Which components make up a cable tool drill string?

The correct answer includes the socket, jars, stem, and drill bit as the essential components of a cable tool drill string. In this type of drilling system, the drill bit is attached to the end of a long cable, known as the drill stem, which suspends and conveys the weight of the drill bit while providing a means for rotation. The socket is the connection point that secures the drill bit to the stem. Jars are an important feature in cable tool drilling; they provide a mechanism that allows sudden impact to assist in breaking through hard formations and can help disengage stuck drill bits by delivering a sudden force.

This selection specifically highlights the main components needed for the mechanical process of drilling in a cable tool system, focusing on how each part interacts during the drilling operation. Other options incorporate components that are not typically part of the cable tool drilling assembly. For instance, a mud pump is used primarily in rotary drilling methods instead of cable tool systems, and casing pertains to the structure used to line boreholes but does not fit into the definition of the drill string itself.