Wing King
DKI’s Wing King casing advancement system installs casing while drilling through loose overburden and into bedrock, whether it’s sandstone, conglomerate or granite. The wing geometry and button layout are optimized to withstand varied geology, and strategically placed blow holes keep the wings mobile so they retract cleanly once the job is done.
Send us your casing O.D. and I.D. and our sales team will match the right Wing King size to your job.
Casing diameter range
5½"–36"
140–914 mm
Max wall thickness
0.42"–1.31"
10.5 mm (WK140) to 33.3 mm (WK914)
Casing type
Permanent / retrievable
With shoe or shoeless
Shank support
IR, QL, SD and more
Other shanks on request
How Wing King works
1
START WITH WINGS EXTENDED
Drilling begins with the pilot inside the casing, protruding out the bottom with the wings extended.
2
CUT A HOLE WIDER THAN THE CASING
As drilling begins, the wings drill a hole larger than the casing O.D., and friction keeps the wings in the extended position.
3
PULL THE CASING DOWN-HOLE
The pilot drags the casing down-hole by striking against the casing shoe, overcoming resistance and supporting the borehole as it advances.
4
RETRACT AND LEAVE THE CASING
Once the desired depth is reached, rotate backwards (counter-clockwise) 180°, then pull up to retract the Wing King and leave the casing in place.
Drilling
Wings extended past the casing O.D.
Rotate CCW 180°
Wings fold back in
Pull up
Casing stays in the hole
Drilling through collapsing ground?
Tell us your casing size and we'll confirm the Wing King setup before your next hole caves in.
Why Wing King?
Every part of the system is built to keep casing moving, cut the cost of each hole and fit the equipment you already run.
The Wing King product line covers casing diameters of 5½”–36″ (140–914 mm) with a huge range of wall thicknesses.
Blow holes located in key areas ensure the wings can retract cleanly.
Each wing has been carefully refined, from geometry and button layout to material selection, heat and surface treatments, to give unmatched durability.
Every Wing King pilot can have the shoulder quickly machined to the exact diameter needed for different casing wall thicknesses.
IR340, QL4 and SD4 cover the most common shanks, ensuring compatibility with your existing equipment.
A small, simple casing shoe reduces cost compared to ring-style systems. Dual-rotary rigs can run shoeless for an even lower cost per hole.
The flushing design is optimized to keep air flowing up-hole rather than out into the surrounding geology, where it can compromise stability.
A simple retention mechanism makes assembly and maintenance easy.
Applications
Retrievable or permanent casing
Leave the casing in the hole, or pull it once the job is done.
FAQ
Does Wing King work with my casing pipe?
The system is built to suit industry-standard casing pipe, with an emphasis on thicker-wall options.
How does Wing King compare to a ring bit style system?
Wing King excels at
- Lowering operating costs by minimizing sacrificial components
- Large quantities of shallow to medium holes
- Being easy to customize
Ring bits excel at
- Maximum durability for deep applications
Can Wing King casing be retrieved?
Yes. The Wing King casing shoe sits flush with the casing O.D., so the casing can slide out if the pulling force is enough to overcome friction.
What types of ground conditions is the Wing King suited for?
Wing King is designed for unstable or challenging ground conditions, including loose sands, gravel, soft rock and unconsolidated formations. It is ideal for formations prone to collapse, making it versatile in complex drilling environments.
Clay is the most challenging geology, but this applies to all DTH drilling systems.
What are the benefits of using a casing advance system over traditional drilling methods?
- Prevents borehole collapse
- Quick and efficient casing installation
- Minimized environmental impact
What maintenance is required for a casing advance system?
- Periodically replace and grease the wings and retention caps (they wear faster than the pilot)
- Periodically inspect the drive shoulder for wear and grind off sharp edges
- Inspect carbides and the shank the same way as standard DTH bits
What customization is available?
