Volume 20 March 2023
SEMCO S8,000H Pump Hoist, 46’ derrick, triple line option 22,000-pound capacity, two-speed main line winch, hot shift PTO automatic transmission, driver side pipe rack with ratchet straps, hydraulic oil cooler, 1500” line capacity sand reel, corded remote control, auxiliary hydro valve, 12’ steel flatbed, factory mounted on customer’s Dodge 5500. semcopumphoist@gmail.com SEMCOoflamar.com This is the second SEMCO pump hoist for Henry Peters in Seminole, Texas. We appreciate our repeat customers and watching their businesses grow. PO Box 1174 7595 US Hwy 50 Lamar CO 81052-1216 719-336-9006 719-336-2402 Fax Check out our Facebook Page!
WorldWide Business Directory™ Are you Planning to go?...................................................16 Breaking News..................................................................13 Classifieds: WorldWide Buyers’ Guide™...................43-56 Education Connection......................................................34 Hot Off the Press.................................................................9 Industry Announcements................................................24 Obituary: Crane, Jack Franklin........................................36 Obituary: Griffin, Sr., Wade Norman................................36 Obituary: Stockert, Walter A............................................36 Photo Page...................................................................17,28 Product Spotlight..............................................................25 Who’s in the News............................................................13 WorldWide Association Memberships................................12 WorldWide .........6 Acker Drill Company.............................................................4 Alberta Water Well DrillingAssociation (AWWDA) Convention...8 Allegheny Instruments........................................................30 Armstrong Machine Co., Inc. (AMCI)..................................26 Atlantic Screen & Manufacturing, Inc. (ASI)........................20 Baker Water Systems.........................................................10 Best in the West Drill & Blast Conference (ISEE)…..........14 Better Water Industries Inc..................................................40 Bit Brokers International......................................................11 Bitco, Inc.............................................................................39 Blackadar Insurance Agency...............................................29 Bloom Manufacturing, LLC.................................................17 Cotey Chemical Corp. (CCC)..............................................34 Drill King International.........................................................31 Drilling Equipment Sales, Inc. (DES)..................................56 Drilling Supply & Mfg (DSM)...............................................49 Eijkelkamp/SonicSampDrill.................................................23 GEFCO (BAUER Equipment America, Inc.)..........................1 GeoPro, Inc.........................................................................21 Geoprobe Systems®............................................................55 GeoRocFor, Inc...................................................................15 Geothermal Supply Company, Inc. (GSC)..........................39 Heron Instruments, Inc.......................................................28 Hole Products.....................................................................34 Horizon Hoist......................................................................38 Infinity Tool Manufacturing....................................................3 Infinity Tool Manufacturing....................................................8 KS Bit, Inc...........................................................................27 Mills Machine Company, Inc...............................................37 Moab Bit and Tool Company, Inc.........................................16 N&N Drilling Supply.............................................................40 Palmer Bit Company...........................................................53 SEMCO, Inc..........................................................................2 Specialty Rig Sales (SRS)..................................................25 Star Iron Works, Inc. - Construction....................................18 Star Iron Works, Inc. - Water Well.......................................19 T&T Carbide Inc..................................................................42 TDH Manufacturing Inc.......................................................35 TennesseeWaterWellAssn (TWWA)Annual Mtg& TradeShow..33 TerraRoc.............................................................................32 The Funding Booth...............................................................7 The Utility Expo...................................................................54 Ur-Energy...........................................................................13 Well-Vu, Inc.........................................................................22 Wyo-Ben, Inc......................................................................41 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 Focus for March 2023 - Geotechnical / Foundations and Pilings C&G DIR ENV EXB G&O GEO MIN WTR CME Drill Rig Aids State Geotech Team......................9 A Foundation Built for the Future...............................15 Launch of the Latest High-Tech Geotechnical Vessel..23 Peterson, Ronald: Geotechnical, Foundations, and...30 Battersby, Mark E.: Drilling Into Money Not Boring..10 New York’s First Offshore Wind Farm........................19 Kwader, Thomas: Environmental Monitoring.............8 Investigative Soil Borings vs. Geotechnical Borings..18 Foundations Mark a Milestone for Dogger Bank Wind...41 Premier Gold Project Marks a Successful Year.........11 Missouri S&T Mining Expert Advises National...........14 Wilson, Jr., Robert Evans: The Un-Comfort Zone II...37,38 Penn. Building Carbon Capture Research Facility.............21 “Smith, Billy Bob”: The “Idiots” Corner...................26 Top Ten Geothermal Countries in 2022.....................29 Connor, Tim: Afraid to Fail?.....................................33 Geothermal Reservoirs Studied for Storage............39,40 The Oak Island Mystery: Part Two............................20 Storkson, Britt: The Downside of Updates..............22 The Well Bubbler ~AUnique Well Monitoring Device...32 Aardvark Packers..............16 Acker Drill Company..........16 Bit Brokers International....16 Bitco, Inc...........................17 Centerline Mfg. Co.............17 ChemGrout®......................17 Diedrich Drill......................20 Drill King International.......20 Drill Pipe, Inc.....................20 Drilling Equip. Resources..21 Eastern Driller Mfg. (EDM)...21 Eijkelkamp / SonicSampDrill...21 Flomatic Corp....................24 Heisey Machine Co...........24 Hole Products....................24 Mitsubishi Materials Corp..25 PennDrill Mfg.....................25 Star Iron Works, Inc...........28 T&T Carbide, Inc................28 TerraRoc............................29 VMAC................................29 Windmill 702 LLC...............29 WWDR.............................28 5 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
Proudly Made in the United States of America - delivered WorldWide! 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 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 Chief Marketing Officer: Ed Moranski 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 Editorial Contributors for this month Mark Battersby Tim Connor Thomas Kwader Ron Peterson “Billy Bob Smith” Britt Storkson Caleb Whitaker 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 Being “On the trail” sure does give us a great deal of pleasure. (Like having this wonderful opportunity to capture this moment.) This year’s TGWA Convention had a lot on the plate of every member of this GREAT association. Just like all Texans, they stand steadfast for all the tasks that come before them, and they will always have the full support of WorldWide Drilling Resource, Inc., behind them. Can you identify these fine Texans? Send your answers to ronnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com. RONNIE’s REAL WORLD . . . with its ups and downs ~ but always positive thoughts, hopes, and dreams. See you on the trail . . . NEXT UP ~ Missouri Water Well, New England Water Well, and CONEXPO-CON/AGG With Pen - Computer in hand . . . Veronica I. “Ronnie” Jones, 850-547-0102 ronnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com 6 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Texas Ground Water Association (TGWA) Past Presidents’ Breakfast 2023 in San Marcos, TX. Featured Articles for March - Geotechnical / Foundations and Pilings Foundation for the Future Page 15 Latest High-Tech Geotech. Vessel Page 23 Rig Aids Geotech Team Page 9 Soil Borings Page 18 Foundations Mark a Milestone Page 41
7 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
8 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Thursday, April 13th 11:00 am - 5:00 pm Display Setup 6:30 pm - 8:00 pm Board of Directors Meeting 8:00 pm - 11:00 pm Complimentary Wine & Cheese Reception Contact - Sheena Larson 780-386-2335 awwda2019@gmail.com www.awwda.ca Saturday, April 15th 9:00 am -10:30 am Technical Sessions 10:30 am - 2:00 pm Trade Show Open with Lunch (tickets required) 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Annual Meeting Second Session Friday, April 14th 8:00 am Associate Members, Suppliers, and Technical Members Meeting in Trade Show Room 8:30 am - 9:30 am Continental Breakfast in Trade Show Room 8:30 am - 12:00 pm Trade Show is Open 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm Luncheon (tickets required) with Guest Speaker Levi Stanford plus AWWDA Awards and Presentations 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm Technical Sessions 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm AWWDA Annual Meeting First Session 7:00 pm - 11:00 pm Trade Show Open - Entertainment with Dueling Pianos, Buffet Food (tickets required) Decorate your booth & dress in a costume! Bring treats for the little ones in attendance. ~ Don’t Miss the Silent Auction which begins Friday Night and Ends Saturday at 1:00 pm ~ This Year’s Theme: (Best Dressed) Alberta Water Well Drilling Association Convention & Trade Show April 13-15, 2023 Red Deer Resort & Casino Red Deer, Alberta, Canada Environmental Monitoring by Thomas Kwader, Ph.D., P.G. Owner, Qwater Well Developer and WorldWide Drilling Resource® Hydrogeologist You Need to have a “Plan B” in Place to Address Catastrophic Water Supply Issues “We begin to realize the true value of water when the well runs dry,” is an old saying I use often because of its obvious importance to everyone. It was probably spoken long ago by the owner of a shallow well that always supplied sufficient water, but was “dry” at a time when he needed it most. Recent events serve to remind us of our reliance on water without even considering the possibility it would become unavailable for use either because the well “ran dry” or became contaminated to such a degree it was unsafe. Through the years, our water systems have evolved from dug wells to drilled wells, to wellfields, to reservoirs capable of supplying millions of gallons of water per day. Generally speaking, this evolution of large water systems has been a reliable way of supplying clean, safe, potable water to thousands or even millions of users at very reasonable costs. However, recent events illuminate even more brightly that operators of large water systems need to be cautious of “putting all your eggs in one basket” and having a functional Plan B. Those events include toxic or biological contamination, drought, bursting pipes, or excessive demand. A vacation at a major venue found us under a boil water advisory (not easy in a hotel) for five days because one well had bacterial contamination which was introduced to the closed-loop system of the remaining wells. Even though it can be quite costly, we MUST prepare and have contingencies (Plan B) in place and functioning ahead of time to cover these loss-of-use events. And, as always, conserve and encourage conservation. Tom Tom Kwader may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com ENV
