I would tell you I could drill 200’ in a day, and price it accordingly. Then the –18 would have everything frozen, stuck, or jelled. I would be walking around with a torch, extension cords, and a handful of wrenches for a couple days getting everything going. The rock would be much harder than I thought and I would eat up a couple of drill bits, make a few trips, and break some things on the way to 200’. My helper would call in sick or just not show up, which would make it take a couple more days. If I could get it done before spring thaw and not loose more than $10,000, I would be happy. But when I present a bill for the $3,000 as quoted, the owner wouldn’t want to pay because the well only makes 8 GPM and he wanted 10.
Or…
I pull up in a new million dollar drilling rig with equipment heaters and everything automated. My two 100K a year helpers jump out and guide me back to the drill spot. Before I get my hard hat on get out of the cab they have it rigged up and made 20’ of hole. While I am still doing the paperwork and getting paid by the land owner, they bounce casing at 200’, rig down, clean up, and call their wives to tell them they will be home for dinner.
Most drilling jobs will fall between these two scenarios somewhere. Some days you can do no wrong, and the next you can do no right. That’s what makes drilling so much fun.