Need a rig? Call Jeff! Phone: 828-322-3056 Fax: 828-322-4042 2515 Highway 70 SW Hickory, NC 28602 E-mail: jeffj@drillingequip.com www.drillingequip.com Pulstar P12000 Single & Double Hopper Rose-Wall Grouters Pulstar P8000 Pulstar P12000 Pulstar P10000 Pulstar P10000 mtd. on a Dodge 5500 Rose-Wall Water Truck Pulstar P7000 You can findDES EVERYWHERE in the World! Volume 16 October 2020 DownHome DrillFest™ is Happening!
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Breaking News ..................................................................13 Classified Section: WorldWide SUPER MART™ ..................51-64 DownHome DrillFest™ .............................................31-34 Education Connection ........................................................8 Fun Page ............................................................................29 Hot Off the Press .................................................................9 Industry Announcements .................................................41 Obituary: Ainsworth, Rob .................................................36 Obituary: Conatser, Claudius Leon .................................36 Obituary: George, Jr., Harris Brantley .............................36 Obituary: Goold, Alan D. ...................................................36 Obituary: Laramore, Lawrence Dean ..............................27 Obituary: Neyens, James Joseph “Jim” .........................36 Obituary: Wagner, Donald Gene “Don” ...........................36 Product Spotlight ..............................................................16 Who’s in the News .............................................................13 WorldWide Association Memberships ................................39 WorldWide Business Directory™ .............................10,11,12 WorldWide .........6 Editorial Focus for October - All Things Drilling C&G DIR ENV EXB G&O GEO MIN WTR Acker Drill Company...........................................................61 Allegheny Instruments........................................................42 Armstrong Machine Co., Inc. (AMCI)..................................26 Atlantic Screen & Manufacturing, Inc. (ASI)........................15 Baker Water Systems...........................................................9 Better Water Industries Inc..................................................14 Bit Brokers International.....................................................19 Bitco, Inc.............................................................................50 Bloom Manufacturing, Inc...................................................46 Central Mine Equipment Company (CME)..........................48 Drilling Equipment Sales, Inc. (DES)....................................1 Drilling Supply & Mfg (DSM)...............................................40 DRILLMAX ® ........................................................................64 Eastern Driller Manufacturing Company Inc. (EDM)...........62 GEFCO, Inc..........................................................................2 Geoprobe Systems ® ............................................................37 Geothermal Supply Company, Inc. (GSC)..........................24 Grundfos Pumps Corporation.............................................17 Halco Rock Tools..................................................................7 Heron Instruments, Inc.......................................................21 Infinity Tool Manufacturing....................................................3 Keystone Drill Services, Inc................................................25 KS Bit, Inc...........................................................................28 Mills Machine Company, Inc...............................................49 N&N Drilling Supply.............................................................35 Numa Hammers.................................................................45 Palmer Bit Company...........................................................20 SEMCO, Inc........................................................................63 SIMCO ® Drilling Equipment...................................................4 SIMCO ® Drilling Equipment.................................................43 Star Iron Works, Inc............................................................22 Star Iron Works, Inc............................................................23 TDH Manufacturing Inc.......................................................18 TerraSonic International......................................................47 Well-Vu, Inc.........................................................................38 Wyo-Ben, Inc......................................................................13 Advertisers Featured Editorial An Italian Engineering Success After Tragedy.............8 Storkson, Britt: To Really Mess Things Up..............15 Flood Prevention is Key in Florida....................................30 Are You in Compliance with OSHA’s Silica Rule?......49 Permian Highway Pipeline Construction Under.........18 Can Directional Drilling be a Game Changer.............26 Safe Working Practices for HDD...............................41 “Smith, Billy Bob”: The “Idiot’s” Corner...................47 Kwader, Thomas : Environmental Monitoring.............7 E-News Flash Readers’ Choice : Core Samples Provide...21 Solar River Project....................................................35 60-Year-Old Core Sample Answers Ancient Question....44 South African Co. Celebrates Market Diversification....7 Kuebelbeck, Jim: Through the Back Door!..............19 Hydraulic Breaker/Hammer Maintenance.................27 Funding Secured for Much-Anticipated Borehole......30 A Boom for West Texas............................................16 Final Rules for the Gas and Oil Industry....................23 Connor, Tim: Life’s Ten Vital Ingredients Pt 2...........43 Wilson, Jr., Robert Evans: The Un-Comfort Zone II........12 Researchers to Study Seismic Data for Geothermal....22 DOE Invests in Next Generation Hybrid Geothermal....38 What is Geothermal?.....................................................50 Battersby, Mark E.: Drilling Into Money Not Boring..14 Smart Mining Forecast..............................................29 Frequently-Used Geological Term Pt 90....................44 White, Harold: Oil/Water Exploration.......................16 Ballard, Thomas: Notes from the Groundwater Guy...24 The Importance of Selecting the Right Check Valve...42 Rasmussen, Tim: Water For Life International.........46 New Partnerships for Epiroc..........................................50 C&G - Construction/Geotechnical ENV - Environmental G&O - Shallow Gas and Oil MIN - Mining DIR - Horizontal Directional Drilling EXB - Exploration/Blasthole GEO - Geothermal WTR - Water 5 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020