9 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Researching Cobalt Replacement in Bits Sandvik invests heavily in innovation, with around 2600 of the company’s 39,000 employees performing research at some 50 centers worldwide. For years, they have been trying to find a solution for replacing or decreasing the use of cobalt in the company’s rock drill bits, where hard tungsten carbide is mixed with cobalt, which acts like a binding glue, creating an extremely hard composite to quickly drill through rock. “We wanted to do research to investigate if it is possible to achieve a similar performance if we substituted cobalt with a high-strength steel,” said Ida Borgh, materials specialist. Last year, there was a call for research projects on sustainable metals. This reflected the auto industry’s shift to electric cars and the subsequent increased draw on the world’s supply of cobalt, which is used in car batteries, as well as other applications. The time was ripe to apply for funding. Sweden’s innovation agency, VINNOVA approved a research project for three years in cooperation with KTH Royal Institute of Technology and Boliden Minerals, the Swedish multinational mining and metals company. KTH will be responsible for materials modeling based on Sandvik requirements, using their newly developed method that can optimize new high-strength steel grades, which can potentially be used as a binder phase in cemented carbides. The drill bits will also be tested in one of Boliden’s mines. This means the entire value chain will be covered in the project. Sandvik has already decreased its demand for cobalt by recycling used drill bits. If this research project is successful, it could pave the way for future cobalt-free drill bits, giving a positive impact from a sustainability perspective and decreasing vulnerability in the supply chain. For a link to this website, visit this page at: worldwidedrillingresource.com CME Drill Rig Aids State Geotech Team Adapted from Information by Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) A huge dri l l rig operated by the field operation section of INDOT’s Geotechnical Engineering Division (Geotech) is so productive, even during difficult jobs, INDOT personnel gave it a nickname: “Mean Jean.” After their old rig became unreliable and frequently broke down, Geotech purchased the new rig - a Central Mine Equipment (CME) 55 on a Peterbilt 348 chassis. Drilling contractors are using the rig to perform geotechnical investigations across Indiana, including borings, collecting soil and rock cores, sampling pavement cores, and performing lab testing. INDOT engineers analyze field and lab data to develop a subsurface profile and optimize foundation design to support bridges, roadways, pavement, retaining walls, and drainage structures. The data also helps inform engineers when dealing with landslides, karst, unstable soil, soft rock, or any caving issues which may result from abandoned underground coal mines. Geotech tackles most of INDOT’s in-house design and emergency projects. Without the help of Mean Jean, they would not be nearly as effective. The rig is 27 feet long, 10 feet wide, and 11 feet high, with an additional 25-foot mast height. It carries dozens of 5-foot-long hollow-stem augers and 5-foot solid-stem augers, plus split spoons and rods for sampling. Mean Jean is working year-round collecting soil samples at proposed INDOT projects. Routine borings go 20 feet deep, but the crew has also used the rig to take 120-foot borings. During those jobs, the 360-gallon water tank is employed to flush out fine sand and/or rock core fragments between drillings. “There are 259 soil types in Indiana, and it’s important for engineers to know what they’re dealing with,” said crew member Eric Roush. “I enjoy the job, as I’m assuring that citizens are getting the best road product.” C&G
10 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Drilling Into Money Not Boring by Mark E. Battersby Smarter Education Deductions Far too many drilling professionals ignore the impact of education on their business or the operation’s employees - one of the major assets of every business. When it comes to smarter workers, everyone benefits thanks in large part to our tax laws. The drilling operation prospers with smarter, better-trained employees - and a tax deduction when the business foots the bill for employee education or training costs. Those smarter employees, along with the business’s owner(s), can reap tax deductions for the education costs they foot. A drilling operation may deduct the cost of "ordinary and necessary" expenses paid for employee education and training - even amounts paid to others. It may also deduct the cost of education if the education or training "maintains or improves skills required in the trade or business," or the education is required by law or regulations for maintaining a license, status, or job. Educational assistance programs allow employers to provide employees with educational assistance of up to $5250 annually which can be excluded from the employee’s income. And, although the tax law requires an actual “plan,” the rules do not require an employer to actually fund the plan. In fact, most businesses with a plan pay the educational benefits out of the operation’s general fund. Education expenses are legitimate business expenses for most individuals. And, don’t forget, deductible educational expenses include books, tuition, and travel costs to and from school. Of course, expenses incurred to meet the minimum requirements of an individual’s present trade or business, or those which qualify them for a new trade or business, are not deductible. A key question in many businesses is whether the education-related benefits paid by the employer are deductible from the employer's business taxes and, probably even more important, whether the benefits are taxable to the employee. For employers, the amount paid or reimbursed for an employee’s education expenses is a tax-deductible business expense. As an added bonus, employees may be able to exclude the payment or reimbursement from their gross income as a working condition fringe benefit. Regardless of who foots the “bill” for education, the rewards of smarter, better-trained employees are something every drilling operation can reap. What’s more, whether a drilling professional is self-employed, an employee of his or her own business, or simply an employee, tax deductions and unique write-offs abound for anyone willing to look for them - or seek direction from an expert. Mark Mark E. Battersby Contact via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com
