Volume 20 December 2023 Details on this unit and more from SEMCO on page 6. See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 919 Merry Christmas!
See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booths 1101 & 1119
See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 101
Are you Planning to go?.............................................18-19 Breaking News..................................................................13 Buyers Meet Sellers...............................................31-41 Classifieds: WorldWide Buyers’ Guide™..............59-72 Education Connection......................................................46 Fun Page...........................................................................28 Hot Off the Press.................................................................9 Product Spotlight..............................................................56 Who’s in the News............................................................13 WorldWide Association Memberships................................12 WorldWide .........6 Acker Drill Company...........................................................69 Allegheny Instruments........................................................52 Armstrong Machine Co., Inc. (AMCI)..................................23 Atlantic Screen & Manufacturing, Inc. (ASI)........................11 Baker Water Systems.........................................................50 Better Water Industries Inc..................................................46 Bit Brokers International.....................................................43 Bitco, Inc.............................................................................47 Bloom Manufacturing, LLC.................................................19 Central Mine Equipment Company (CME)..........................8 Derex, Inc...........................................................................17 Drill King International.........................................................21 Drill Pipe, Inc.......................................................................16 Drilling Equipment Sales, Inc. (DES)..................................71 Drilling Supply & Mfg (DSM)...............................................57 DRILLMAX®........................................................................2 Eastern Driller Manufacturing Company Inc. (EDM)...........48 Empire State Water Well Drillers Assoc. (ESWWDA) Ann. Mtg..55 GEFCO (BAUER Equipment America, Inc.)........................72 Geothermal Supply Company, Inc. (GSC)..........................26 Heron Instruments, Inc.......................................................18 Holte Manufacturing............................................................27 Horizon Hoist......................................................................25 Infinity Tool Manufacturing....................................................3 Infinity Tool Manufacturing..................................................10 Infinity Tool Manufacturing..................................................45 Infinity Tool Manufacturing..................................................46 KS Bit, Inc.............................................................................7 Louisiana Ground Water Association (LGWA) Conv...........44 Merrill Manufacturing..........................................................49 Mills Machine Company, Inc...............................................53 Mountain States Ground Water Expo.................................47 N&N Drilling Supply.............................................................13 Palmer Bit Company...........................................................30 SEMCO, Inc.......................................................................1,6 SIMCO® Drilling Equipment...................................................4 Specialty Rig Sales (SRS)..................................................45 Star Iron Works, Inc. - Construction....................................28 Star Iron Works, Inc. - Water Well.......................................29 T&T Carbide Inc..................................................................70 TDH Manufacturing Inc.......................................................58 Tennessee Water Well Assoc. (TWWA) Annual Mtg..........24 Texas Ground Water Association (TGWA) Convention.......51 Underground Infrastructure Conference (UIC)....................22 Utah Ground Water Assoc. (UGWA) Conf. and Expo..........56 Well-Vu, Inc.........................................................................54 Wyo-Ben, Inc......................................................................42 Advertisers Featured Editorial 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 Thank-You for Another Fantastic Year! C&G DIR ENV EXB G&O GEO MIN WTR New Technical Training Center..................................22 Connor, Tim: Is Anger Healthy, Destructive, or Both?...29 Province Offers Free Training to Attract New Workers...53 Is the Reamer I Have Good Enough?.............................16 Water Transfer Pipeline...................................................23 Storkson, Britt: Live by the Computer and Die by the...49 Ice Core Drilling in Peru.............................................10 Battersby, Mark E.: Drilling Into Money Not Boring..24 Using Waves to Make Waves....................................45 Rig on the Way............................................................9 Smith, Billy Bob: The “Idiots” Corner........................14 Update on Mining Project in Quebec..........................50 Hydraulic Fracturing Okay.......................................27,28 Wilson, Jr., Robert Evans: The Un-Comfort Zone II...43,44 Successful Test of New Geothermal Drilling Technology...26 Chevron’s Geothermal Collaboration Heats Up.....47,56 Advancements in Geothermal Drilling Simulation.....54 Operational Changes for Mount Isa Mines.....................15 Renewable Energy while Mining.....................................42 Mining Awards Honor Top U.S. Mines............................52 Peterson, Ronald: Thank You for 2023...................11 The HPI-Process Powered by the JET Master: Part 2...20 Funds for Water Infrastructure...................................46 Rasmussen, Tim: Water for Life International..........51 Injection Grouting Stops Inflow and Infiltration..........55 A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co......10 Aardvark Packers..............10 Acker Drill Company..........10 Bit Brokers International.....11 Centerline Mfg. Co.............11 ChemGrout®.......................14 Diedrich Drill......................14 Drill King International........15 Drill Pipe, Inc......................15 Drilling Equip. Resources..15 Eastern Driller Mfg. (EDM)...18 Eijkelkamp North America...18 Flomatic Corp....................18 Get Association Help™......19 Heisey Machine Co............19 Hole Products....................19 Mitsubishi Materials Corp...22 PennDrill Mfg.....................22 Star Iron Works, Inc...........22 T&T Carbide, Inc................23 TerraRoc............................23 VMAC................................26 Western Drilling Tools........23 Windmill 702 LLC...............26 WorldWide Drilling Resource®........11,14,26 5 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