6 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Proudly Made in the United States of America - deliveredWorldWide ! WorldWide Drilling Resource WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The complete magazine for the drilling industry worldwide, owned by drilling industry associates dedicated to bringing the most up-to-date technology and information to subscribers. Covering constructiongeotechnical , directional , environmental , exploration-blasthole , shallow gas & oil, geothermal, mining , water well , irrigation , wastewater ; from bits, to pumps, to rigs, to tanks, through wire, and more - whatever it takes to get the drilling job completed ! Managing Publisher/CEO/President: Veronica I. “Ronnie” Jones Vice President: Troy Cunningham Chief Marketing Officer: Ed Moranski Office Administrator: Michele Stevens Editor: Bonnie Love Public Relations Professionals: Kathy Heinrich Carol Schimpf Sheryl Day Production/Webmaster: Marcel Schimpf Representative: Marie Cunningham Editorial Contributors for this month: Tom Ballard Mark Battersby Tim Connor Jim Kuebelbeck Thomas Kwader Tim Rasmussen “Billy Bob Smith” Britt Storkson Harold White Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. Hyd/Eng Consultant: Thomas Kwader, Ph.D.,P.G. Consultant: Mary Ann Pelletier * Editorial contributions & advertisements include statements of fact and opinions that are the sole responsibility of the author and/or companies and do not necessarily imply any opinion of the owners, management, or staff of WorldWide Drilling Resource ® . Images may have been altered for clarity. Complete advertising information may be found at: www.worldwidedrillingresource.com or by calling 850-547-0102. WorldWide Drilling Resource ® makes every effortnot to place advertisements for “like” products on the same page in our publication; this may occur however, due to size and space within the publication. We regret any inconvenience this may cause our advertisers. WorldWide Drilling Resource ® is published monthly by: WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc. , a Florida Corporation PO Box 660 (3089 Northride Lane) Bonifay FL 32425-0660. Telephone: 850-547-0102 Fax: 850-547-0329 E-mail: wwdr@worldwidedrillingresource.com Website: www.worldwidedrillingresource.com Copyright 2020, WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc. Seen by countless WorldWide . Publication Agreement No. 40892520. Back issues may be requested. Cost per issue $10.00 USD. No part of this publication may be reproduced in any manner without the strict written consent of the publishers. Advertising rates furnished upon request. Editorial contributions are welcome subject to editorial review.* WorldWide Drilling Resource ® reserves the right to refuse any advertisement . We Recycle WorldWide DownHome DrillFest™ Branson, Missouri October 28-30, 2020. All information available at: www.worldwidedrillingresource.com With pen (computer) in hand . . . Veronica I. Ronnie Jones, Managing Publisher ronnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com 850-547-0102 Can’t wait to see you! Troy Ed Michele Bonnie Marcel Carol Sheryl Marie Kathy Ronnie This message is for all those hardworking men and women in our drilling industry. It is sincerely sent from theWWDR Team. Come to Branson, and have some YOU time! - Spend it with us! Won’t you join us? n y Outdoor exhibit tents are in high demand, Please send your exhibit forms without delay. All forms online. Call for information 850-547-0102. Exhibits, Entertainment, Continuing Education, and More. Featured Articles for October - All Things Drilling Flood Prevention Page 30 Breaker/Hammer Maintenance Page 27 Permian Highway Pipeline Page 18 Final Rules for Gas and Oil Page 23 Next Generation Hybrid Geothermal System Page 38 Selecting a Check Valve Page 42
South African Company Celebrates Market Diversification Adapted from Information by Master Drilling Group Limited Master Drilling Group Limited announced it has completed the acquisition of Geoserve Exploration Drilling Proprietary Limited out of Johannesburg, South Africa. Danie Pretorius, founder and CEO of Master Drilling said, “The transaction will augment our expertise and global reach, as well as provide a platform for horizontal integration in the mining industry, which has been under pressure in the past few years, necessitating consolidation.” Through the transaction, Master Drilling will acquire the shares of Geoserve from MOGS Mining Services Proprietary Limited and have sole control of the company. Geoserve has a well-established track record and the resources to diversify Master Drilling’s profile through increased exploration drilling, reverse circulation drilling, geotechnical investigations, and grade control drilling services, which are all key to the broader mining sector. He explained, “As business conditions become more difficult and exploration drilling budgets continue to dwindle, we believe it is critical to not only manage existing operations optimally, but also adapt to changing conditions and plan for a different future. Master Drilling’s future remains firmly driven by investments in technology, people, and processes that will generate consistent and long-term returns.” Master Drilling will also continue its work on developing and testing new machines, building on the successful commissioning of its Mobile Tunnel Borer and a shaft boring system in 2019. “We are mining technology experts and, as a business, we continue to utilize technological innovation to provide drilling solutions across a number of sectors, principally mining, but also construction and civil works. We have committed significant investment towards this technology drive over the years and will continue to do so to ensure return on investment for our investors,” concluded Pretorius. Environmental Monitoring by Thomas Kwader, Ph.D., P.G. WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Hydrogeologist Drilling Shallow Wells Near Lakes and Streams When we are selecting the location of a new well, the factors often