The first string of pipe run in and cemented in the borehole with routine oil industry procedure. Its purpose is to secure formations near the surface which have a tendency to cave in. It also serves to seal off surface fresh water to keep it from being polluted by drilling mud, and to provide an anchoring point for blowout preventers and for hanger for further casing strings.
When making hole to set surface casing in extremely soft formations, only one bit may be needed, and occasionally, that bit may be used for several wells.