Proudly Made in the United States of America - delivered WorldWide! 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 construction-geotechnical, directional, environmental, explorationblasthole, 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 Office Administrator: Michele Stevens Editor: Bonnie Love Public Relations Professional: Jan Allen Public Relations Professional: Linda Peterson Public Relations Professional: Sheryl Kevilly Representative: Marie Cunningham Field Ambassador: Rob Caho Editorial Contributors for this month Mark Battersby Tim Connor Ron Peterson Tim Rasmussen “Billy Bob Smith” Britt Storkson 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 effort not 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, independently owned and operated. 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 2023, 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 Standing with our Drilling Industry . . . Yesterday ~ Today ~ Tomorrow ~ PROSPECTING ~ This is a unique concept in today’s world of selling, isn’t it? Ever wonder how much time and effort people put into trade events which bring people together to conduct business? Not just hours, days, months, but sometimes years. They invest so very much to help each of us reach our target audience. That not only means manufacturers, distributors, and suppliers; it also means YOU, the contractor. “How?” you say. Just think of how many people walk those trade show floors and how many may just be looking for what you have, Mr. Contractor. Prospecting is usually thought of as searching for GOLD. Well, all of us are searching for GOLD - our CUSTOMERS. Whether the event is large or small is not the question. How many attendees / exhibitors are expected to come, and HOW MANY say they are coming and don’t, isn’t your answer. The QUESTION is - was this a missed opportunity in PROSPECTING? Remember, the “numbers” don’t matter - it’s the QUALITY that does. RONNIE’s REAL WORLD . . . with its ups and downs ~ but always positive thoughts, hopes, and dreams. See you on the trail . . . BIG YEAR AHEAD! - UGWA, LGWA, ESWWDA, and TGWA! With Pen - Computer in hand . . . Veronica I. “Ronnie” Jones, 850-547-0102 ronnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com ~ From the Cover ~ SEMCO S20,000 Pump Hoist, 44’ derrick, single speed main line, hot shift PTO automatic transmission, 2000’ capacity sand reel, hydraulic oil cooler, auxiliary hydro valve, LED light kit for mast, power tong hookup to the rear, 16’ steel flatbed, factory mounted on customer's NEW Ford F-750. Don't miss out, CALL TODAY, 719-336-9006 PO Box 1174 • 7595 US Hwy 50 N Lamar, CO 81052-1174 E-mail: semcopumphoist@gmail.com www.SEMCOoflamar.com This unit was sold to a longtime customer of SEMCO - Longmire Swaging in Lemoore, CA. Put some Gold beneath your Christmas Tree - Add a Prospecting Box. Carol Larson (AWWDA) - Ronnie praying before the luncheon 2015. Prayers for each of you from WWDR. Merry Christmas! Christmas! 6 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 511
9 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Contractors’ Benefit Auction Brings Relief to Drilling Community The WorldWide DownHome DrillFest™ Contractors’ Benefit Auction raised a record-breaking total of more than $19,000 to benefit families in the drilling industry. The recipients, nominated by Innovative Pump Solutions and Advanced Water Well Technologies, were able to use funds to recover from personal hardships they’ve endured. Veronica I. “Ronnie” Jones, CEO and President of WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc. said, “The goal of our benefit auction is to help those in the drilling community during their time of need. With the support of everyone who donated and bid on items, we were able to provide financial support to a couple of very worthy families who are having a difficult time right now. We are so proud and grateful to all who have participated in these auctions. It truly was a group effort of all those in attendance. I would like to personally thank each and every one of you for your support.” To see more photos of the event, visit this page at: worldwidedrillingresource.com Ronnie Jones with Shawn Marlow of Advanced Water Well Technologies. Jerry Shupert and Scott Preslar of Innovative Pump Solutions with WWDR’s Ronnie Jones. Rig on the Way Adapted from Information by Pulsar Helium Inc. Pulsar Helium Inc. signed a contract with Capstar Drilling, Inc. for the provision of drilling services at its Topaz helium project in Minnesota. Capstar will provide #314, an Elenburg 6000 trailer-mounted rig, to drill the appraisal well at Topaz. The program is for one well, with the option to drill a second at Pulsar’s discretion. The well will be named Jetstream #1. Jetstream #1 will be drilled to a vertical depth of 2200 feet with the collar location anticipated to be within 65 feet of the original discovery well, LOD-6, which flowed 10.5% helium. The hole will be rigged up with a blowout preventor and the well drilled with an 8.5-inch polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bit to intermediate casing depth. Following the intermediate casing run, the reservoir interval will be drilled with a 6.25inch PDC bit to total depth (TD). During drilling, a gas chromatograph and mass spectrometer will be on location to provide real-time gas composition measurements, including helium concentration. On reaching TD, an open-hole logging suite will be used to evaluate the reservoir zone for the next phase of evaluation. Permits are in place with final approval granted last September. Preliminary civil works were conducted in March, and final access and drill site civil works are complete. The drill location is on private mineral rights, which Pulsar has a lease for nonhydrocarbon gases. The company has also agreed upon terms to acquire the surface rights. “The signing of the drilling contract for the appraisal well at our flagship Topaz helium project is a significant milestone. Now the countdown to realizing Topaz’s potential begins. I am proud of our team’s efforts to adhere to the aggressive work program we set ourselves, including the seismic survey which is currently underway. As a company that listed on the TSXV only last month, we will continue to provide consistent news flow for our investors,” commented Pulsar’s President & CEO Thomas Abraham-James. Photo courtesy of Capstar Drilling. EXB
