Drilling for Uranium in Wyoming II

DRILL RIG
 These drill rig photographs were taken in 1991 during a drilling project on Green Mountain near Jeffrey City, Wyoming. The picture to the left shows the rig set up in the field. Prior to drilling, an area for the rig (the drilling pad) is prepared. The rig is leveled on this pad and a mud put dug for the rig unless it is a shallow hole in which case a portable mud pit sometimes called a "banjo" may be used. When drilling activities are completed the drilling pad (or location) is reclaimed and reseeded. The reclamation process includes backfilling the mud pit.
This closeup of the rig to the right was also taken on Green Mountain in 1991. This photograph shows the rig with the rotary table retracted and the drill rod being pulled out of the hole with the sand line. This is called tripping the pipe.
DRILL RIG
These photographs are courtesy of Kennecott Uranium Company.