The invention discloses a forward and reverse circulation air down-the-hole hammer drilling process which comprises the following steps: a forward circulation down-the-hole hammer construction step: drilling by using a forward circulation down-the-hole hammer, wherein the average
time efficiency is 9 meters per hour with the shallow average
time efficiency of 100 meters, the displacement of an
air compressor in the process is 70 m < 3 >, and the
system pressure is 2 MPa; the aging is quickly reduced along with the increase of the well depth, and the displacement of the required
compressed air and the
system pressure are gradually increased; the method further comprises a reverse circulation down-the-hole hammer construction step, a positive circulation down-the-hole hammer is used for drilling, the average shallow
time efficiency of 200 meters is 8.5 meters per hour, the displacement of an
air compressor in the process is 70 m < 3 > per hour, and the
system pressure is 2 MPa; and after meeting underground water, the time efficiency is suddenly reduced, and the
discharge capacity of
compressed air and the
system pressure are rapidly increased. According to the invention, the successful application of the air drilling well with the
diameter of more than phi 400mm in thick limestone, especially in underground water-rich stratums, before this, in the domestic air drilling practice, the drilling depth of the
caliber in the similar stratums is not more than 100m.