10 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Ice Core Drilling in Peru Adapted from Information by the University of Wisconsin-Madison Engineers with the University of Wisconsin-Madison Space Science and Engineering Center are using ice cores from the glacier of Quelccaya Ice Cap - the largest ice cap in the Peruvian Andes Mountains, to study the area’s past climate. As a member of the U.S. Ice Drilling Program (IDP), Engineer Elliot Moravec is accustomed to working in the extreme environments of Antarctica and Greenland. On this expedition, at an altitude of 18,600 feet, he would face different challenges as it required transporting gear including shelters, fuel, cold weather clothing, and a drill. “In places like Antarctica and Greenland, there is an infrastructure built around science that makes transporting heavy equipment easier with available vehicles, snow machines, and airplanes,” said Moravec. “We didn’t have any of that for this trip, and we couldn’t have done it without the help from the community organizers and porters.” Over the years, glaciers trap particles of air, snow, sea salts, dust, volcanic plumes, and even pollutants from humans - providing a snapshot in time of the climate. Ice cores, much like tree rings, tell a story throughout its deep layers. As the largest ice cap in the area, Quelccaya has been studied since the 1970s and has helped scientists understand the climatology of the Andes Mountains and surrounding regions. IDP drills are specialized tools designed and chosen to meet the conditions and needs of each expedition. For this trip, Moravec operated an electrothermal drill, an ice coring drill that uses heat to burrow through a glacier while retrieving ice cores. The drill consists of more than 30 pieces including motor, generator, gearboxes, and tower assemblies. Once assembled at the peak, drilling was a methodical process with it taking five days until they hit the bedrock 420 feet below. During operations, the drill produces about 13 feet of ice core every hour. Warming daytime temperatures threatened to melt the cores so the crew conducted operations and retrievals at midnight, transporting the cores below base camp to a refrigerated truck. Traversing the dangerous terrain back to camp meant affixing microspikes to their boots to negotiate the jagged and pointed ice formations. The team roped themselves together to avoid falling into any of the deep crevasses. Thunderstorms near the summit were a concern, resulting in the team deploying a lightning rod while drilling. Previous core samples revealed the ice cap to be more than 1400 years old; however, new analytical techniques may allow them to look deeper into the layers to uncover more about the ice cap’s history. As challenging as the ascent, the team’s descent included safely transporting more than 2000 pounds of ice off the summit. From there, the cores were transported using sleds, human power, horses, freezer trucks, and ultimately a ship from Lima to New York City, before finally arriving at an institute in Maine. “The Quelccaya deployment was definitely the most memorable for a lot of reasons,” said Moravec. “I’ve never been to South America, never climbed a mountain, never used a thermal drill before, never transported gear with horses, or worked with a team where there was a language barrier. It was amazing to be with so many people working hard towards a science goal like this.” Moravec is a member of the IDP team, providing ice drilling field support to the National Science Foundation through a cooperative agreement with Dartmouth, University of Wisconsin, and University of New Hampshire. Photos by Mariusz Potocki. ENV Moravec deployed and operated an electrothermal drill for the first time on this project.
11 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Thank You for 2023 by Ronald B. Peterson Drilling Products Specialist, Mountainland Supply Company My how the time flies. It’s already that time of year when we take a little time to reflect on the events which occurred during the past year, and give thanks for our successes. Thanks to WorldWide Drilling Resource®, Ronnie, and her staff for continuing to provide an informative and useful tool to the drilling industry to promote the sharing of knowledge, grow the industry, and improve our performance and value to our customers. Thank you all for your support in 2023 and throughout the years. The drilling industry is an interesting, challenging, and rewarding opportunity. Drilling has been at record levels; and coupled with societal changes, supplies have often been difficult to find and all too frequently at a higher price than we are expecting. We have been forced to understand our business better to keep things moving forward. It has also become more difficult to find and retain staff. These challenges have forced us to be better at managing our operations so we can meet our deadlines and stay profitable. The drilling industry is very adaptive and supportive of one another and, as a result, it continues to do well even during these difficult times. The goal of WorldWide Drilling Resource® continues to be to provide you with a valuable tool to help you run your business better and stay informed about current trends in the industry. WWDR and the various contributing writers all want to address your questions and concerns so they can provide you with information that will help you run and maintain your business. In any drilling operation, it is always a good idea to get with your supplier and have them get with their vendor representatives to ensure you have the most current information and you are using the correct products, in the correct manner, to ensure you maximize the effectiveness