Rotary drilling uses a sharp, rotating drill bit to dig down through the Earth’s crust. Much like a common hand-held drill, the spinning of the drill bit allows for penetration of even the hardest rock. The idea of using a rotary drill bit is not new. 

While the concept for rotary drilling – using a sharp, spinning drill bit to delve into rock – is quite simple, the actual mechanics of modern rigs are complicated. In addition, technology advances so rapidly that new innovations are being introduced constantly. The basic rotary drilling system consists of four groups of components. The prime movers, hoisting equipment, rotating equipment, and circulating equipment all combine to make rotary drilling possible.