considered are primarily based on convenience and accessibility to the owner. If the property is relatively small, the location choices may be limited based on maintaining accessibility to the well. If you have been in the well business for a long time, I am sure you have seen wells in some very unusual and unique places! This month’s article focuses on locating shallow wells on large lots where ponds, lakes, streams, or ditches may be present. The water level of a surface water body is often an indication of the water level in the shallow aquifer at that location. When the surface water bodies “dry up”, this indicates the water level has “fallen” below land surface due to the water draining to lower elevations “downhill”. Deep wells (generally 50 feet or more) are recommended for potable (drinking water) purposes. Deep groundwater generally has a more consistent temperature, quality, and clarity due to the filtering processes that occur as the water travels further through the subsurface. If the location of the new well is known to have a deeper regional aquifer of good quality and quantity, it may be worth the additional cost to drill deeper. Other factors to consider when locating shallow wells: 1) Locate the well on a “high” hill rather than a low-lying area which may collect surface water runoff and can contain chemicals, bacteria, or clay that can discolor the groundwater; 2) Locate the well uphill and away from known sources of contamination; 3) Avoid long screens or open holes that start at shallow depths. Deeper screens generally collect older filtered water of a more consistent quality; and, 4) Wells located in low elevations may become turbid after heavy rains. The turbidity indicates there may also be a hydrologic connection to land surface which could be a source of bacteria to the well. Tom Tom Kwader may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com ENV 7 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 The Oregon Coast. ~Tom Bates Subscriber Snapshot Danie founded Master Drilling in 1986, and has served as Managing Director since its incorporation. EXB
An Italian Engineering Success After Tragedy Compiled by Editorial Staff, WorldWide Drilling Resource ® In one of the worst infrastructure failures in modern Italian history, the Morandi Bridge in Genoa, collapsed on August 14, 2018, during a heavy rainstorm. When it was erected in 1967, it was hailed for its innovative use of prestressed concrete and clean lines. After suffering from years of poor maintenance, the fallen 690-foot section of bridge claimed 43 lives, injured more than a dozen, and left hundreds homeless since it not only spanned the Polcevera River, it covered parts of the city. Now, less than two years after the tragedy, the Genoa San Giorgio Bridge has been constructed as a testament of a commitment to excellent teamwork and optimal management of the project, in part by RINA, who was the project management consultant. Being dubbed the “Genoa Model”, some say it is not replicable in other projects, but RINA President and CEO Ugo Salerno disagrees. “Rapid construction is not a question of skipping procedural steps or paying less attention, but rather of planning each and every activity in detail to overcome the inevitable unforeseen events and get immediate and effective responses from all those involved, in particular from the public authorities,” he said. RINA was in charge of the works supervision, quality assurance, and health and safety during both the demolition of the old Morandi Bridge and the construction of the new Genoa San Giorgio Bridge. The new project started when Genoa-born architect Renzo Piano donated his bridge design; then consulting/engineering discussions began in December 2018. Construction officially began on April 15, 2019. The design of the bridge has been termed as a “statement in its understatement” accentuating the beautiful valley between mountain and sea, and is environmentally friendly by including solar panels for energy, water treatment processes, and ongoing structural monitoring to ensure sustainability and safety. Numbers tell the story too. Over 220,000 hours of engineering work generated more than 3200 technical documents and review of over 1500 project sheets. As part of the 1000 workers employed, 80 RINA specialists were dedicated to managing the project, guiding the construction phases, timelines, budgets, and progress of work. The 3500-foot viaduct, which accommodates four lanes of traffic, was made with 24,000 tons of steel and metalwork and over 87,000 cubic yards of concrete. The 18 piles supporting the structure are each about 150 feet tall and formed with concrete and special additives, which allowed a shorter drying period. There were 20 work sites operating simultaneously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, without interruption, for almost two years, apart from Christmas Day in 2019. Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte inaugurated the new bridge on August 3, 2020. The importance of the bridge to the people of Genoa should not be underestimated, together with the memory of those who lost their lives during the collapse of the original bridge. Drilling Fundamentals by: Concrete Sawing and Drilling Assn Slab Saw & Core Drill 201 November 2-3 ~ Clearwater, FL phone: 727-577-5004 www.csda.org by: North American Society for Trenchless Technology New Installation Methods Good Practices Course Education Connection November 5-6 ~ VIRTUAL WEBINAR phone: 888-993-9935 www.nastt.org Groundwater / Water Well by: American Ground Water Trust New Mexico Groundwater November 4-5 ~ ONLINE WEBINAR Colorado Groundwater November 17-18 ~ ONLINE WEBINAR phone: 603-228-5444 www.agwt.org by: Princeton Groundwater, Inc. Remediation Course Nov. 30-Dec. 4 ~ ONLINE WEBINAR phone: 813-964-0800 www.princeton-groundwater.com Irrigation by: Rain Bird Academy Training November 2-6 ~ Denver, CO November 2-6 ~ Redmond, OR November 9-13 ~ Irwindale, CA November 16-20 ~ Boston, MA November 16-20 ~ Durham, NC phone: 800-498-1942 www.rainbirdservices.com More education opportunities during events can be found by clicking here online at: worldwidedrillingresource.com 8 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® C&G Dynamite was used to demolish the remains of the Morandi Bridge. The dust was controlled with a circuit of hydrants. The replacement bridge was built through precise teamwork, with no time wasted. Photos courtesy of RINA.
