Tape Winch, Drilling Progress Measurement and Hole Depth Measurement

Winch () has a load bearing tape () to advance into a borehole (). Hole depth can be determined by subtracting a sensed height () above ground surface () from total depth () measured. Can include a height above ground sensor () and a tape distance measurer (). Depth of water or watery mud or muddy water () can be sensed, such as by a pressure sensor () on a weight or in a sensor device at or near the tape leading end. A heater () can warm the tape. A cover or housing () can be provided for the winch or spool. The tape can include wires or fibre optics () embedded in or applied to a surface of the tape () and/or apertures or embedded or surface applied markers/indicators () along a length thereof e.g. for reading by an optical or magnetic sensor.