WorldWide Drilling Resource

Tales from the Field by Jeremy C. Wire Geoconsultants, Inc. The Big Wheel Sometimes we see a situation slowly unfolding before our eyes, possibly leading to a tragedy in the case of an accident, or at least an unwelcome outcome, and there is really nothing we can do to prevent it. In this instance, the setting was a large agricultural parcel under cultivation, and the means of irrigation was one of those circular pattern pivot sprinklers with very big wheels spaced at intervals along its radius assembly, including a large-diameter wheel on the end. Our task was to survey a potential well location on the property. When we arrived, the sprinkler was operating, and since our work took us to the opposite side of the field from that being irrigated, we figured we had enough time to do our work before the sprinkler assembly came around. There was no one else in sight, but we noticed a mini-sized pickup truck parked at the edge of the irrigated area. The pickup was a type which was popular back in the day when this incident happened. We assumed it belonged to a farmhand check- ing something elsewhere on this large property, and the truck would eventually be moved to another location. Several hours passed by and being absorbed in our work, we did not pay much attention to anything happening around us. Suddenly, we looked up and noticed across the field that the sprinkler assembly was almost upon the truck, with the outside wheel moving inexorably toward it. What could we do? Apparently, there was no one around to turn off the sprin- kler. The farmhand was not anywhere to be seen, and we could only stand at a distance, transfixed, as the wheel moved closer and closer to the truck. Then, from what we could see, it first crushed a fend- er, moving steadily onward, then raked the side of the truck like a slow-moving train. About thi s t ime, the farmhand appeared from nowhere, and we al l rushed over to the scene to inspect the damage. Obviously, the side of the truck was heavi ly damaged, but the truck luckily was not demolished. We won- dered what the insurance agent review- ing the claim for this accident would think . . . all this damage caused by a big wheel? In this case, possibly not very believable, but indeed it was to those of us witnessing this unfortunate event that day as it unfolded in slow motion. Jeremy michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 37 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2018 WTR The World of Minerraallss will return next month with Garnet!