9 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 Get More Out of CPT Operations The BC100 Boxed CPT Crawler series from Eijkelkamp is a ballasted track unit for cone penetration testing (CPT). The world is going digital, and more applications are making CPT operations easier and more efficient. Intelligence is also a key factor in operations, maintenance, and boosting production. This game changer offers new innovations such as sonic CPT, service assistant, and hydraulic self-propelled certified railway wheels. It is designed to comply with emission regulations worldwide and can be equipped with different power options. All functions of the BC100 are operated from a PLC touch screen with a manual override for several functions, while driving and levelling can be performed via a remote-controlled system. The hydraulic system is load sense controlled and built for minimal power requirements. All rigs are put through rugged field tests before leaving the factory, plus field training is offered for each new acquisition. In 2021, the company will offer these units in their rental fleets for Europe and North America. For a link to this website, visit this page at: worldwidedrillingresource.com In the Netherlands, Ferry Hoogveld from Hoogveld Geonius was pleased to receive a new BC100 CPT box crawler from Eijkelkamp Geopoint SoilSolutions. Rutger van Goethem of Eijkelkamp / SonicSampDrill presented the famous Royal Eijkelkamp wine box with two top wines from their house sommelier.
Your business could be seen here. Give our Public Relations Professionals a call. 850-547-0102 10 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®
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To be noticed, give us a call: (850) 547-0102 or e-mail: wwdr@worldwidedrillingresource.com 12 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The Un-Comfort Zone II by Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. Everything has a Story Look around you, there are objects everywhere, and each one of them has a story. Are they interesting stories? Well, that depends on how you tell it. 1. There’s a bluebird house outside my office window. It’s one of nine I’ve hung on trees around my yard. My mother loved bluebirds and wanted to see them around her home. So, I did some research and learned if you put up bluebird houses, you will attract them. I went to the library and looked up the specs on how to build one, then built and hung three of them in her front yard. Mother passed away 29 years ago, and I spread her ashes near the bird feeder in front of her house. I now own and live in that house, and I see bluebirds all the time. They remind me of Mother. 2. My key ring sits on my desk until I’m ready to leave the house. On it is a tiny flathead screwdriver manufactured by Proto and engraved with KING HDW CO for King Hardware Company. It belonged to my father, who acquired it as a gift from King, when he worked as a purchasing agent for a construction company. He carried it on his key ring for as long as I knew him, and I placed it on mine the day he died (more than 40 years ago). One day, on my way home from giving a speech, an airline officer tried to take it away from me in the Charleston, West Virginia, airport (back in the early days after 9-11 when they would do random bag checks at the gate). I tried explaining it was a very valuable keepsake to me, but like Barney Fife, the agent was a strict order-follower saying, "It is a screwdriver, and screwdrivers are not allowed on the plane." I asked if she seriously thought I could hijack a plane with it, but she kept insisting: "It's a screwdriver, screwdrivers are on the list, and I have to confiscate it." I asked her if I could just put it in my carry-on and check my bag. She replied, “It’s too late for that.” I told her I was not giving up my father's screwdriver, that I would miss the flight before I would do that. I asked for her supervisor, who was just as strict. I asked him if I could give it to one of the flight attendants to hold during the flight, and return it to me when we landed in Atlanta. He said, "No, it would be an unsecured screwdriver loose at your final destination, and you could pass it to another person wanting to hijack a plane." I said, "Seriously?" I finally resolved the situation by phoning my client, and asking if she would come to the airport and pick it up from the Lost and Found. She agreed. I then took the screwdriver off of my key ring for the first time since my father died, put it in an envelope I had in my briefcase, sealed it, wrote my client's name on the outside, then handed it to the supervisor who promised to put it in the Lost & Found office. Reluctantly, I boarded my plane. Two days later, I received the key back by Federal Express. Lesson learned: I no longer carry that key ring when I fly. I have other stories about objects in my office. What stories can you tell about the objects around you? How interesting can you make those stories? Robert Robert is an innovation/change speaker, author, and consultant. He works with companies that want to be more competitive through innovation and with people who want to think more creatively. Contact him via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com
13 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 WHO’S IN THE NEWS Send your Who’s in the News to: Bonnie@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Michigan Ground Water Association Congratulations to John Schmitt for being presented with the Michigan Ground Water Association Honorary Member Award! Well deserved, John. The association also announced the following 2020 awards: Groundwater Drilling Professional of the Year - Jim Welser Distinguished Service Award - Fuller Supply and Employees Distinguished Business Award - Adams Well Drilling Legislative Appreciation Award - Senator Rick Outman BAUER Group Tobias Bangerter is joining the management board for BAUER Resources GmbH as a new member, replacing Peter Hingott. At the same time, Dr. Roman Breuer will take over as chairman of the management board. "We are thrilled to secure Tobias Bangerter, an established expert in the construction sector and international business, for Bauer Resources," said Dr. Breuer. Tobias is grateful for the confidence placed in him and is excited for the future. "I look forward to meeting the whole team and working together to actively shape the future," he stated. New Manufacturing Plant Based out of West Virginia and established in 1984, Flying W Plastics is a USA-based manufacturer of polyethylene pipe products for water, gas, oil, sewer, geothermal, and conduit applications. Research indicated expansion into the southern markets would give the company the ability to better serve the eastern half of the United States, and Jacksonville, Florida, was the best fit. The plant will bring about 45 new jobs to the area. Along with the West Virginia branch, the company is now poised to provide customers throughout North America with even better service through cost-efficient shipping and logistics support. Send your Breaking News announcements to bonnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com Breaking News Look for additional announcements from the National Drilling Association, and Danos, by clicking this box in our online issue: worldwidedrillingresource.com Tobias Bangerter and Dr. Roman Breuer. WWDRphoto of John Schmitt.
