NGWA Cable Tool Drilling Certification
Exam (Exam B) Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
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1. What is the primary purpose of cable tool drilling?
A. Horizontal tunneling
B. Creating shallow trenches
C. Drilling water wells using percussion action
D. Installing pipelines
Answer: C
Cable tool drilling uses repeated lifting and dropping of tools to break
formation material.
2. Which component delivers the percussive force in cable tool
drilling?
A. Drill stem
B. Bit
C. Cable
D. Walking beam
,Answer: D
The walking beam provides the up-and-down motion that creates
impact.
3. The drilling line in cable tool operations is typically made of:
A. Nylon rope
B. Steel wire rope
C. Chain
D. Synthetic fiber
Answer: B
Steel wire rope provides the required strength and durability.
4. What is the main function of the drill bit?
A. Remove cuttings
B. Break formation material
C. Stabilize the borehole
D. Measure depth
Answer: B
The bit fractures rock and soil through impact.
5. Which tool is used to remove cuttings from the borehole?
A. Sand pump (bailer)
B. Drill stem
C. Jar
D. Spudding bit
,Answer: A
The sand pump or bailer lifts loosened material from the hole.
6. The jars in a cable tool string are used to:
A. Add weight
B. Provide shock absorption and impact release
C. Measure borehole diameter
D. Mix drilling fluid
Answer: B
Jars allow sudden upward or downward impact to free stuck tools.
7. The drill stem primarily provides:
A. Rotation
B. Fluid circulation
C. Weight to the bit
D. Borehole lining
Answer: C
The drill stem adds mass to increase impact force.
8. What does “spudding” refer to?
A. Cleaning the borehole
B. Starting the borehole at shallow depth
C. Installing casing
D. Measuring static water level
, Answer: B
Spudding is the initial stage of drilling to start the hole.
9. Which formation is most suitable for cable tool drilling?
A. Unconsolidated sands only
B. Hard rock only
C. Mixed formations including boulders
D. Offshore sediments
Answer: C
Cable tool drilling performs well in mixed and difficult formations.
10. What is the main advantage of cable tool drilling compared
to rotary drilling?
A. Faster penetration rates
B. Lower equipment cost and simplicity
C. Requires less labor
D. Better for deep offshore wells
Answer: B
Cable tool rigs are simpler and generally less expensive.
11. The typical motion of a cable tool rig is:
A. Continuous rotation
B. Side-to-side vibration
C. Up-and-down percussion
D. Circular oscillation
Exam (Exam B) Questions And Correct
Answers (Verified Answers) Plus
Rationales 2026 Q&A | Instant
Download Pdf
1. What is the primary purpose of cable tool drilling?
A. Horizontal tunneling
B. Creating shallow trenches
C. Drilling water wells using percussion action
D. Installing pipelines
Answer: C
Cable tool drilling uses repeated lifting and dropping of tools to break
formation material.
2. Which component delivers the percussive force in cable tool
drilling?
A. Drill stem
B. Bit
C. Cable
D. Walking beam
,Answer: D
The walking beam provides the up-and-down motion that creates
impact.
3. The drilling line in cable tool operations is typically made of:
A. Nylon rope
B. Steel wire rope
C. Chain
D. Synthetic fiber
Answer: B
Steel wire rope provides the required strength and durability.
4. What is the main function of the drill bit?
A. Remove cuttings
B. Break formation material
C. Stabilize the borehole
D. Measure depth
Answer: B
The bit fractures rock and soil through impact.
5. Which tool is used to remove cuttings from the borehole?
A. Sand pump (bailer)
B. Drill stem
C. Jar
D. Spudding bit
,Answer: A
The sand pump or bailer lifts loosened material from the hole.
6. The jars in a cable tool string are used to:
A. Add weight
B. Provide shock absorption and impact release
C. Measure borehole diameter
D. Mix drilling fluid
Answer: B
Jars allow sudden upward or downward impact to free stuck tools.
7. The drill stem primarily provides:
A. Rotation
B. Fluid circulation
C. Weight to the bit
D. Borehole lining
Answer: C
The drill stem adds mass to increase impact force.
8. What does “spudding” refer to?
A. Cleaning the borehole
B. Starting the borehole at shallow depth
C. Installing casing
D. Measuring static water level
, Answer: B
Spudding is the initial stage of drilling to start the hole.
9. Which formation is most suitable for cable tool drilling?
A. Unconsolidated sands only
B. Hard rock only
C. Mixed formations including boulders
D. Offshore sediments
Answer: C
Cable tool drilling performs well in mixed and difficult formations.
10. What is the main advantage of cable tool drilling compared
to rotary drilling?
A. Faster penetration rates
B. Lower equipment cost and simplicity
C. Requires less labor
D. Better for deep offshore wells
Answer: B
Cable tool rigs are simpler and generally less expensive.
11. The typical motion of a cable tool rig is:
A. Continuous rotation
B. Side-to-side vibration
C. Up-and-down percussion
D. Circular oscillation