11 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Premier Gold Project Marks a Successful Year Adapted from Information by Ascot Resources Ascot Resources has been making strides in its Premier Gold Project located on Nisga’a Nation Treaty Lands in the prolific Golden Triangle of British Columbia. Over the last year, construction has significantly advanced in many key project areas. The project kicked off with drilling and blasting to create a portal. Once mine services such as compressed air, water, and ventilation were established, underground ramp development followed. Good rock quality contributed to steady advance rates. Exploration and infill drilling also began last year, comprising approximately 59,000 feet equally split between exploration and infill holes. Exploration drilling has mainly been concentrated on the Sebakwe and Day Zones, while infill drilling has focused on further defining the orebody in the Big Missouri deposit. According to Derek White, president and CEO of Ascot, a borehole in the Sebakwe Zone intercepted gold “representing the highest grade drilled by Ascot in recent years.” He said, “The Sebakwe Zone continues to impress with its high-grade pedigree and growth potential.” Other key advancements in the project involved establishment of surface facilities including ventilation, water supply and handling, material handling and stockpiles, offices, and satellite communications. Underground developments such as muck bays, sumps, and ore access drift were also completed, along with the main ramp. Many other activities are planned for the Premier Gold project in the near future. These include: k Completion of an optimized life of mine plan. k Advancement of underground ramp development with target delivery of ore for pre commissioning by late 2023. k Completion of a site preservation plan. k Stope definition drilling at Big Missouri, from both surface and underground. k Underground diamond drilling to probe additional historical openings. k Health and safety initiatives related to screening and construction protocols. Production is expected to begin between late 2023 and early 2024. Mine portal development. Drilling and blasting operations. Visible gold intercepted in the Sebakwe Zone. EXB
WorldWide Drilling Re ® source the keys to the new generatio family recently celebrated his n of drilling professsionals. . He wil retirement with a party Tex Springs, Associated D Dunken served retirem Darren Dunk America, Inc. GEFCO/BAU WW The l be handing over as. Friends and rilling in Dripping is the owner of ent. en on a well-de- in congratulating Equipment ER eam joins T DR Join us in wishing him many wonderful years of retirement. 12 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
13 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® WHO’S IN THE NEWS Additional announcements from Doosan Infracore North America and Deep Foundations Educational Trust can be found by clicking this box in our online issue at: worldwidedrillingresource.com Hole Products Acquires Atom Bits Hole Products, an American manufacturer and supplier of a wide range of drilling tools and equipment with 11 locations in the U.S. and 2 in Canada, has completed the acquisition of Atom Bits, a Canadian manufacturer of diamond drill bits and tools. Atom Bits’ manufacturing facility is based in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and has sales in more than 25 countries. The company manufactures exploration drilling tools, specializing in premium diamond core drill bits. Atom bits are engineered to drill deeper, longer, and faster. “This acquisition will not only complement our range of products that we offer to our clients, but also will expand our excellent service and range of products into other parts of the world. The quality of Atom Bits and the solid team that they come with, will play a key role in our growth plans,” said Brad Oothoudt, president of Hole Products. Send your announcements to bonnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com Wellmaster Announces New President and CEO James White brings more than 25 years of senior leadership experience to the position. He joined the company in 2017. “It is my pleasure to announce James’ appointment as President and CEO,” said Doug White, outgoing company president. “James has demonstrated the leadership and vision to grow Wellmaster and create a lasting impact for our team and stakeholders.” Doug will transition to the position of executive director following his 30-year tenure as company president. Work Opportunity Ur-Energy is seeking experienced drill contractors to complete development drilling and install uranium production wells (PVC water wells) at our Lost Creek and Shirley Basin uranium ISR mines in Wyoming. We offer competitive contracts for qualified contractors. Ur-Energy supports its contractors by supplying bits, mud, cement, casing, as well as backhoe services and cementing units. Program Specifics: • Mud-rotary drilling, water well license not required • Average well depth of 450 feet • Rigs need to be 1400 class or larger with an onboard air compressor • Contractor to provide water truck, pipe truck or trailer, and helpers • Mobilization of equipment covered For more information, contact: Mike Mellin, Mine Geologist: mike.mellin@ur-energy.com 307-265-2373 x429 or Randy Harvey, Drilling Supervisor: randy.harvey@ur-energy.com 307-324-4100 x437 www.ur-energy.com Project start date is May 15, 2023 and we are offering multiyear contracts.
