41 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® OCTOBER 2020 Industry Announcements Aries Industrieshas strenthened its international market by adding a Canadian dealer to its network. JD Brule Equipment in Greely, Ontario, will now offer Aries Industries video inspection equipment and vehicles for sales and service. Jim Kraschinsky, vice president of sales at Aries Industries said, “In choosing a dealer, we look for shared values of quality products and unmatched service. JD Brule Equipment is a respected veteran of our industry with a reputation for excellent customer service. Its values align with our commitment to deliver the very best customer experience.” Manitowochas launched a new website with improved navigation and searchable features to make it easy to explore the company’s comprehensive selection of cranes and lifting solutions. The new site is compatible with all browsers and mobile devices, with each of the brands having dedicated sections with detailed product specifications, charts, support, and more. Users can find information on parts, service, dealers, manuals, training, finance, and all of Manitowoc’s industry-leading tools on the site. Komatsuis bringing several of its mining product lines together through a rebrand. The company is rebranding its underground hard rock equipment, surface wheel loaders, and new line of blasthole drills. The company will retain its iconic P&H and Joy brands for the products longest associated with those names. According to Jeffrey Dawes, president and CEO of Komastu Mining, rebranding this equipment as Komatsu, expands the company’s brand in the mining industry, while retaining the legacies of its other respected brands. Drilling Equipment Resourceshas opened a new warehouse in Alvarado, Texas. The company specializes in used and refurbished drilling equipment for the water well, gas and oil, geothermal, blasthole, quarry, and exploration industries. Sandvik Mining and Rock Technology has agreed to acquire Allied Construction Products, LLC, a distributor of hydraulic hammers for the construction and mining industries. The two entities have had a strategic partnership since 2003, with Allied being a U.S. distributor for Rammer products. Safe Drilling Practices for HDD Contractors Adapted from Information by Bore the Rockies and the Common Ground Alliance Although horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is considered one of the safest methods of drilling underground, every excavation method carries certain hazards. Here are some important safety guidelines for HDD contractors: 1. Call 811 before you begin - Make sure to call your state’s 811 number 2-3 business days before you plan to work. The 811 center will contact utility operators in the area so they can come out and mark where underground lines are buried. On average, 7-8 utility operators are notified for each request. 2. Expose the utility lines - Once utility lines are located and marked, you should expose the lines by hand digging or vacuum excavation. Remember, the flags on the ground only serve as markers for the approximate location of the utilities, not their depth. State laws generally prohibit using mechanized equipment within the tolerance zone, roughly 18-24 inches from all sides of a marked utility line. 3. Use safe practices while drilling - Drill technicians need to track the drill head to make sure it’s on the right course. Since electromagnetic devices are used for this purpose, technicians should check if there are sources of interference before drilling. Common sources of interference include: Traffic sensing loops Traffic signal pads Electric dog fences Underground utility lines Trace lines producing high-frequency signals Radar transmission facilities Thunderstorms Other locating equipment being used nearby Passive sources of interference which include underground metal structures, steel pipes, and proximity to saltwater Additional safe drilling practices include: jAvoid using pipe wrenches to separate a pipe string, as they can slip; use tongs instead. jRestrain coiled plastic or poly-pipe before it’s cut and take extra caution when uncoiling these materials to avoid getting struck. jWear high-visibility clothing. jStanding near the rotating drill shaft is unsafe, and workers should steer clear of it at all times. Also, avoid standing on the drill string or in the drill’s expected exit point. jTo avoid possible electrocution, workers should not touch the pipe string or drilling equipment during the drilling operation. Only the drill operator with proper PPE (personal protective equipment) should be authorized to touch the equipment. DIR WWDRphoto.
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