WorldWide Drilling Resource

45 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® JULY 2017 A Different Look at Groundwater Adapted from a Press Release by Unlocking the Potential of Groundwater for the Poor Groundwater is essential to everyday life. It is water stored beneath the earth’s surface in soil pore spaces and within the fractures of rock formations. It provides drinking and irrigation necessities for billions of people around the world. Though groundwater is common, it is not overly thought about in regards to its origins or age. A study led by Dr. Scott Jasechko of the University of Calgary and coauthored by an international team of researchers dated groundwater from over 6000 wells around the globe. By measuring the amount of radioactive carbon in the water, the team was able to determine the age of the groundwater. They discovered the majority of the earth’s groundwater found in deep wells is likely fossil groundwater, accumulated from rain and snow falling more than 12,000 years ago. The team determined fossil groundwater ac- counts for 42-85% of total fresh, unfrozen water in the upper part of the earth’s crust. The scientific community historically believed fossil groundwater to be safe from mod- ern contamination, but the study has proved otherwise. When deeps wells are drilled, they will mostly pump fossil groundwater, but many still contain some recent rain and snowmelt. The more recent origins of some of this water makes the whole deposit more susceptible to human contamination. Rain and snow after the 1950s contains tritium, a radioactive isotope spread around the globe as a result of thermonuclear bomb testing. Traces of tritium has been found in deep well waters, indicating recent rain and snowmelt can mix with deep fossil groundwater, resulting in potentially contaminated ancient water. Researchers believe this discovery has important ramifications, which should influence the way humans use groundwater in the future. “Our results reveal not only current use of fossil groundwater, but also the potential risks to water quality associated with the use of deep wells. Indeed, we need to better understand how the construction and pumping of deep wells themselves may connect fossil groundwater to the present-day water cycle,” they concluded. Editor’s Note: In between our print issues, the WWDR Team prepares an electronic newsletter called E-News Flash . Based on readership, this was the most popular E-News Flash article of the month. Get in on the action and subscribe today at : www.worldwidedrillingresource.com Electronic datalogger used for groundwater monitoring, courtesy of SonoranDesertNPS. New Global Training Available Adapted from Information by Boart Longyear ™ Boart Longyear recently launched its new global training program for drilling supervisors, drill operators, drilling assistants, mechanics, welders, manufacturing workers, and other front-line employees. The training includes classroom and on-the-job training and is based on the Australian Resources and Infrastructure Industry training requirements; the United States Mine Safety and Health Administration standards; and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety standards. The customized training is specific to Boart Longyear rigs, equipment, and tool- ing. Also included is health and safety guidance docu- ments, standard work procedures, online training, and detailed assessments for certification of competency. “Safety is our top priority, and we are excited to launch our new training program globally,” said Vice President of Environment, Health, Safety and Training, James Chalmers. “The training incorporates Boart Longyear standards and industry best practices and uses a com- bination of techniques to ensure understanding and comprehension. This training program is another demonstration of Boart Longyear’s commitment to our employees, customers, and the communities in which we operate.” The drilling supervisor training course gives essential coaching and tools to help supervisors navigate and succeed in their positions. Supervisors lead over 75% of the workforce within Boart Longyear, and their influence is critical to employees’ and clients’ safety and success. Using workbook exercises, interactive activities, real-life situational examples, and guided dis- cussions, each supervisor is given an opportunity to grow from both an operational and safety perspective. The training will be tracked and reportable online through the company’s learning management system. The system tracks individual training and competencies and includes more than 20 online training modules on topics such as Hazard and Risk Awareness , Field Level Risk Assessment , Incident Reporting and Investigation , and Distracted Driving .