Drilling Into Money Not Boring by Mark E. Battersby Payroll Pitfalls and Coronavirus The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted many drilling operations and businesses. Fortunately, lawmakers have created a variety of tax benefits for employer and employee alike, ranging from tax credits for retaining workers to payroll tax delays. Unfortunately, there are also quite a few potential pitfalls everyone should be aware of. The Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act contained a credit against payroll taxes for wages paid to employees in 2020. The credit, a reduction in the operation’s tax bill rather than a deduction from the income that tax bill is based on, is available to drilling operations forced to shut down or suspend operations due to the coronavirus outbreak. The refundable credit equals 50% of the first $10,000 of qualified wages paid to an employee during the year ending December 31, 2020. It should be noted, however, an employer can’t claim both the employee retention credit and the family and medical leave credit for the same wages. The CARES Act also allowed drilling operations affected by the coronavirus pandemic to defer payroll taxes that would normally be due in 2020. Different from the President’s controversial payroll tax holiday, this applies to the employer’s share of the 6.2% Social Security tax component. Under the new rules, an employer can choose to pay 50% of the required amount by December 31, 2021, with the remaining 50% due by December 31, 2022. A similar deferral is available for self-employed individuals. They can defer 50% of their self-employment tax by paying 25% by December 31, 2021, and the remaining 25% by December 31, 2022. Given the current economic climate, many laid-off workers remain unemployed. Employers eager to hold down payroll costs reportedly hesitate to hire back older and more experienced workers - and the question of a controversial payroll tax cut is on the table as lawmakers discuss further stimulus legislation. It is important for every drilling operation to have a plan in place to pay employees when disaster strikes. One important part of that plan should be alternative payroll options. This will not only help the business meet its legal obligations, but also help ensure employees receive their pay on time. If employee layoffs are necessary during the recovery or rebuilding process, certain steps must be taken with regard to notification and preparation to handle unemployment claims and other necessary paperwork. Disaster aid and insurance checks may continue to be slow in coming, making it difficult to help employees who may be facing real financial costs. Resolving employee- or employmentrelated issues is obviously important for everyone. The many benefit programs and plans available - and the potential pitfalls - make professional advice and assistance almost mandatory. Mark Mark E. Battersby may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 14 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The dinosaurs became extinct before the Rockies or the Alps were formed. December Issue Deadlines! Space Reservation: October 25th Display & Classified Ad Copy: November 1st
To Really Mess Things Up Takes a Computer by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC It has been said that to err is human, and to really mess things up takes a computer. There’s a lot of truth to that. It’s not that computers are inherently bad or flawed. It’s because they do so many things so quickly, even minor errors can get amplified into major problems. My wife has been a veterinary technician and worked as a dog groomer for years. She says there are very few bad dogs, but lots of bad owners. The same could be said for computers. Even using the very best components (dogs), bad programming or application of the technology (bad dog owners) can result in a really miserable product. We just bought a house with a “smart” thermostat which is so overdesigned and poorly executed I’m about ready to throw it out and put in a 100-year-old-technology mechanical thermostat instead. At least with the mechanical thermostat you know what you’re getting. One of the consequences with going smart is the smart developers often get caught up in making the product smart while forgetting what the product is really there to do, which is turning the device on or off at the proper time to maintain the desired temperature range. Using the thermostat as an example: A thermostat is supposed to measure the temperature and (for heating) turn on the furnace when the temperature drops below a preset point and turn off when the temperature rises above a preset point. For cooling, the thermostat operates the same way except it turns the air conditioner on and off for cooling instead of the furnace. In both cases, time delays are incorporated into the design to eliminate rapid on-off cycling and provide stable, controlled operation. These time delays can be implemented mechanically or electronically. Mechanical time delays are not very accurate or consistent, but they are adequate for most HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) applications. Electronic time delays can be very precise, but most of the time that level of precision isn’t needed for HVAC applications. Likewise, a “deadband” is used when the heater or air conditioner output turns on or off, then the temperature has to move two or three degrees for there to be any change in the output. This also provides stable operation because it takes time for a heating or cooling source to physically change the temperature of the entire area. Right now, both approaches (mechanical or electric) cost about the same. In fact, microprocessor-based electronic controls can be considerably less expensive than mechanical controls if all of the “bells and whistles” are eliminated. The current industry trend, however, is to pile on the bells and whistles solely to make the product more expensive, not to make it simpler or more reliable. Think about all of those bells and whistles for a minute. The typical television remote has something on the order of 50+ buttons on it, but how many buttons do you normally use? Most people typically use only two or three of the buttons ~ the onoff button, sound