WorldWide Drilling Resource

From the Bentonite Mines to the Drilling Fields Adapted from Information by Wyo-Ben, Inc. Wyo-Ben, Inc. traces its roots back to 1951, when an attorney named Rockwood Brown of Billings, Montana, acquired bentonite reserves in the Big Horn Basin area of Greybull, Wyoming. A partnership was formed consisting of Rockwood's four children and R.E. Dansby operating under the name of Wyo-Ben Products Co. Rockwood’s eldest son, Keith was chosen to give the new partnership a direction, and he was the driving force behind Wyo-Ben from its inception until the mid-1980s. Harry Funk was the third employee the company hired. He directed sales in the oil and gas wholesale business and worked with the company for 55 years. His work ethic was amazing, he’d usually be the first one to the office and have coffee going when everyone came in. Sadly, he passed away in 2012, but his contributions certainly played an instrumental role in the success of the company. Early on, drilling and cementing bentonite for the oilfields consumed all production through the 1950s. Taconite (iron ore pelletizing, or IOP) began in the 1960s, and quickly became a new large-scale consumer. This led to the construction of the company’s second bentonite plant in Lovell. At that time, demand in the oil and gas industry required additional products and local distribution, spawning warehouse operations from Canada’s Northwest Territories to the Gulf of Mexico. By 1981, Wyo-Ben was selling and servicing a full line of drilling fluids through 45 warehouses in the western U.S. and Canada. Then came 1982, and the demise of the oil and gas industry which forced the company to diversify. As luck would have it, at about the same time the Wyoming Oil & Gas Commission reached out to the company asking for a better product to plug seismic holes. This ultimately brought the company into the small drill business. Bob Stichman led the company forward through diversification. To see how one product, bentonite chips, changed the small drill industry is truly amazing. Beginning in the mid- to late-80s, the company began developing a strong distributor network throughout the small drill industry targeting the water well, environmental, seismic, mining, and mineral industries. In the 1990s another large-scale consumer came on the scene in the form of clumping cat litter. At the same time, the ground source heat pump market was starting to take off and the small HDD (horizontal directional drilling) industry was making its first moves, demanding new products and providing opportunities. Another sustained uptick in the oil and gas industry allowed the company to reopen a shutdown plant in Thermopolis, Wyoming, which was originally constructed in late the 1970s. With the frequent ups and downs of the oil and gas industry, Wyo-Ben’s diversification in other drilling fields has been a key factor to the company’s success. In addition to providing support to the industry, the company also hosts a mud school to train attendees on the basics of drilling fluid technology. The class covers how drilling mud can contribute to a smooth drilling operation, clay chemistry, fluid dynamics, polymer usage, as well as grouting and hole abandonment. Wyo-Ben values the opinions of their customers and listens to what they have to say about what they would like to see in new products. Disposal of spent fluids continue to be a growing concern for customers, which is one of the reasons the company introduced two new products for solidifi- cation, and they are currently working on separation technology. Recently, the com- pany acquired a manufacturing company which makes solids separation equipment. The company has received numerous awards for outstanding contributions to the drilling industry and protecting the environ- ment, as well as 17 safety awards. It was even named a Distinguished Partner for the National Ground Water Association in 2004, 2005, 2007, and 2014. Today, under the leadership of Keith’s sons, David president and CEO; Richard vice president; and Rockwood, Jr. VP - legal counsel; combined with the support of the dedicated, knowledgeable, and hardwork- ing employees, the company is set for the future. Currently, they are looking for new applications for bentonite to expand into even more markets. 15 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® SEPTEMBER 2017 Maintaining a family-owned mining com- pany headed by the third generation can be a challenge in today's marketplace, but Wyo-Ben makes it happen.