of your drilling operation. This will help you lower your overall costs, lower the cost to your customers, minimize environmental concerns, ensure the safety of everyone involved, and maintain your profitability. Please submit any questions to WWDR and the appropriate contributing writer so they can provide you with the information you want and need. Remember, this is your resource and can only provide information you need and can use, if we have your input. I hope you have had a successful year and can take a break and enjoy the holidays with your family and reflect on the successes you have had, recharge, and prepare to meet 2024 head-on. May your holidays be full of joy and may you have a Happy New Year. Thank you for all you do and for your dedication and support. Thanks for reading. As I often say, “A man has to know his limitations.” Working together, it is amazing where we can go. Enjoy the trip! If you have any questions on drilling fluids or if you have another topic you would like addressed, please remember this column is ours. Help me make it of value to you. It needs to be an interactive tool. I need your feedback. Please send your suggestions to Michele (below) and she will get them to me. Ron Ron Peterson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com WTR Mfg., Scree Atlan Inc. en & ntic E-mail: atlantic@ce Atlantic-Screen.c Manufactu 302-684-3197 Manholes j Clear PVC Pipe j Inline Chemical Mixers j ell Rehabilitation Produ jW e.net com urers 7 ucts Milton, DE 19968 142 Broadkill Rd ½” - 24 ranging f Perforated of Slotted Fax: 302-384-0643 more! MUCH And j Bailers Sampling j Locking Caps j Filter Sock j Bentonite j 4” from d Pipe dand 3
WorldWide Drilling Resource® is proud to be a member of these associations. Alberta Water Well Drilling Association Tel: 780-386-2335 awwda2019@gmail.com www.awwda.ca Arizona Water Well Association admin@azwwa.org www.azwwa.org Black Hills Chapter of the ISEE President: Megan Buurma www.bitwconference.org British Columbia Ground Water Assn Tel: 604-530-8934 secretary@bcgwa.org www.bcgwa.org California Groundwater Association Tel: 916-231-2134 Fax: 614-898-7791 www.groundh2o.org Concrete Sawing & Drilling Association Tel: 727-577-5004 info@csda.org www.csda.org Empire State Water Well Drillers Assn Tel: 315-225-3060 gramsue67@gmail.com www.nywelldriller.org Florida Ground Water Association 850-205-5641 djessup@executiveoffice.org www.fgwa.org Indiana Ground Water Assn Tel: 888-443-7330 Fax: 765-231-4430 ingroundwater@gmail.com www.indianagroundwater.org Iowa Geothermal Association Tel: 515-224-6469 info@iowageothermal.org www.iowageothermal.org Louisiana Ground Water Association Tel: 225-744-4554 jwalton022@aol.com www.lgwa.org Missouri Water Well Association Tel: 314-974-6992 Mwwa.MoWaterWellAssociation@yahoo.com National Drilling Association Tel: 877-632-4748 Fax: 216-803-9900 info@nda4u.com www.nda4u.com National Ground Water Association Tel: 800-551-7379 Fax: 614-898-7786 www.ngwa.org Nebraska Well Drillers Association Tel: 402-476-0162 jason@h2oboy.net www.nebraskawelldrillers.org New Jersey Ground Water Association barbemor@gmail.com www.njgwa.org North Carolina Ground Water Assn Tel: 919-876-0687 elaine@execman.net www.ncgwa.org North Dakota Well Drillers Association Tel: 701-870-1579 Jason Mohl ndwda@outlook.com Northern Plains Chapter of the ISEE President: Thom Hunter Tel: 307-689-0050 www.bitwconference.org Ohio Water Well Association, Inc. Tel: 740-828-9200 Fax: 740-828-2635 ohiowaterwellassociation@gmail.com www.ohiowaterwell.org Oklahoma Ground Water Association Tel: 405-513-2558 www.okgroundwater.org Ontario Groundwater Association Tel: 519-245-7194 Fax: 519-245-7196 executivedirector@ogwa.ca www.ogwa.ca Pennsylvania Ground Water Association Tel: 814-553-3883 pgwadirector@gmail.com www.pgwa.org Shallow Exploration Drillers Clinic Tel: 402-472-6863 https://shallowdrillers.com/ South Carolina Ground Water Association Tel: 803-356-6809 Fax: 803-356-6826 scgwa@sc.rr.com www.scgwa.org South Dakota Well Drillers Association Tel: 605-390-3233 Randy Taylor rltaylor@rap.midco.net www.sdwda.org Southwest Mississippi Community College Well Construction Technology Tel: 601-276-3738 cdunn@smcc.edu Your Association can be listed here! Find out how - 850-547-0102 Ronnie Tennessee Water Well Association Tel: 865-761-4363 tnwaterwellassociation@gmail.com Texas Alliance of Energy Producers Tel: 940-723-4131 Fax: 940-723-4132 joannb@texasalliance.org www.texasalliance.org Texas Ground Water Association Tel: 512-472-7437 Fax: 512-472-0537 ssteinbach@twca.org www.tgwa.org Utah Ground Water Association Tel: 801-541-7259 www.utahgroundwater.org Virginia Water Well Association Tel: 804-387-8395 Fax: 804-302-7978 info@vawaterwellassociation.org www.vawaterwellassociation.org West Virginia Water Well Drillers Association Tel: 804-387-8395 wva.wwda@gmail.com www.wvwwda.org Mix ‘N Match is Back! 850-547-0102 Is your State Association Listed Here? Benefits of listing include: j Name Recognition j Contact Phone & E-mail j Link to Website If You Aren’t Listed Here, Ask Your State Offices. Call for details - 850-547-0102 12 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
13 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® WHO’S IN THE NEWS Additional announcements from the Deep Foundations Institute, GRL Engineers, Inc., and Goulds Water Technology can be located in our online issue at: worldwidedrillingresource.com New DTH Hammer Makes its Debut in the U.S. Kovai Drilling Applications is bringing its line of down-the-hole (DTH) hammers to the U.S. at its new San Jose, California location. Combining cutting-edge technology with a deep understanding of the needs of drill operators, Kovai hammers usher in a new era of drilling efficiency, effectiveness, and speed, setting a new standard for excellence in drilling. For more information, click on this box in our online issue. New Executive Director of Global Industry Relations Pile Dynamics, Inc. and GRL Engineers, Inc. announced Mohamad Hussein, P.E. has been hired as executive director of global industry relations, a newly developed role within the organizations. His vast experience in the deep foundations industry, along with his ability to train engineers, contractors, and others on foundation testing and analysis, will be a great benefit to the companies and the industry overall. The WWDR Team enjoyed meeting Vidhya and Aswini from the Kovai Team at the WorldWide DownHome DrillFest™ 2023.
