WorldWide Drilling Resource

Another Chapter in the Drilling Industry by John Christ J.C.’s Drilling Consultant A few months ago, I wrote an article [ WWDR February 2016, page 10] about the drilling industry taking care of its own. Well, I have another chapter to add. It was a day in May 2001, when an industry got together to police themselves. There were horizontal directional drilling (HDD) professionals, manufacturers, and suppliers in attendance. The result of the gathering was the beginning of the Ohio Horizontal Directional Drilling Association. This was the first state association for horizontal directional drilling in the nation. I was one of many who attended the meet- ing. I, as well as others, put in some major time. While we were putting the legal pa- perwork for the association together, the city of Columbus, Ohio, shut down all horizontal directional drilling. The president of the association and a few others went to the city to see what could be done. A group known as the North America Society for Trenchless Technology put to- gether a document called HDD Good Practices Guidelines . To this day it is a living document, which means as new or improved methods come forward, the document would evolve to match it. The city of Columbus agreed it was a reasonable answer to the problem. As far as I know, you have to follow those guidelines to drill there. The association educated itself by doing training sessions four times a year. After a number of years and reaching out to neigh- boring states and other trenchless disciplines, a decision was made to become a regional association. The new association is Great Lakes Trenchless Association. It has been a couple years since I have been involved. Like what was brought out previously, in the drilling industry you create relationships. I have kept in touch with some and, vice versa, some have kept in touch with me. So fast forward to recent months, and a past president of the association and I have been in touch and we began discussing a nondrilling issue. It just happened to be the time of year their training sessions and gala was going on. As most who know me, and especially those who know me well, it has been a rough time lately for me and my family. You know how it goes, “stuff happens”. Well, in talking, the subject came around and this friend wanted to help and thought it would be good to talk to others. No one likes to accept handouts or charity, especially when you are supposed to be the breadwinner for your family, so I was apprehensive. He went ahead and, to my amazement, just in the nick of time a gift from heaven was received - which in turn helped save our home. My wife’s comment as she brought the delivery in to me, “You really have some good friends.” Now, this is the second time I have heard this in recent weeks. Today, as I was sending this article into my special friends at WorldWide Drilling Resource ® , I found we had more good news to share. Because of medical situations, which have a way to go yet, I have not been and will be unable to work for awhile. Today I received notice my disability had been approved. Another gift received just in the nick of time. I just hope soon I will be able to find a new job in the industry so I can feel I can make a difference and give back to the industry I love so much ~ drilling. The statements and comments in this article are based on information and references believed to be true and fac- tual. If you have any questions or com- ments, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . John John Christ may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com & $ & & !' & "$!(! & ! % "$ & $ ( & % & #' % % ) & +!' ) $ ( ! !$,% ( %& *" $ % & !& ( & ! % % & $% " %" $ !( $ "$ % & & ! % !' &$ % " '% ) " +!'$ ' " !+ % &!& + 35 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® MAY 2016