WorldWide Drilling Resource

Tales from the Field by Jeremy C. Wire Geoconsultants, Inc. A Midnight Inconvenience Some water well drilling operations occur 24 hours a day in residential locations where every effort is required to miti- gate noise from the operation - by such means as providing special mufflers on equipment, putting up sound walls, and otherwise trying to limit some activities so they don’t occur at night. There may be cases when the only mit- igation that works, where there are serious problems with uncooperative neighbors, or when health issues may be involved, is to provide them with a two-week vacation somewhere else (not Hawaii), while critical phases of the operation proceed. One deep, large-diameter municipal well drilling project operating 24/7 took place in a mostly dense housing area, and had gone for several weeks. It turned out the noise was not particularly the problem. A local Deputy Sheriff who worked the night shift in the area would stop by the operation on his break every midnight and get some coffee that was always available from a pot in the doghouse. He would hang out for a while, watching the operation. One night he didn’t show up at the usual time, and about an hour later a man from one of the adjacent residences was seen walking toward the drill rig. It was evident even in the dim light that he had an angry face and looked very upset. There had been some periodic but mild complaints from neighbors, and when they were reminded the well was for their drinking water, they usually understood and went home. Before the man could speak, one of the crew members asked, “So you have a complaint?” He replied it was not the noise that was particularly bothering him, “It is the Deputy Sheriff, that usually stops by about midnight every night, but we never quite know when he is coming. He is scaring away my customers who come to buy drugs, and I am losing business.” With that statement, he turned around and went back to his house. We had noticed some coming and going of cars at odd hours of the night and early morning at the house, but having more important things to do, had not paid much attention to this activity. Now we knew what this nightly routine was all about. The next night, the Deputy returned as usual for his coffee break. When we reported the incident, he said, “I will arrest them for illegal drug activity if enough evidence can be provided.” Not wanting to get involved in the middle of this issue, we said, “We want to keep the peace in the neighborhood as long as we are working here, and when the job is completed, and we are gone, you can do whatever you like.” The Deputy kept stopping by for coffee until we were finished, and we thought he was not really interested in collecting “evidence” anyway until the time was right. We never saw the man again after the midnight encounter. Then there was the well drilling proj- ect next to the mobile home park, and one night . . . but we will leave that one for another “Tales”. Jeremy Jeremy Wire may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 4< /*2'3* "& > > > > ,'< ? /2+ '6* /3+6 /3+6 ')1/3- " " !8=2+ /7843 4* 4* ')1/3- !+8 5)7 !8'3*'6* $'2:+ 9((+6 6':+2 $'2:+ 9((+6 !+'87 9((+6 $'2:+ 37+687 #6+8.'3+ $'2:+ 37+687 $'2:+ !56/3- ! ! $'2:+ 4:+6 '71+8 ? !;/:+2 ')1/3- ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 ? !+6/+7 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 < /3+6 6/)+7 !9(0+)8 "4 .'3-+ %/8.498 48/)+ !@ @ < < < < < 19 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® SEPTEMBER 2018 WTR November Issue Deadlines! Space Reservation: September 25 th Display & Classified Ad Copy: October 1 st