14 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The “Idiots” Corner by “Billy Bob Smith” Let’s talk about a few trends idiots are trying to shove down our throats these days. I am not going political here, but after watching lots of news items for the past few years, I think I am going to go crazy. So, I will just talk about a few stupid things idiots are trying to make a standard in our living. And please take your political hat off for a few minutes as you read. First, let me give you a few time-tested definitions before I dig into the weeds. Trends - a general direction in which something is developing or changing. Direction - a course along which someone or something moves. Change - replace (something) with something else, especially something of the same kind that is newer or better or worse. Consequences - a result or effect of an action or condition. Those definitions were a big help, weren’t they? Let’s see a few quotes: Now, let me mention a few topics/groups manipulated by these morons: sports, education, medicine, business, politics - should I go on? Nah, I think you get where this is all going. I could give you hundreds of examples, but want to keep it brief. Sports - The designated hitter has been dividing baseball players, managers, media, and fans for 41 years, which means it’s not going away, folks! So it’s time to stop being babies about it. Health Care - Health care policy is created with the input of the health care industry, private employers, unions, and, to some extent, consumers. Health policy issues typically arise when the interests of one of these groups are over- or underrepresented at the policymaking table. A number of health policy issues are at play in the U.S. today, and they have tangible effects on the frequency and quality of our health care. Sexual orientation and gender identity are two other important factors affecting access to health care. Health services such as abortion, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection), and gender confirmation surgery are often politically contentious. Education - Schools are embracing bilingualism, but only for some students. Teaching gender issues to children is not what education is about. Racial and economic segregation remains deeply entrenched in American schools. Business - Electric cars? Okay - but electric everything else? I will never get on a plane being flown by a robot. I will never take a taxi in NYC driven by a robot. Politics - I am not going to even go here - to save you from hearing more about what you already know. To wrap this up quickly, if we keep going in some of the directions we are currently going in a variety of business and social enterprises, in my opinion, life will never be the same for any of us in ten to 20 years and it won’t be pretty. So we all have a choice - speak out or shut up. Which do you think the idiots will do? And the smart and mature folks? Billy Bob Contact him via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com “Never argue with an idiot. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.” ~Mark Twain “The kind of man who wants the government to adopt and enforce his ideas is always the kind of man whose ideas are idiotic.” ~H.L. Mencken “Always remember . . . Rumors are carried by haters, spread by fools, and accepted by idiots.” ~Ziad K. Abdelnour “You can't make anything idiot proof because idiots are so ingenious.” ~Ron Burns The staff and management of WorldWide Drilling Resource® would like to thank all of our advertisers, state associations, and subscribers for a fantastic 2023. Your continued support means the world to us. ~ Ronnie, Troy, Marie, Michele, Sheryl, Linda, Jan, Rob, and Bonnie
15 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Operational Changes for Mount Isa Mines Adapted from Information by Glencore Glencore announced significant changes to its Australian metals operations in Queensland. The company notified its workers that after 60 years of copper mining and a six-year extension beyond its original expected life of mine, Glencore’s Mount Isa Mines underground copper operations of Enterprise, X41, and Black Rock, along with the copper concentrator, will close in the second half of 2025. After conducting a range of studies and reviews seeking to further extend the life of the underground copper mines, it was determined the remaining mineral resources are not economically viable due to low ore grades and areas where, due to geological conditions, safe extraction cannot be achieved using current technology. This is all coupled with aging infrastructure. Mount Isa underground copper mines, copper concentrator, and supporting services currently employ around 1200 people. Lady Loretta zinc mine, located about 86 miles northwest of Mount Isa, which was a finite orebody with a seven-year mine life, will also close in 2025. Sam Strohmayr, chief operating officer of Glencore’s Zinc Assets in Australia said, “We know this decision will be disappointing for our people, our suppliers, and the Mount Isa community. The reality of mining is that mines have a beginning, middle, and end. And unfortunately, after 60 years of operation, Mount Isa’s underground copper operations have now reached that end. We want to give our people as much time as possible to consider the best options for them and their families, which is why we are notifying our workers and the community almost two years before these mines close. Our focus over the coming months will be to work closely with our people and contractors, our suppliers, and the Mount Isa community to provide support as we move towards closure of these assets.” The company, which produces coal, copper, cobalt, nickel, zinc, lead, and silver from 23 mining operations in Australia, will continue to invest in the long-term future of Mount Isa Mines, including the George Fisher Mine with a current life of mine to 2036, plus the zinc-lead concentrator and lead smelter. They also expect the copper smelter and refinery to continue operating to 2030. “These are important strategic assets, not just for Glencore, but for the North West Minerals Province and the future of Queensland’s critical minerals industry,” said Mr. Strohmayr. MIN February Issue Deadlines: Space Reservation - December 25 Ad Copy - January 1