volume control button, and maybe the mute button. That’s it. That’s all the average person needs to use 99% of the time. With the products we make (computer pressure controls for water pumping), we deal with the complexity conundrum by putting only the adjustments the customer/user absolutely needs to know within his or her view. Other more technical adjustments are out of sight, but can easily be accessed if needed. Most of the time, the basic adjustments are all that are needed, but in the unlikely event other adjustments are necessary, they can call us and we can walk them through the adjustments over the phone. While on the phone, we can also help the customer diagnose other pump problems not related to our control unit and perhaps sell additional equipment. Either way, it’s a win-win with the customer coming away fully satisfied and a minimum amount of time required to solve the problem. On a much larger scale, what if it were possible to replace the entire computer controls system operating the typical aircraft in-flight? To do this, the pilot would switch the airplane over to manual operation, unplug the old/problem controls, plug in the new and previously tested controls, then switch the airplane back to automatic operation. Spare parts could be stored in the plane for this very purpose. This is indeed possible, but it isn’t done that way right now. In fact, just about everything with a computer could be designed and built for simple replacement - but if that were the case, we wouldn’t need the installer. Which, in large part, is why it isn’t done. So computer malfunctions can really mess things up, but poor programming and/or computer applications can be a much bigger problem because the problems are intrinsic and one cannot simply change an adjustment and get it to work better . . . or just to work. Period. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com 15 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 302-684-3197 FAX: 302-384-0643 142 Broadkill Rd. • Milton, DE 19968 www.atlantic-screen.com email: atlantic@ce.net Manufacturers of Slotted & Perforated Pipe ranging from ½” to 24” diameter Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. • Well Rehab. Products • Manholes • Bentonite • Filter Sock • Inline Chemical Mixers • Sampling Bailers • Clear PVC Pipe • Locking Caps
16 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Hunting’s mud motors convert hydraulic energy from the drilling fluid into mechanical energy to turn the bit, independent of the drill string. This allows slower drill string rotational speeds, which in turn equals more efficient drilling and less wear on the string and its components. The company has a full selection of mud motors to fit customer’s needs, for both straight hole and directional applications. The Hunting M-Series mud motors incorporates SWB™ (survey while boring) technology that directly improves the ability to control the bit direction by locating the sonde housing into the bearing housing just three feet behind the bit, providing the operator with the most effective tracking information. A Boom for West Texas Adapted from Texas Alliance of Energy Producers News Report / Midland Reporter-Telegram by Stewart Doreen In a recent report, State Representative Tom Craddick announced President Donald Trump’s commitment to a recovery in Texas and across all energy-producing markets was in the works through incentivizing funding for energy producers. By cutting regulations and streamlining permits, things will move quickly for a recovery in Texas. New jobs, old jobs returning, increased wages, more money for health care and education, along with many others will be forthcoming through these efforts. These actions will make West Texas a great place to live and work as doors begin to open in the energy business. With the paperwork cut down, he is ensuring Texas and energy producers can spend their time doing what they do best - working. President Trump is committed to making sure the American Dream is attainable by all Americans. G&O Oil/Water Exploration by Harold White Fact or Fiction? A global war has been started. Thousands are dead and more are getting killed every day, and not a shot has been fired. Is this our introduction to germ warfare? If so, it is very efficient. No troops, planes, trains, boats, guns, or man movement - just man-altered germs causing death every day, everywhere. I have heard of germ warfare for a lot of years, and now we are in one. What people would raise germs with the intention of causing death to their brothers, sisters, and their families around the world? People are following the medical suggestions of spacing, masks, and no school, college, or sports. Stay at home and live, do not drive, no work, no income, no parties, do not shake hands. You know the drill. Stop and see how long it takes to break the economy and impoverish the country. We need to make America great again. If this is a man-altered virus, COVID-19 is a flu virus altered by some chemist, then they have a cure for it. No one person or group of chemists would not protect themselves. Find out who they are, get the cure, and get back to business as usual. Well, that sounds easy, and it should be, but why is all of this happening? Who has caused this mass murder of innocent people? Was it really an accident? Was COVID-19 really a science-altered virus to cause a massive killing of innocents? If so, what are the reasons? Why is it said it was to kill off all the older people? Is it because they are the last to know what freedom might be? The saying in government power is to never let a crisis go to waste. I have heard it several times. What does it mean? I would hope it does not mean, “Start a pandemic virus” or “Start a war”. Start any crisis that is misleading to the people or the person, and puts fear into them by killing millions of people. What is the reason? The statements and comments in this article are based on information and references believed to be true and factual. If you have any questions or comments, please forward them to me in care ofWWDR . Harold Harold White may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com