14 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Register Online at: https://bitwconference.org Spearfish Holiday Inn Convention Center April 19-21, 2023 For more information or questions, contact: James McNulty - bitwconference@gmail.com Phone: (605) 786-4959 Tuesday Registration and early exhibit April 18 set-up (after 10am or before noon on Wednesday). Wednesday Regulatory Session, Crazy April 19 Horse Mountain Tour, Paul Muehl ScholarshipTrapShoot, Bob Martin Scholarship Golf Scramble, Primer Hour. Thursday Technical Sessions, Booster April 20 Hour, Banquet, Scholarship Auction. Friday Technical Sessions. Booths April 21 close after 10am coffee break. Conference ends after lunch. Everyday Exhibitor booths with the latest in blasting technology and products, lunch, door prizes, and much more! Blaster recertification credit hours available for Wyoming and many other states! Missouri S&T Mining Expert Advises National Academies Committee Adapted from Information by Missouri University of Science and Technology (Missouri S&T) Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei, Union Pacific/Rocky Mountain energy professor in mining engineering and chair of mining and explosives engineering at Missouri S&T, contributed to a new report on the potential impacts of gold mining in Virginia from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. The Commonwealth of Virginia commissioned the report because of recent exploration in the state due to rising gold prices. “My role on the committee included providing input on mining engineering best practices, how mining engineers perform feasibility studies to start mines, best practices to mitigate possible impacts of gold mining in Virginia, and the sustainability implications of mines,” said Awuah-Offei. The report addresses Virginia gold mining’s effect on public health and the environment, and makes several suggestions regarding regulation, public engagement, and financial assurance to protect taxpayers. “There is a lot of good information in the report that other states could benefit from, especially those that are in a similar situation as Virginia,” explained AwuahOffei. “The best practices we identified could be used anywhere.” The study was sponsored by the Virginia Department of Energy and the National Academy of Sciences’ Arthur L. Day Fund. “One of the highlights for me was the trust that public and the commonwealth put in our committee,” said Awuah-Offei. “Knowing that the report was going to the legislature and would influence decisions that have significant implications meant we had to do a good job and produce a sound report.” The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are private, nonprofit institutions providing analysis and advice to the nation to solve complex problems and inform public policy decisions related to science, technology, and medicine. They operate under an 1863 congressional charter to the National Academy of Sciences, signed by President Lincoln. Dr. Kwame Awuah-Offei. EXB Thank you for all that you do. I always enjoy seeing you at the Texas Ground Water Convention! Tyler R. Jones Flint and Walling Austin, TX
15 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® A Foundation Built for the Future Adapted from Information by Keller North America Since 2018, the Maine Medical Center (MMC) in Portland, Maine, has been working on the largest modernization project in its 150-year history. Known as northern New England’s largest hospital, the new MMC buildings will create additional patient rooms and state-of-the-art surgical suites. The final part of the $588 million development will see the construction of the new six-story Malone Family Tower, designed primarily for improved cardiovascular care and surgery. The tower, scheduled for completion later this year, will replace a 45-year-old, 11-story parking garage. It’s a complex transformation requiring careful demolition and a large excavation with a significant permanent earth retention system and other foundational and ground improvement elements. Keller North America has been involved in the project from an early stage. According to David Finocchio, business development executive for Keller, “A critical element of the hospital’s construction phasing and logistics plan required the existing parking garage structure be kept in use for as long as possible before its demolition. A portion of the proposed structure was to be located within the entire existing garage footprint and nearly 30 feet below the level of the existing spread footing foundations. These constraints required solutions to a significant, unbalanced earth-loading problem and an extremely challenging excavation sequence.” Further complicating matters was a utility corridor located between the garage and another building, which contained the hospital’s fiber-optic cables. This meant any movement or damage during the tieback installation and excavation would have significant consequences. Much of the work happened during the height of the pandemic when MMC was under significant pressure. Additional utility surveys, subsurface exploration, and 3D modeling were carried out to map out the area, making sure none of the proposed work would affect critical utilities. After considerable study, the design-build team’s solution included incorporating a portion of the existing garage foundation wall into the temporary and final earth retention systems. This extended the in-service life of the garage for nearly a year, minimizing patient and hospital worker disruption and removing the need for construction of a new foundation retaining wall. Working within the busy garage, the Keller team drilled permanent anchors 100-200 feet long through the existing garage basement wall in just eight feet of headroom, a painstaking process which took about a year to complete. Once the permanent tiebacks were installed and locked off, the garage was demolished and the site excavated, carefully avoiding disruption of the utility corridor and/or damage to the previously installed, permanent tieback elements. Once the cut reached ground level of the former garage, an additional 30-foot cut was required to reach subgrade for the proposed construction. To facilitate this additional excavation and to add stiffness for lateral movement control, the company constructed a permanently tied-back secant pile wall in front of the previously