Is the Reamer I Have Good Enough? Adapted from Information by Melfred Borzall Although the fluted reamer that comes with your drill rig might seem like a great multipurpose reamer, it’s definitely not a one-size-fits-all solution, especially if you’re looking to maximize production. Too many times, drill operators make the mistake of thinking one backreamer can do it all. The fluted reamer that comes with a rig is great under certain conditions, but there are several situations where a specialized reamer could increase production. Some issues to consider include: Insufficient Mixing Action - Fluted reamers generally provide insufficient mixing action, because it’s not what they’re designed for. This can be very problematic in combination soils like clay, where poor mixing can cause material to ball up. When drilling in soft ground, if you don’t get completely stuck, pulling your reamer back through sticky material will be slow going. Insufficient mixing and pumping action will result in your reamer simply displacing the material in the hole, rather than flowing the cuttings out. At the very least, you’ll have to do multiple passes through the same hole. Struggle in Sandy Conditions - Fluted reamers struggle in sandy conditions. The reamer typically can’t mix enough drilling fluid with sand to help stabilize the hole and keep it open. Without the right mixing function, you risk collapse. Your hole is much more likely to cave-in around the reamer itself or right behind your reamer, where you’re trying to pull product pipe. Flutes aren’t Deep Enough - Finally, even though fluted reamers are designed with openings (flutes) to carry slurry out the back of the hole, the flutes generally aren’t deep enough to allow enough material to pass through. As a result, you’re essentially shoving lots of material forward which will slow you down significantly during pullback, and could even cause inadvertent returns. Why use a fluted reamer? Fluted reamers perform well under certain conditions. The solid design and carbide cutters of fluted reamers make them ideally suited for abrasive, hard ground conditions like gravel or shale. Most fluted reamers are also typically under a couple feet long, which is pretty short. Because of this compact design, fluted reamers can perform well in tight areas. If you’re primarily using a fluted reamer for tight areas, it is recommended you add a couple of open blade reamers to your toolshed. Open blade reamers allow more mixing action when needed and feature tapered cutters which gradually bore through material. As always, your reamer choice depends on the material you’re in. The fluted reamer which comes with your drilling rig is great under certain conditions, but they do have limitations. DIR See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 1027 16 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
18 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® January 3-5, 2024 ~ The 43rd Annual Utah Ground Water Association Conference & Expo will be at the CasaBlanca Resort in Mesquite, Nevada. Wednesday starts with a golf tournament at 10:30 a.m., then vendor setup at 6:00 p.m. Thursday starts with a skeet shoot at 8:00 a.m. at The Smokin Gun Club, followed by the opening of the trade show of products and equipment at noon. Continuing education classes run from 1:35 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., a vendor social hour at 4:30, then the banquet and scholarship auction. Friday begins with breakfast and vendor displays at 7:00 a.m., then more seminars, the general membership meeting and board elections, and lunch, which includes raffle drawings. Register now at www.utahgroundwater.org January 9-10, 2024 ~ Be sure to mark your calendar for the Louisiana Ground Water Association Annual Convention and Trade Show at the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville, Louisiana. The event begins Tuesday evening with bingo, cocktail hour, and dinner. Earn your education credits Wednesday and also visit with representatives and view products during the trade show. This is the only opportunity to obtain education points for the state of Louisiana. New this year, is a raffle for a Chillest cooler and 60-inch solar table. Don’t miss your chance to win! Get the registration form at www.lgwa.org Are you planning to go? Wo See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 931
Association Need Help? 850-547-0102 - Ronnie 19 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® January 16-17, 2024 ~ Get set for the Empire State Water Well Drillers Association Annual Meeting which will again be held at the Turning Stone Casino in Verona, New York. Sit in on a variety of classes and presentations, then browse the vendor displays of products and services for the water well industry. There’s also an auction, cocktail party, and member meeting. Visit www.nywelldriller.org January 23-26, 2024 ~ The Texas Ground Water Association Annual Convention will be at the San Marcos Conference Center in San Marcos, Texas. Exhibitor setup is Tuesday afternoon. Continuing education classes are Wednesday from 8:00 a.m. to noon; meet and greet with exhibitors is 2:00 to 5:00 p.m.; and the scholarship foundation auction starts at 5:30 p.m. Trade show exhibits are from 8:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. on Thursday; awards luncheon is from noon to 1:30 p.m.; continuing education runs from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.; and the social event starts at 6:30 p.m. Meetings are set for Friday starting at 8:00 a.m. More information at www.tgwa.org See more events at www.worldwidedrillingresource.com online issue. orldWide will be looking for you! CUSTOM SPECIALTY WINCHES FOR WELL DRILLING AND PUMP HOIST TRUCKS Manufactured with your specifications in mind BLOOM MANUFACTURING, LLC Custom Engineering Solutions Since 1910 Independence, IA 50644 USA www.bloommfg.com P: +1 319-827-1139 P: 800-394-1139 F: +1 319-827-1140 DESIGNED FOR OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE & SAFETY MAINLINE WINCHES 3000 to 35,000 pounds Up to 130 feet per minute SANDLINE WINCHES 1800 to 8000 pounds Up to 800 feet per minute WINCHES
