WorldWide Drilling Resource

44 OCTOBER 2018 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Oil/Water Exploration by Harold White Question: Is groundwater becoming scarce? Do you really know it is, or is this asked for some reason? Whatever the reason, maybe you want to know. So let’s think about it. Questions need to be asked. So we know what we are talking about, what is groundwater? If groundwater is rainwater from the rain cycle saturating down into the ground at an average of three to eight feet per year and you are in an area that gets a lot of rain, then the answer would be no. If you are in an area like a desert where it does not rain much, then the answer would be the ground- water is average to the area; or no if you are in a desert area experiencing the tenth year in a drought with no rain, then how far down would the groundwater be if the saturation movement was straight downward at eight feet per year? - 80 feet down. So if there is a lake at 100 feet you are pumping out of, your pump would not even detect much of a difference in its pumping if there were no other facts to deal with. There is osmosis. I was using the idea of an underground lake, which is one common idea of how fluids work in geologic traps, faults, domes, fractures, aquifers. The one word I could use which makes sense is aquifers, since we are writing about water aquifers, creeks, and rivers underground. This is what I do. I detect underground creeks and rivers. I have never found an underground lake, or well pumping from an underground lake. One question I have been asked is: “What is the reserve that we read about when we read ‘Protect the water reserve. Stop using so much water.’ and it talks about irrigation and other waters being used.” I tell them I don’t think there is a reserve. It’s the rain cycle. I ask other drilling contractors and they say the reserve is the ocean. Harold Harold White may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com ENV Technology Increases Safety Around Heavy Equipment Adapted from Information from Caterpillar ® Provide your ground personnel with an additional layer of protection when standing or working around heavy equipment with Cat Detect for Personnel. This system uses a passive radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to alert equipment operators of potential hazards in the area. The RFID is placed within safety vests, hard hats, and rigid tags while an ultra high-frequency (UHF) antenna is installed on the equipment to communicate with the RFID tags. The system also uses a wireless link in-cab alarm and external speaker. Not only can Cat Detect protect your workers, it can also help protect your equipment. The rigid tags can be placed on any fixed object such as generators, light poles, pickup trucks, etc. to prevent equipment from strik- ing objects. The antenna’s UHF signal extends 25-30 feet out and 10-12 feet side to side / top to bottom and can detect through fog. The system can be activated upon ignition or when equipment is operated in reverse only. The in-cab alarm works instantly to alert operators if a tagged person, machine, or fixed object is within an unsafe area behind the equipment. The loud external alarm puts out 97dB (decibels) of sound - very dis- tinct from a backup alarm. This alerts ground personnel if they are within the detection zone. Also, the red zone space can be adjusted to fit each particular work condition. All workers deserve a safe work environment. Make sure you are taking advantage of the latest technology to ensure your crew’s safety.