22 AUGUST 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Boring with Ancasta Adapted from Information by Southern Water Ancasta, a manually operated tunnel boring machine (TBM) has been drilling tunnels across Hampshire, England. These tunnels are part of a roughly 11-mile drinking water pipeline project called the Southampton Link Main. TBMs are traditionally given female names to provide good luck for the project, a custom followed around the world. Ancasta was selected from dozens of suggestions by children across the region. Historically, Ancasta was a Celtic deity who was worshipped in Roman Britain and associated with the nearby River Itchen. Today Ancasta is a TBM weighing in at 14,330 pounds, with a length of about 8 feet, and bores a roughly 5-foot-wide tunnel. The whole Southampton Link Main project will take more than three years to complete. While most of the pipeline will be laid by digging trenches, in some areas, it will be installed by creating tunnels deeper underground to avoid disruption to major roads, railways, or precious ecological sites. The manually operated TBM is one of two machines drilling part of the hole for the project. The new underground pipeline will run from Otterbourne to Yew Hill reservoir, near Winchester, and then south to Rownhams water supply works on the outskirts of Southampton. Southern Water is working alongside MGjv, a joint venture between Galliford Try, M Group Water, and supply chain partner HB Tunnelling. Ben Ring, Director, Major Projects at Southern Water said, “The Southampton Link Main project has been underway since the middle of 2025, and there are many exciting aspects to major projects such as these. This is part of a wider set of projects designed to improve the resilience of our water network for our customers in Hampshire. The project will also provide future resilience for the Test and Itchen rivers and their wildlife.” HDD Texas Royalties are Paying Off Adapted from Information by the Texas Oil and Gas Association The release of data from the Texas Oil and Gas Association (TXOGA) indicates the industry has paid $27 billion in state and local taxes, as well as royalties for the 2025 fiscal year. Being the second highest amount in Texas history, this means nearly $74 million a day pays for Texas’ universities, roads, schools, first responders, and other essential services. In 2025, Texas school districts received $2.6 billion in property taxes from mineral properties producing natural gas and oil, pipelines, and gas utilities; counties also received $1 billion from property taxes. Starting in 2007, the collecting of data showed the Texas gas and oil industry paid more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in state and local taxes and royalties. This number does not account for the hundreds of billions of dollars in payroll. During 2025, the industry employed more than 495,500 people whose earnings averaged $133,095 yearly. This average is 68% higher than the average paid by other private sectors in Texas. Each job generates two additional positions totaling nearly 1.4 million jobs supported across the economy. Analysts predict the employment multiplier could hit three additional jobs per direct job. The gas and oil industry pays more per employee ($54,481) than the average private sector ($7,225). While setting records for fiscal gains, the industry has also set a record for production. In July 2025, production from Texas reached 5.85 million barrels per day of crude oil while gas reached 35.4 billion cubic feet per day in August. The majority of this production comes from the Permian Basin. To maintain an increase in production, infrastructure of the transportation pipelines had to grow as well, reaching 472,790 miles - helping increase the export capacity. “In Texas, lasting progress is built on performance, not opinion. Talk doesn’t grow jobs, keep homes warm, or cars running. Action, investment, and innovation drive greatness across the Texas economy,” stated TXOGA President Todd Staples. “Even during a year dominated by market challenges, Texas oil and natural gas has proven once again to be the power behind Texas progress.” G&O Win a prize! Send completed puzzle to: WWDR PO Box 660 Bonifay, FL 32425 fax: 850-547-0329 or e-mail: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Fill in the spaces with the following words: CREEK RACER RINSE SHIRT SKIES TRACK CLEANER Time for a Little Fun! July Puzzle Solution: RED BLUE FLAG STARS EAGLE WHITE STRIPES Congratulations to: John Crowell Crowell Drilling Company in Louise, TX Winner for July!
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