20 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The HPI-Process Powered by the JET Master: Part 2 A scientifically proven, high-efficiency method to develop and rehabilitate wells by Don Baron, Managing Director U.S./Canada, JET Master by Etschel Brunnenservice and Leonard R. Etschel, Vice President, Etschel Brunnenservice GmBH The JET Master® is not just another horizontal water jet. It loosens deposits, has power to reach the entire filter pack, and cleans the entire area during the same pass. With four nozzles working in two planes, a 24-inch cleaning band is simultaneously cleaning that section, whereas a much smaller section is being cleaned using the high-velocity narrow jetting beam. The JET Master develops quicker for better efficiency. It completes the well development or rehabilitation process within hours rather than days, saving money, and is suitable for all filter medias. Thus, in contrast to the other methods, no further work needs to be done. With the birotational direction of each nozzle pair, its high-pressure impulse is over four times greater acceleration than ordinary high-velocity water-jetting units, even the 10,000- to 20,000-psi units. The JET Master creates the impulse superior to ordinary impulse units to remove debris in less time than other units. It is also safe to be used on PVCslotted screens without any damaging effects. Some horizontal water jets have damaged steel and stainless screens, but not JET Master. These high-pressure impulses cause the filter pack to vibrate. Soft and hard deposits break down and are pulverized by its abrasion. Therefore, chemicals may not be necessary to rehabilitate an old well. Many customers are reluctant to allow the use of harsh chemicals into their wells, and they also do not like the hazardous by-products and costs associated with their removal. “That’s why customers are asking for this new green technology to be used in their wells,” said Roger Russell of Russell Drilling in Nacogdoches, Texas. “We intend to set a new standard here in Texas with this sophisticated technology.” Above, between, and below the two heads, with two counterrotational MAXINOZ nozzles each, a lower pressure area or suction zone is created which increases the suction potential. This helps draw loosened deposits, debris, or other solids back into the well. A submersible pump then removes those solids the JET Master draws back into the wellbore. As the JET Master is developing a certain screen interval, the pump is discharging water and debris from the interval. The percentage of solids versus total water discharge can easily measure whether the interval needs more work or if it is fully developed. When taking samples at regular intervals, one knows immediately if the section is fully developed or rehabilitated. Substituting an air line for submersible pump makes the analysis of this operation difficult, but it can still be accomplished by measuring output in gallons per minute with the differences in differential line pressure to achieve a comparison specific capacity. The JET Master can be individually adjusted for any well diameter and material. The rotary heads are always at the perfect distance from the filter; this is critical to achieve maximum depth effectiveness for each well. “The pressure, size of nozzle, nozzle exit velocity and angle, moving speed and withdrawal speed, are widely adjustable to allow use in a wide range of well intake types. This includes wooden stave and glued or sintered prepacked screens, slotted pipe, PVC, louvered, and wire-wound screen,” stated Stuart A. Smith, MS, CGWP, consulting hydrogeologist from Ground Water Science in Poland, Ohio. He also said, “based upon available background information, rapid results are possible with the HPI-process.” Dwayne Graff of Well Initiatives in Ontario, Canada said, “I have had my eye on this technology for several years and always felt it was the right tool for the job. We understand the value of jetting in difficult formations and will often utilize our drilling rigs as described in the article above to assist in new development and existing well rehabilitation. Once I understood the science behind the JET Master, I knew immediately it [had] distinct advantages over other existing similar technologies. The main advantages of this technology are: rapid results, scientifically documented case studies, no hazardous chemicals needed, can be used on any well construction, patented, and license protected technology. As an added benefit, this tool excels at cleaning casing scale from older wells facilitating the ability to properly inspect the well casing for deterioration/failure. There are some others that have tried to copy this system, but not all systems get positive results, demonstrating the value of this proprietary technology.” A development, redevelopment, rehabilitation, or chemical treatment project is now much more efficient. The chemical rehabilitation project taking many days now takes a fraction of the time, without the chemicals, and typically with better results. In the 40-gallon reservoir tank, either chlorine or other bentonite thinning chemicals can be easily added and injected under high pressures with remarkable end results said Don Smith of Donald Smith Company, Inc., of Headland, Alabama. “This has saved weeks of work for my crew on one job alone, compared to the older method of swabbing deep, difficult-to-develop wells.” Not only are his customers happier with these results of higher specific capacities, he can sell his service at a premium. Using the high-pressure water impulse has significantly increased his employees’ efficiency in the field when jetting wells and they are performing at a higher level. Don thinks they have created a better work environment since they have been using this new green technology without all the harsh chemicals. This low open area bridge slotted pipe was rehabilitated with HPI-Process powered by the JET Master. The upper portion had hard deposits removed by this powerful technology. WTR
See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 1409
22 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® New Technical Training Center Adapted from Information by Volvo Construction Equipment (CE) A new technical training center officially opened at Volvo CE’s headquarters in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania. The $7.3 million facility will be a training hub of expertise and innovation for Volvo CE dealer service technicians on diesel and electric heavy equipment, machine control technology, connectivity and productivity services, and more. It includes in-person classrooms, virtual labs, and three service bays to accommodate the company’s largest machines, including the L350H wheel loader, A60H articulated hauler, and R100 rigid hauler, allowing those trainings to occur inside year-round. Volvo CE offers training to dealer service and sales teams from across the United States and Canada. This includes three levels of technical certifications for maintenance, diagnostics, and repair of Volvo equipment, plus a new certification to perform commissioning and decommissioning of Volvo electric machines. The new center doubles the number of students which can be trained in a year, compared to its former off-site location. It will also provide hands-on and virtual training to Volvo employees globally. It was also announced the Customer and Training Center received a 100% certified landfill-free certification by Volvo Group North America. “I’m proud to work for a company that invests in not only the equipment and technology of the construction industry’s future, but also the North American workforce,” said Scott Young, acting president of Region North America, Volvo CE. “The technicians who come through this training center will be prepared for a more climate-friendly and connected future, supporting our customers in this fast-changing industry.” The company is also exploring collaboration with local high school and career and technology centers to provide heavy equipment technology training and mentorship opportunities. C&G