- DKI can modify the pilot body’s driving shoulder to optimize it for different wall thicknesses
- Wings with different cutting diameters can be used in the same pilot for applications that need more clearance past the casing
- Fully custom wings are available on request, with extra cost and lead time
Reach out to our team at sales@drillking.com for any custom inquiries.
What shanks are available?
We generally stock inventory with IR, QL and SD style shanks, and most others are available on reques.
Can a Wing King be used with a WAI DTH water hammer?
Yes, if it is built with the appropriate WAI shank. See DKI water hammers.
Get the Wing King for your job
Technical Specifications
Select a model to view its full parts list, dimensions, exploded-view diagram, and air consumption profile.
Find your size
Pick your casing O.D. to highlight the matching Wing King models.
| DKI part number | Casing O.D. (in)(mm) | Casing wall, with shoe (in)(mm) | Casing wall, shoeless max (in)(mm) | Casing shoe I.D. (in)(mm) | Drill gauge dia. (open) (in)(mm) | Wing qty | Hammer size (in) | Weight (lb)(kg) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| WK140 | 5½140 | 0.13–0.423.2–10.5 | 0.4711.8 | 4.35110.5 | 5.98152.0 | 2 | 4 | 3516 |
| WK168 | 6⅝168 | 0.13–0.433.2–11.0 | 0.5714.5 | 5.40137.2 | 7.13181.0 | 2 | 5 | 5224 |
| WK194 | 7⅝194 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.5012.7 | 6.22157.9 | 8.27210.0 | 2 | 6 | 8137 |
| WK219 | 8⅝219 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.5012.7 | 7.18182.2 | 9.53242.0 | 3 | 6 | 11653 |
| WK244 | 9⅝244 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.7218.2 | 8.11206.0 | 10.28261.0 | 3 | 8 | 15068 |
| WK244XR | 9⅝244 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.7218.2 | 8.11206.0 | 11.61295.0 | 3 | 8 | 15068 |
| WK273 | 10¾273 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.6917.5 | 9.27235.5 | 11.42290.0 | 3 | 8 | 19589 |
| WK324 | 12¾324 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.8421.3 | 10.74272.8 | 13.78350.0 | 3 | 10 | 301137 |
| WK324XR | 12¾324 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.8421.3 | 10.74272.8 | 14.72374.0 | 3 | 10 | 321146 |
| WK356 | 14.0356 | 0.13–0.503.2–12.7 | 0.9022.9 | 12.13308.1 | 14.75374.7 | 3 | 12 | 350159 |
| WK406 | 16.0406 | 0.25–0.506.4–12.7 | 1.0326.0 | 13.82350.9 | 16.73425.0 | 3 | 12 | 615279 |
| WK406XR | 16.0406 | 0.25–0.506.4–12.7 | 1.0326.0 | 13.82350.9 | 18.11460.0 | 3 | 12 | 640291 |
| WK508 | 20.0508 | 0.25–0.636.4–15.9 | 1.1629.5 | 17.47443.7 | 20.75527.1 | 3 | 12 | 1,125511 |
| WK610 | 24.0610 | 0.25–0.756.4–19.1 | 1.2531.7 | 21.26540.0 | 24.80630.0 | 3 | 15–18 | 1,675760 |
| WK610XR | 24.0610 | 0.25–0.756.4–19.1 | 1.2531.7 | 21.26540.0 | 26.14664.0 | 3 | 15–18 | 1,705774 |
| WK762 | 30.0762 | 0.25–0.856.4–21.6 | 1.3133.4 | 27.06687.4 | 30.71780.0 | 4 | 18–24 | 2,7201,235 |
| WK914 | 36.0914 | 0.25–1.006.4–25.4 | 1.3133.3 | 33.09840.5 | 36.73933.0 | 6 | 24–30 | 4,0501,839 |
- Note: Provide casing O.D. and I.D. when ordering.
- Ask DKI sales about new or custom sizes.
- XR Extended reach wings give extra clearance beyond the casing.
Get the Wing King for your job
New and custom sizes are available. Send us your casing dimensions and we'll tell you what's possible.