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Permian Highway Pipeline Construction Under Watchful Eye Adapted from Information by the Railroad Commission of Texas and Kinder Morgan The Permian Highway Pipeline (PHP) is one of the largest pipeline construction projects in Texas. Stretching more than 400 miles from the Permian Basin to the Houston area, inspectors with the Railroad Commission of Texas (RRC) are conducting inspections of the project which will bring natural gas from West Texas to the international market. The RRC is conducting rigorous inspections to ensure the pipeline is constructed in the safest way possible, as the pipeline operator, Kinder Morgan, navigates through some of the state’s sensitive Texas Hill Country. Inspectors from two key RRC groups, the Oil and Gas and Pipeline Safety divisions, have examined and assessed work being done on the project, conducting more than 75 inspections. Pipeline safety inspectors examined welding, pipe transportation procedures, coating thickness, trench backfilling, operation of safety equipment, material records, and more. “Our inspectors have been hard at work, even during the COVID-19 pandemic, to ensure Kinder Morgan is compliant with Commission rules that are in place to protect public safety and natural resources,” said RRC Executive Director Wei Wang. “In addition to the all-hands efforts within the agency, we are also in contact with resident groups and the company as construction progresses. When it is complete, this pipeline will add vital capacity to convey natural gas, which in turn will also help ongoing efforts to further reduce flaring in West Texas.” New pipeline construction is important to the future of the gas and oil industry. It is a safer, more efficient method of transporting large amounts of gas and oil. According to Texas Pipeline Association estimates, a 20-inch pipeline running 50 miles can replace up to 1650 tanker trucks carrying oil on U.S. roads. The $2 billion PHP Project is designed to transport up to 2.1 Bcf/d (billion cubic feet per day) of natural gas through a 42inch pipeline to the U.S. Gulf Coast. It is expected to be completed in early 2021. Photo of inspection site in Kimble County courtesy of RRC. DIR 18 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®
Through the Back Door! by Jim Kuebelbeck It is a commonly accepted belief “all available groundwater sources originate within the natural hydrologic cycle”. It is also an accepted belief that rain and snowmelt subsequently seep into the earth to be contained within what geologists and hydrogeologists refer to as aquifers. In simplistic terms, aquifers are water-bearing geologic formations beneath the surface where water from the surface has percolated through the soil until it encounters an impervious stratum and is contained within that structure. Sometimes these aquifers or containment areas are widespread. Other times, these aquifers are rather small, and the continual withdrawal of water from these aquifers at a rate faster than they can naturally “recharge” through the hydrologic cycle often results in a decrease in the volume of the previously available water. In my work as a water dowser, I have been forced to deviate from some of these commonly held beliefs about the natural occurrence and availability of groundwater sources. I fully realize this puts me at odds with many in the water-related community, but I no longer believe “all available groundwater sources originate within 'only' the natural hydrologic cycle”. A heretic I may be, but a person can only make judgment and arrive at conclusions based upon what one has witnessed and experienced. I had long been puzzled by the fact certain water dowsers were able to locate satisfactory groundwater supplies in the midst of numerous previously drilled dry holes. Even more puzzling to me was the fact the water sources located by especially competent water dowsers appeared not to be affected by the variations of the natural hydrologic cycle. In the early 1970s and the mid-1980s, Central Minnesota experienced periods of extreme drought. During that time, many wells in rural Minnesota either dried up completely or decreased in volume. During these periods of drought, none of the wells I had located previously by my dowsing methods dried up or decreased in volume! What could possibly account for this? I could only come to the conclusion the water sources I had been able to locate were being fed from an entirely different source. From what I had been led to believe about the natural occurrence of groundwater, this just didn't make any sense to me. How could I explain this? Everything I had been led to believe about the widely accepted belief of groundwater occurrence no longer fit into my ingrained mindset. In the nextWWDR , I will present my theory about what I believe to be true about another groundwater source. I'm sure many will disagree with my hypothesis, but based upon my unscientific research over the years, I'm willing to accept any challenge or criticism which might ensue. The statements and comments in this article are based on information and references believed to be true and factual. If you have any questions or comments, please forward them to me in care of WWDR . Jim Jim Kuebelbeck may be contacted via e-mail to michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 19 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 Theory: The general or abstract principles of a body of fact - a plausible or scientifically acceptable general principle or body of principles offered. ~ Webster's College Dictionary EXB