23 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Water Transfer Pipeline Adapted from Information by Essex & Suffolk Water Located in one of the driest parts of the United Kingdom, Essex & Suffolk Water utilities is continually looking for ways to provide a reliable, resilient supply of water to its 1.8 million customers. Their latest strategy is the Layer to Langford Pipeline Project to improve the raw water transfer capacity between its operating areas. About 12 miles long, the pipeline will move water from Layer-de-la-Haye Water Treatment Works to the existing storage reservoir at Langford Water Treatment Works. The proposed pipeline route was developed following extensive ecological surveys, engineering considerations, and landowner engagement. Allied Exploration and Geotechnics then completed ground investigation work along the proposed route, taking samples up to 50 feet in depth to assess underlying soil conditions. There was even archaeological fieldwork which involved excavating strip trenches across the pipeline route to allow for the search of artifacts. Complete Moling Services is using the nonintrusive horizontal directional drilling method to cross two major rivers in Essex - the River Blackwater and Langford Cut. A pilot tunnel will be drilled approximately 20 feet beneath the rivers, followed by work to widen the tunnel to accept the larger diameter water pipeline. The pipeline should be complete during the summer of 2025. DIR Nitrate Coated Premium Liners 5x6, 5x8, & 5x10 Gardner Denver 5-1/2x8 & 5-1/2x10 Gardner Denver 7-1/2x8 & 7-1/2x10 Gardner Denver Rods Heat-Treated & Chromed 5x6, 5x8, & 5-1/2x8 Gardner Denver 5x10 & 5-1/2x10 Gardner Denver 7-1/2x8 & 7-1/2x10 Gardner Denver New Pumps In Stock Gardner Denver 4x5 TEE Triplex. Gardner Denver 5-1/2x5 TEE Triplex Gardner Denver 4x5 or 4-1/2x5 Duplex Gardner Denver 5x6 Duplex Gardner Denver 5x6 Air Drive Duplex Gardner Denver 5x8 Duplex Gardner Denver 5-1/2x8 Duplex Gardner Denver 7-1/2x8 Duplex Gardner Denver 7-1/2x10 Duplex Gardner Denver 5-1/2x5 THE Triplex Gardner Denver 5x8 PAH Triplex Call for Prices. We Have a Variety of Brands of Mud Pump Parts and Power Units in Stock. Special or Obsolete Parts Made to Order. Cash for Surplus Mud Pumps. Rebuilt Mud Pumps 4-1/2x6 Gaso Duplex 4-1/2x6 Oilwell Duplex Gardner Denver 4-1/2x8 PA-8 Triplex Gardner Denver 5x6 Duplex Gardner Denver 5x10 Duplex Gaso 5x10 Duplex OVER 300 PUMPS IN STOCK Armstrong Machine Co. Inc. Pocahontas, IA 50574 USA 712-335-4131 ~ 24 Hours 7 Days a Week • Fax: 712-335-4565 800-831-4527 USA & Canada (8AM to 4PM Monday-Friday) armstrongmachine.com amci@armstrongmachine.com Hydraulic Grout Pumps 5”, 6”, & 7-1/2” See us at Groundwater Week ~ Booth 1023
24 DECEMBER 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® March 1-2 The Park Vista Hotel Gatlinburg, TN 2024 TWWA Annual Meeting & Trade Show (865) 761-4363 tnwaterwellassociation@gmail.com tnwaterwellassociation.org - Educational Sessions - Trade Show - Auction - and More! Drilling Into Money Not Boring by Mark E. Battersby The New Beneficial Owners Report Most businesses in the drilling industry - new or old - will, beginning January 1, 2024, be required to report the operation’s ownership or face a substantial fine and/or the possibility of jail. A new law requires the filing of a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Thanks to this new rule, all domestic and foreign businesses formed or registered with a state will be required to report BOI. The new law was designed to provide law enforcement with BOI for detecting, preventing, and punishing terrorism, money laundering, and other misconduct through business entities. All so-called “Reporting Companies” formed on or after January 1, 2024, must report both their Beneficial Owners and Company Applicants within 30 days of their formation or registration. Existing businesses have until January 1, 2025. The key for filing is whether the entity was required to file with the secretary of state or similar office when the business was created. According to many experts, it’s quite possible that sole proprietorships and most general partnerships will not have to file a BOI report because they aren’t required to file formation documents. The term “Beneficial Owner,” “includes any individual who, directly or indirectly, either (1) exercises substantial control over a reporting company, or (2) owns or controls at least 25% of the ownership interests of the reporting company.” Beneficial Owners can also be anyone with a significant role in the management or direction of these entities. While there is no fee for filing BOI reports, there are, of course, substantial penalties for failure to comply. Willful failure to report or willfully providing false beneficial ownership information will be punishable with a civil penalty of up to $500 per day plus a possible criminal fine of $10,000 and up to two years in prison, or both. There are 23 categories of entities which are exempt from the BOI reporting filing rules. Most exemptions are for entities already subject to substantial federal or state regulation. There is also an exemption for so-called “large operating companies,” which meet three requirements, including employing more than 20 full-time employees in the U.S. and with gross receipts or sales exceeding $5 million. Now is the time for every drilling company to think about filing their operation’s initial BOI report. Reports are to be filed electronically with FinCEN any time after January 1, 2024, via their website. Mark Mark E. Battersby may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com
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