tied-back garage foundation wall. The secant piles were installed to depths of about 5060 feet. On the other sides of the excavation, temporary earth retention consisted of a more economical drilled soldier pile with lagging support, along with conventional concrete pit underpinning. Although most of the ground was composed of relatively dense glacial deposits, there were pockets of compressible clay materials which were not suited to mat foundation support. So, for a portion of the site, the team incorporated rigid inclusion ground improvement to improve bearing capacity for the new structure. “Given the overall complexity of the job, the long schedule, and demanding conditions, this has been a tremendous commercial and technical success,” said David. “We’ve worked hand in glove with the contractor and excavator, and it has been an extremely safe and well-managed project. I’d like to recognize the excellent work of the whole team . . . They should all be proud of their efforts.” C&G
16 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® April 13-15, 2023 ~ Heads up! The Alberta Water Well Drilling Association’s 64th Convention & Trade Show will be at the Red Deer Resort & Casino in Red Deer, Alberta, Canada. Everyone is welcome. The Board Meeting is set for 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, followed by a wine and cheese reception at 8:00 p.m. Friday starts with meetings at 8:00 a.m. The trade show floor opens at 8:30 a.m. where a continental breakfast will be available. Following the trade show closure at noon, lunch will be served with awards, presentations, and guest motivational speaker Levi Stanford. Technical sessions run from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m., when the first session annual meeting will take place. The trade show displays open up again at 7:00 p.m. This year’s theme is Halloween, so get your costume ready to join in the fun. There will be food and dueling pianos. Saturday has more education opportunities from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m., exhibits from 10:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., with the second session annual meeting following. Visit www.awwda.ca See more events at www.worldwidedrillingresource.com online issue. Are you planning to go? WorldWide will be looking for you! April 19-21, 2023 ~ Mark your calendar for the 34thAnnual Best in the West Drill & Blast Conference at the Spearfish Holiday Inn Convent ion Center in Spearfish, South Dakota. Wednesday has a regulatory session, primer hour, and exhibitor displays - along with the Crazy Horse Mountain tour, golf scramble, and trap shoot. Thursday features the trade show, booster hour, and the annual awards banquet and scholarship auction. More technical sessions and vendor displays are set for Friday, with booths closing after a 10 a.m. coffee break. The conference adjourns after lunch. All three days ~ enjoy lunch, door prizes, and more! Register online at www.bitwconference.org/register.html DID YOU KNOW? WWDR places your booth numbers on your advertisements FREE! All you have to do is ask.
17 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® 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 Lots of nice door prizes! Justin and Josh were on hand for Baroid IDP. Continuing Education classes were packed to capacity. Drilling Equipment Resources. The WPS Team had a steady stream of visitors to their booth. Dawn, Keith, and Robert represented ESI Supply. Bingo night was a great success with lots of fun and prizes. This is just a sneak peek ~ visit www.worldwidedrillingresource.com/gallery.html for more photos online! 2 0 2 3
18 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 SERVINGTHECONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY Serving the Drilling Industry Investigative Soil Borings vs. Geotechnical Borings Adapted from Information by Talon LPE Reasons for clients to seek help from an environmental drilling company can vary a great deal. Sometimes they need to find out if contaminants are present in the soil on a piece of property. Other times, they need to know what the geological landscape looks like below the surface. The drilling project will differ based on their needs. Two of the most common projects are investigative soil borings and geotechnical borings. While they may seem the same to a casual observer, the way borings are taken and reasons behind them are quite different. Investigative Soil Borings - Some environmental drilling projects are focused on finding out what might be in the soil, instead of what the soil structure is. These are investigative soil borings. This is the most common type of sampling taken by engineers and geologists. With investigative borings, the sample is often disturbed by the sampling method, meaning the soil can be a mix of soils from different levels. This kind of boring looks at soil texture, moisture content, and the kind of soil. It can also be used to look at soil’s nutrient and contaminant levels. Sampling near the surface is easy with a hand auger or backhoe. For greater depths, a drilling crew will use an auger or other drilling method to get down to the desired depth. Samples can be taken with a split spoon or other extraction method. Geotechnical Borings - When it is critical to know what the soil structure looks like down below, a geotechnical boring is the appropriate method. This method requires digging a borehole with as little soil disturbance as possible. With geotechnical borings, the choice of sampling method is crucial to retrieving samples as undisturbed as possible, so soil samples represent the level where they are taken. This kind of boring helps engineers and geologists know about the soil bearing pressure; active soil load; location of the groundwater table; and characteristics of each layer of soil. These samples are often done on building sites and places where finding groundwater depth is necessary. Common sampling methods for gaining geotechnical borings include long split spoon or piston samplers. Geologists or engineers will usually advise clients on which sampling method they need. ENV