Griffin Coal Mine 800-421-2487 www.palmerbit.com Through a conversation with our customer, we learned they were using claw and chevron bits in abrasive sandstone. After discussing the drilling conditions and settings, we recommended theDiamond Devil™ PDC . But, the idea of an expensive PDC was hard to sell since it would have to achieve footage that seemed impossible - so we sent a sample bit to the customer free of charge. He kept us apprised of the progress. The site operators estimated the PDC would need to reach 8000 meters to match their outsourced drag bit costs. 1000-1200 meters: “. . . I’m pretty sure that not many people involved in this trial thought the PDC bit would survive this long, but that’s only my opinion. I think it’s great.” 2188 meters: “And still going strong. The operator reported that pen rate was still good and in fact drilled a smoother hole than the blade bits.” 4700 meters: “Still going well, however we lost one diamond tip as you will see in the first photo. We believe this happened when it hit something hard down the hole, however, it has not affected its performance to date.” After reaching an astonishing distance, our customer called to say, “It’s with great sadness that I have to inform you the PDC has died at 24,563 meters.” On the right, are two photos of theDiamond Devil PDC ; one with 4700 meters on the bit and the other has 24,563 meters. After an astounding 80,000 feet of drilling on this bit, you can see the level of wear and the diamond cutters are still mostly intact. Griffin Coal is sold on theDiamond Devil PDCafter it surpassed their expectations. Experience it for yourself - call Palmer Bit today. 20 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ®
21 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 Core Samples Provide Insight Adapted from Information by the University of Texas The planet was a violent place 200 million years ago. It was struck by mountain-sized asteroids at least three times, chains of volcanoes erupted sending ash and greenhouse gases around the world, and tectonic plates shifted, breaking up the single supercontinent, Pangea. During all of the chaos, several plants and animals simply vanished in a shake-up of life on earth scientists have yet to explain. Learning more about that period of time requires drilling, and then studying, core samples from deep beneath the surface. One core sample in particular has researchers excited. The quarter-mile-long core sample was taken from the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona in 2013. Recently, researchers have been able to determine the age of the core and piece together a continuous, unbroken stretch of earth’s history from 225 million to 209 million years ago. This timeline offers insight into what used to be a geologic dark age, and will help scientists investigate the abrupt environmental changes from the late Triassic Period, and how they affected plants and animals at the time. To determine the age of each layer, researchers examined the core samples for tiny crystals of the mineral zircon, which are thrust into the sky during volcanic eruptions. Zircons are a date stamp for the sediments they are buried with, when the age of the crystals are compared with traces of ancient magnetism stored in the rocks, a precise geological timeline evolves. According to Adam Marsh, a paleontologist for the Petrified Forest National Park, although there are a great deal of fossils from this period all over North America, until now, there was little information on the late Triassic’s timeline because most of what scientists knew came from studying outcrops of exposed rock pushed to the surface by tectonic movements. The research is the latest outcome of the Colorado Plateau Coring Project, funded by the National Science Foundation and the International Continental Scientific Drilling Program. Editor’s Note: In between our print issues, theWWDRTeam prepares an electronic newsletter called E-News Flash . This newsletter is filled with articles not included in our print issue. Based on readership, this was the most popular article of the month. Get in on the action and subscribe today at: www.worldwidedrillingresource.com ENV Before the rock core from the Petrified Forest was recovered, most of what was known about the late Triassic Period came from searching for signs of the Chinle Formation on rocky outcrops such as this one. Photo by Randall Irmis / Natural History Museum of Utah courtesy of the University of Texas.
www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 SERVING THE WATER WELL INDUSTRY Serving the Drilling Industry 22 OCTOBER 2020 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Researchers to Study Seismic Data for Geothermal Development Adapted from Information by the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Calpine Corporation The California Energy Commission (CEC) is providing research funding to the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory to study the use of seismic and electromagnetic data for mapping geothermal reservoirs and to see if enhanced imaging of the reservoir’s structural features could help with locating production wells. The $1.7 million project will take place at the world’s largest producing geothermal field, The Geysers in Northern California. Currently, geothermal energy provides just under 6% of California’s total electrical power generation, but the state’s geothermal potential is much higher. In fact, according to the CEC, nearly half of California’s known geothermal resources remain untapped. This study could enhance the development of some of those resources. Berkeley Lab scientists David Alumbaugh and Michael Commer will be partnering with colleagues at the USGS (United States Geological Survey), along with Array Information Technology and Jarpe Data Solutions, to develop and test the innovative geophysical imaging technology. Using a combination of seismic and electromagnetic signals, this process will be used to generate high-resolution images of the subsurface which outline steam-filled and fluid-filled areas of the reservoir. This will allow companies, such as Calpine Corporation which operates most of the geothermal plants at The Geysers, to improve reservoir models. “The more accurate it is, the better they can control the injection of water and the production of steam to optimize their energy production,” said Alumbaugh. “That saves money for them and for ratepayers.” If the method can be demonstrated, it can be applied at any geothermal field producing steam. It could also be used to determine the best location for new production wells. Since one of the major obstacles to expanding geothermal energy is the high up-front costs of drilling a new well, this process has the potential to make geothermal energy more economically attractive, possibly leading to further development of California’s geothermal resources. Photo of the Grant power plant operating at The Geysers courtesy of Calpine Corporation. GEO
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