WorldWide Drilling Resource

Environmental Monitoring by Thomas Kwader, Ph.D., P.G. Dealing with Regulators - Lessons from Mistakes Learned My first “career” job as a geologist was in well permitting, in- spection, and compliance with an agency of the State of Florida, 40 years ago. We were responsible for initiating a program of licensing water well drilling contractors and issuing well permits. It was a difficult time for drilling businesses and regulators because drill crews previously never had to abide by well construction rules or obtain well permits. The permit had to be obtained ahead of time so we could come watch the construction of the well, if we chose to do so. Rotary drilled wells had to have the annulus fully grouted, not just the bottom five feet as previously allowed. Just as you would expect, we had a wide range of “willingness to comply”. The “good, conscientious” drilling professionals knew of the importance of sealing the casing to prevent cross contami- nation and surface runoff into the well. Others did not have the proper equipment to grout the wells and did everything imaginable to get away without fully grouting them. We quickly learned who was following the rules and who was not. The ones who chose not to follow the new rules particularly did not like to see me arrive on-site because I ran the borehole geophysical logging equipment. Although my primary job was to collect geologic and lithostratagraphic information to map the geology and hydrogeology of a 16-county area, I also had geophysical logs which could deter- mine if there was cement grout behind the well casings - all the way to total depth. What I learned about drill crews and working with people, especially being in an enforcement position, was to treat everyone equally, treat them with respect, and don’t talk down or berate them. I would try to explain why we need to have environmental rules to protect our groundwater resources - because if we contaminate our groundwater, none of us will be drilling wells. In the end, even though the rules made wells more expensive, all the drilling businesses were able to raise their prices and the playing field was leveled for all who were competing for new wells. Tom Tom Kwader may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com 4< * '3* "& > > > > ,'< ? /2+ '6* /3+6 /3+6 ')1/3- " " !8=2+ /7843 4* 4* ')1/3- !+8 5)7 !8'3*'6* $'2:+ 9((+6 6':+2 $'2:+ 9((+6 !+'87 9((+6 $'2:+ 37+687 #6+8.'3+ $'2:+ 37+687 $'2:+ !56/3- ! ! $'2:+ 4:+6 '71+8 ? !;/:+2 ')1/3- ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 6/)+7 !9(0+)8 "4 .'3-+ %/8.498 48/)+ ! < < < < < Foundations by: Pile Dynamics, Inc. Quality Control of Drilled Shafts August 10 ~ ONLINE WEBINAR phone: 216-831-6131 www.pile.com Gas & Oil by: Colorado School of Mines Master Class on Social Performance in the Mining and Oil & Gas Sectors August 8-10 ~ Golden, CO phone: 303-279-5563 www.csmspace.com Irrigation by: Rain Bird Academy Training August 1-5 ~ Chicago, IL August 15-19 ~ Walnut, CA phone: 800-498-1942 www.rainbirdservices.com Mining by: Colorado School of Mines Master Class on Social Performance in the Mining and Oil & Gas Sectors August 8-10 ~ Golden, CO phone: 303-279-5563 www.csmspace.com Pipe by: McElroy University Fusion Inspector Training & Qualification August 9-11 ~ Tulsa, OK Polypropylene Socket & Outlet Fusion Operator Qualification August 10-11 ~ Tulsa, OK Polypropylene Medium Diameter Fusion Operator Qualification August 11-12 ~ Tulsa, OK phone: 918-836-8611 www.mcelroy.com Education Connection 53 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JULY 2016