19 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® 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 New York’s First Offshore Wind Farm Adapted from Information by South Fork Wind South Fork Wind will be New York’s first offshore wind farm; a centerpiece of New York’s ambitious offshore wind energy goals. Its 12 turbines will produce enough clean, renewable energy every year to power 70,000 homes. The project is fully committed to supporting renewable energy by creating an enduring offshore wind supply chain centered around New York communities and workers. From stronger coastal storms to sea level rise, the harmful effects of climate change are a stark reality on Long Island; South Fork Wind will make a real difference in combatting climate change and meeting East Hampton’s clean energy goals. • South Fork Wind will help the town of East Hampton meet its 100% renewable energy goals. • The wind farm will displace millions of tons of carbon emissions, the equivalent of taking 60,000 cars off the road. • A facility in Montauk has also been proposed to support the long-term operations and maintenance of South Fork Wind, where they will base crew transfer vessels to transport maintenance team members to and from the wind farm. Regardless of the route selected, installation and operation of the cable will not impact the Wainscott Beach. Access will be maintained during installation of the cable, which will be set at least 30 feet under the beach, protecting it from erosion. The installation process utilizes the well-proven technology of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to bore a hole along a prescribed path deep under the parking lot, beach, and nearshore area to a distance approximately one-third of a mile offshore from the mean high-water level. Next, a plastic conduit pipe (with a maximum diameter of 24 inches) will be pulled through the hole, then the transmission cable (measuring 8 to 12 inches in diameter) will be pulled through the pipe. The HDD process started in November last year and is expected to be completed by the end of April. South Fork Wind brings unparalleled experience in developing offshore wind to New Yorkers, as a 50/50 partnership between Ørsted, the global leader in offshore wind and global leaders in climate action, and Eversource, New England’s largest energy company and premier electric transmission builder. Recently ranked the most sustainable company in the world, envisioning a world run entirely on green energy, Ørsted will become the world’s first major energy company to become carbon-neutral by 2025. A large offshore jack-up vessel associated with the HDD work, such as this vessel used at Ørsted’s Hornsea One offshore wind farm in the UK, ensures the construction is completed as quickly as possible compared with a smaller vessel. DIR
20 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The Oak Island Mystery: Part Two Compiled by Caleb Whitaker, Worldwide Drilling Resource® A tiny island in Nova Scotia, Canada, named Oak Island, quickly became associated with possible buried treasure after Daniel McGinnis started excavating a strange depression in 1795. Local lore had long associated the area with pirates, such as Captain Kidd and Blackbeard, who would hide out in Nova Scotia’s secluded bays to evade the law. Legend holds a sailor confessed on his deathbed to burying Captain Kidd’s lost treasure on an island in Mahone Bay, where Oak Island is located. So, in the late 1700s when the search began, the hope for possible buried pirate loot enthralled the treasure searchers. John Smith, one of the original three men who discovered the strange depression, purchased the lot containing the pit so he could continue excavations. As news spread of the possible wealth hidden on Oak Island, more people joined the search, forming the Onslow Company - a professional venture with the sole purpose of recovering the treasure. In 1804, the Onslow Company started removing the backfill from the initial excavation. Along the way, they found the same marks in the clay and wooden logs which had been removed in the first exploration of the pit. At a depth of 30 feet, the crew found an undiscovered platform of logs, as well as remnants of charcoal. As the crew excavated, they continued to find platforms of logs in increments of about ten feet. At a depth of 60 feet, they found scattered fibers of coconut shells. This was surprising to the team for two main reasons: coconuts were not native to Canada, and in a time of long voyages across the sea, coconut fibers were used to secure and protect valuable cargo. At a depth of 90 feet, the fortune seekers uncovered a large square-cut stone tablet, which had an inscription of strange symbols, lines, arrows, and dots. Over the years, several possible interpretations of the symbols were given. In the 1860s, a linguistics professor gave the most popular translation, “Forty feet below, two million pounds lie buried.” After removing the inscribed stone, the crew resumed excavation. At a depth of around 100 feet, another wooden obstacle was discovered. When the crew found no evidence of treasure under the platform, they halted their excavation for the day. When the members of the Onslow Company returned to the site, they found the pit had filled with muddy water. They tried scooping it out to no avail, quickly realizing a new strategy would be needed. A few months later, the group decided to employ technology to overcome their misfortune. They used a mechanical pump with the hopes of clearing the tunnel so the men could resume excavating. The plan worked as the water level slowly began to recede down the clay wall. However, at a depth of around 90 feet, the water pump failed causing water to steadily return to the pit. With a quick fix being swept away, the team decided to halt work and regroup. The next year, the Onslow Company returned to the pit with a new idea. If the money pit was flooded, why not just bypass all of the tunnel's snares by simply avoiding the pit altogether? Their new strategy was to excavate a shaft 14 feet southeast and parallel to the flooded pit. Once the new shaft was excavated to a depth of around 110 feet, they would tunnel over toward the pit to collect the treasure. It was a solid plan, but a few feet from their objective the tunnel began to flood, leaving the team with two shafts full of water and no treasure. With finances running short and no progress, the Onslow Company was forced to accept defeat and disband. Even with the many setbacks and struggles, many still believed there to be buried valuables on Oak Island. Ultimately, the treasure hunt would continue 40 years later with the forming of the Truro Company which hoped to find treasure with new search methods. MIN Diagram courtesy of Oak Island Tours. 302-684-319 Mfg., Inc. & Atlantic Scree et om ducts 7 n E-mail: atlantic@ce.n Atlantic-Screen.c Pipe Clear PVC j Inline Chemical Mixers j ell Rehabilitation Pro jW DE 142 Broadkill Rd Milton, ½” - 24 ranging fr Perforated of Slotted Manufactu Fax: 302-384-0643 more! MUCH And j Bailers Sampling j Locking Caps j Filter Sock j Bentonite j Manholes j ” om Pipe and rers 19968
