NQ drill rods
NQ wireline drill rods in 1.5 m and 3 m lengths.
Drill rods carry rotation and load from the rig to the bit and let the inner tube be retrieved through them. NQ rods match NQ bits and core barrels.
What makes a wireline rod different
Unlike ordinary drill pipe, a wireline rod has a smooth bore of even diameter. The inner tube and overshot must travel the full length of the string without catching anywhere, so the bore does not narrow at the joints and the threads are cut within the rod wall itself.
Length and thread
NQ rods come in 1.5 m and 3 m lengths. Short rods suit small and portable rigs and collaring a hole; long rods suit deep holes, with fewer joints and faster tripping. Threads follow the NQ standard. Before mixing rods from different makers in one string, check that the threads are compatible.
Depth limit
How deep rods can work is set by the steel grade, heat treatment, wall thickness and thread design. String weight and thread load rise with depth, so deep holes call for heat-treated rods with reinforced threads.
How many rods you need
The count is the hole depth divided by the rod length, plus a margin. For a 300 m hole, for example, you need 100 rods of 3 m and a 5–10% reserve for damaged ones. If several rigs work at once, each needs its own set.
Care
- Apply thread compound to every joint and keep threads clean.
- Make up rods to the rated torque.
- Fit thread protectors for transport.
- Take bent rods and rods with damaged threads out of the string: they obstruct the inner tube and risk a parted string.
When you get in touch, give us your target depth, the lengths you need, the rig model and the brand of rods you use now. We will work out quantity and lengths.