.
How do you test a borewell compressor at site?
A functional start is not the same as accepting the duty. Distinguish two stages.
Functional check
Start, warm up, and confirm that the controller, gauges and alarms work, that the machine builds pressure to its unload set point, unloads and reloads smoothly, and that there are no air, oil or fuel leaks. Check that the regulation system responds when the service valve is opened gradually.
Loaded duty check
The real test is under drilling-type load. With the hammer on the bottom of a starter hole, or with a suitable test arrangement agreed in advance, the compressor should hold the agreed working pressure at the rig while delivering the flow the hammer needs. Record:
- discharge pressure at the compressor and, if possible, pressure at the rig manifold;
- engine speed at full load;
- discharge temperature after stabilising, typically about 75–95 °C for an oil-injected screw, and the ambient temperature at the time;
- any alarms, warnings or unusual noise or vibration;
- the hammer, bit size and depth at which the check was done.
Write down the actual conditions. A check done at 30 °C in the morning with a shallow hole does not prove performance at 45 °C in the afternoon at depth, so note what was and was not tested. If the pressure drop between the compressor and the rig is large, look at hose size, length and fittings before blaming the compressor.
Documentation that should travel with the machine
A short, complete paper trail prevents most disputes. For every mobilisation we recommend keeping:
| Document | Purpose | Who keeps it |
|---|---|---|
| Dispatch note with serial and hours | Identifies the exact asset sent | Both parties |
| Supplied-items list (hoses, couplings, whip checks, tools, manuals) | Basis for the return check | Both parties |
| Condition photographs | Shows state on arrival | Both parties |
| Site acceptance record with test readings | Confirms duty was demonstrated | Customer and supplier |
| Daily log sheet (hours, pressure, temperature, fuel, remarks) | Evidence for service and fault finding | Operator, shared weekly |
| Service schedule and contact route | Planned servicing and breakdown reporting | Site supervisor |
If anything material is missing or faulty on arrival, record it on the acceptance sheet with the action agreed. Do not sign it off on the assumption that the next shift will sort it out.
Operator handover: who runs the machine?
The person running the compressor must be named and briefed on the machine actually delivered. Experience with another model helps, but control panels, start-up sequences, regulation and shutdown logic differ between brands and generations. A proper handover covers:
- start-up and warm-up, loading and unloading, and correct shutdown with a cool-down period;
- daily checks: oil levels, coolant, fuel, air filter indicators, drain points and leaks;
- reading the gauges and recognising abnormal pressure, temperature or engine behaviour;
- what each alarm or shutdown means and what the operator may and may not reset;
- hose safety: never disconnecting a pressurised line, and checking whip checks before every shift;
- how to fill the daily log and whom to call when something changes.
Agree the limits of the operator’s role. Routine checks and topping up are normally the operator’s job; opening the airend, adjusting the regulation or bypassing a shutdown is not.
Service and communication during the hire
Drilling compressors work hard and often round the clock. On our hire jobs, compressors are serviced every 300 running hours, with an oil change and general servicing, so the hour meter reading at acceptance sets the first service date. Agree in advance how the service visit will be arranged around the drilling programme.
Set up one clear route for reporting problems: a phone number or WhatsApp contact, the machine serial, the hour reading and a short description or photograph of the gauges. That alone saves hours of back-and-forth. Repair authorisation, parts approval and any replacement machine should be discussed case by case; we do not promise fixed response times, but a clear report gets the right engineer and parts moving faster.
Closing the job: demobilisation and return
At the end of the hire or project, repeat the walk-round. Record hours, condition, fluid levels, supplied items returned and any issues raised during the job. Compare against the acceptance record and photographs. Carry any unresolved observation into the final record rather than losing it during loading. For purchased machines, the handover pack should include the accepted duty, manuals, service schedule and parts identification details so that future spares can be matched to the machine.
How Reddy Compressors helps
For borewell rig owners we supply all types, all brands and all models of borewell compressors: new sales, used and refurbished machines, rentals, service and spare parts.
Reddy Compressors sells, rents and services borewell and DTH compressors as an independent multi-brand specialist, working with machines from ELGi, Atlas Copco, Ingersoll Rand, KAESER, Chicago Pneumatic and others. We are not an authorised dealer of any brand. We have tie-ups with all major and reputed brands. From our office at Tarnaka, Secunderabad, our service team covers the whole of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, and we supply hire machines, new compressors and spares across India.
- Hire: our own fleet of diesel portable and high-pressure compressors for borewell work, mobilised with the hoses and connections agreed for your rig.
- New supply: brand-new compressors for contractors and long-term projects, delivered and commissioned with a recorded acceptance.
- Site acceptance and handover: pre-start checks, loaded test, documentation and operator briefing by our engineers, where the scope includes it.
- Service during the job: planned 300-hour servicing on hire, breakdown attendance and parts identified from the machine’s nameplate.
We have more than 20 service engineers and technicians, and our team across Reddy Generators and Reddy Compressors has delivered temporary air and power packages for project sites, including erection, commissioning, transport and operators. Call +91 99590 60718 or +91 92468 88812.
What to send us
- Site location, access notes and planned start date.
- Required pressure and flow, hammer size, bit diameter and target depth.
- Rig type and whether the compressor is truck-mounted or separate.
- Hose size, length and coupling type at the rig.
- Expected duration, shift pattern and fuel arrangement.
- Name and phone of the person accepting the machine at site.
Frequently asked questions
What checks should I do when a hired borewell compressor arrives?
Check that the serial number and hour reading match the dispatch note, photograph the machine on all sides, and inspect fluid levels, filters, hoses, couplings and safety pins. Confirm the relief valve and the shutdowns for high discharge temperature, low oil pressure and high coolant temperature are fitted. Then run a functional check and a loaded test at the rig, and record the readings before signing acceptance.
How do I know the compressor is giving the pressure my hammer needs?
Run the compressor under real drilling load and read the pressure at the compressor and at the rig manifold while the hammer is working. The working pressure should hold at the agreed figure, such as 250 psig (17.2 bar), without the engine labouring or the discharge temperature climbing. A large drop between compressor and rig usually points to undersized hoses or restrictive fittings.
Who is responsible for operating a rented drilling compressor?
This depends on the hire agreement. Often the customer’s rig crew operates the machine after a handover briefing, while the supplier handles servicing and repairs. Some jobs include a supplier operator. Whatever the arrangement, name the operator for each shift, agree what they may do, such as daily checks and topping up, and what they must not do, such as bypassing a shutdown.
How often is a borewell compressor serviced during hire?
On our hire jobs we service compressors every 300 running hours, including an oil change and general servicing. Because drilling compressors often run long shifts, that interval can arrive within a few weeks, so the hour reading at acceptance should be used to plan the first visit around the drilling programme. In dusty sites, air filters may need cleaning or changing more often.
Where should the compressor be placed at the borewell site?
Place it on level, firm, drained ground, upwind of the drilling dust and outside the splash zone, with the hose run kept as short as practical. Leave clear space around the cooler so hot air is not drawn back in, especially in summer. Point the exhaust away from the crew and dry vegetation, and re-check the ground after rain.
What documents should I keep for a compressor on hire?
Keep the dispatch note with serial and hours, a list of supplied items such as hoses and couplings, arrival photographs, the signed site acceptance record with test readings, and daily log sheets. These make servicing easier, help diagnose faults quickly and give both sides a clear reference when the machine is inspected on return.
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Technical content reviewed by D. Srinivas Reddy, Managing Partner and service engineer, Reddy Compressors. Last updated 17 October 2026. How our engineering content is reviewed.