21 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Pennsylvania Building New Carbon Capture Research Facility Adapted from Information by Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Pennsylvania’s Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced plans for a carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) research and storage facility to house the department’s collection of core samples and drill cuttings. Core samples are used to advance research into the use of Pennsylvania’s subsurface geology. During a tour of the existing storage area Dunn said, “The samples available to the public through our Geological Survey are important to a broad range of research by universities, government agencies, and energy companies, so these improvements to our library will help advance carbon capture as well as many other research and decisions that rely on an understanding of geology.” DCNR’s Geological Survey has developed a repository of rock core and drill cuttings generated mainly through exploration drilling conducted in the gas and oil formations across Pennsylvania. The current repository, which includes donated samples and those collected by survey geologists, has limited space at the Pennsylvania Geological Survey headquarters in Middletown. The current Commonwealth of Pennsylvania budget provides $6 million for construction of a new core storage facility. “The new rock sample library will more than double the department’s current capacity to store, catalog, and analyze subsurface rock samples c o l l e c t e d throughout the state for f o c u s e d research on the state’s subsurface geology,” stated Gale Blackmer, DCNR Bureau of Geological Survey director. Blackmer said the department has started the process of identifying a location and selecting a construction contractor for the new facility. The mission of the DCNR Bureau of Geological Survey is to research the state’s geologic resources and topography; map the surface and underground rocks and geologic structures across the state; and make their findings available through publications and outreach. DCNR has been engaged on the topic of carbon capture utilization and storage for nearly 20 years. During this time, the Geological Survey has worked to provide understanding of the state’s geologic resources, including: j Conducting assessments of numerous underground geologic resources with the potential to serve as reservoirs where carbon dioxide (CO2) could be safely stored. j Case study evaluations of existing oil fields where CO2-enhanced recovery efforts may be employed. j Participation in multistate coalitions to guide seamless consideration of geologic storage options across state lines and throughout the Appalachian and Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The new facility is expected to more than double the current capacity for core samples and drill cuttings. G&O
22 MARCH 2023 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The Downside of Updates by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC Not all software updates are created better than the old stuff. Sometimes new software updates can actually degrade the product, not improve it. There is no guarantee “new and improved” really is “new and improved.” At my “day job” at a retail store, we use a portable scanning device to track stock status by providing product pricing and location information. We’ve been using these devices for something like 15 years now and I’m surprised at how little in the way of improved performance the numerous updates have provided over that time period. The device still locks up and needs to be rebooted on a regular basis, resulting in considerable wasted time. The newer version is smaller, more compact, and weighs less than the old one, but it still exhibits some of the same old problems that -apparently - still haven’t been solved in 15 years. Enter the Tesla electric car. Nora Naughton at Insider.com reported Tesla’s “unexpected braking” problem caused a nine-car pileup in California. “The crash occurred on Thanksgiving, hours after Tesla CEO Elon Musk announced on Twitter the car company's “Full Self-Driving Beta” would be available to all Tesla drivers in North America who have purchased the option.” Problems with self-driving software are not new or isolated incidents. The article goes on to say the National Traffic Safety Board is investigating 758 reports from Tesla owners for what’s been dubbed “phantom braking.” That’s where the car stops for some unknown (to the driver) reason. Most of us for one reason or another have had vehicles we were driving simply stop running - not a pleasant experience, but usually not fatal either. The Tesla vehicles, it has been reported, actively applied the brakes which greatly increases the chances of having a collision with something. The article goes on to say: “The new software appears to still have some bugs to work through.” Well, duh! That’s kind of like saying the surgery was successful, but the patient died. If the surgery was really successful, the patient would not have died if the objective of the surgery was to save the life of the patient. No matter how great the programmer is, the program must still be tested - and fully tested, not just the part the programmer thinks he or she “fixed.” That’s because by “fixing” one area of the program it is possible to alter other areas of the programming and not even be aware of the changes. Only diligent testing will reveal whether or not the program and computer are functioning properly. And this includes testing under ALL conditions, not just in the lab or test facility. The corporate bean counters don’t like to spend money on testing because they see no immediate return on investment, but it must be done if you want a reliable product. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com
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