Volume 23 October 2026 see more on page 6
3 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
Are you Planning to go?.......................................................21 Breaking News......................................................................13 Classifieds with WorldWide............................................39-48 Dealmakers...........................................................................24 Education Connection..........................................................30 Fun Page................................................................................19 Hot Off the Press.....................................................................9 Obituary: Carlin, Mike...........................................................17 Obituary: Emmermann, Professor Rolf...............................27 Obituary: Mask, Ronald Joseph “Ron”...............................33 Obituary: Thurber, Thomas A. “Tom”..................................27 Photo Page............................................................................20 Product Spotlight..................................................................37 Who’s in the News................................................................13 WorldWide Association Memberships....................................34 WorldWide ..............6 Allegheny Instruments........................................................37 Atlantic Screen & Manufacturing, Inc. (ASI)........................17 Baker Water Systems.........................................................32 Better Water Industries Inc..................................................31 Bit Brokers International (BBI)..............................................7 Bitco, Inc.............................................................................26 Central Mine Equipment Company (CME)..........................15 Drill King International.........................................................18 Drill Pipe, Inc.......................................................................14 Drilling Equipment Sales, Inc. (DES).................................1,6 Drilling Supply & Mfg (DSM)...............................................25 Geoprobe Systems®............................................................48 Geothermal Supply Company, Inc. (GSC)............................8 Heron Instruments, Inc.......................................................16 Infinity Tool Manufacturing....................................................2 Infinity Tool Manufacturing..................................................14 KS Bit, Inc...........................................................................38 Mills Machine Company, Inc...............................................13 Mountain States Ground Water Expo.................................21 N&N Drilling Supply...............................................................9 National Ground Water Assn. (NGWA) Groundwater Week …3 SEMCO, Inc........................................................................47 SIMCO® Drilling Equipment...................................................4 Star Iron Works, Inc. - Construction....................................22 Star Iron Works, Inc. - Water Well.......................................23 Utah Ground Water Assn. (UGWA) Conference and Expo...29 Well-Vu, Inc.........................................................................35 Advertisers Featured Editorial October 2026 - Environmental Aardvark Packers Atlantic Screen & Mfg., Inc. Baker Water Systems Bit Brokers International Centerline Mfg. ChemGrout® Drill King International Drill Pipe, Inc. Eastern Driller Mfg. (EDM) Empire State Water Well Drillers Assn. Groundwater Week Heisey Machine Co. Hole Products Kovai Drilling Applications Louisiana Ground Water Assn. Merrill Manufacturing Mt. States Ground Water Expo O-K Bit Service, Inc. Shaking it Up with Drills.............................................14 Blacklick Creek Sewer Tunnelling.............................22 Seismically Resilient Foundation for a Hospital.........30 Maintenance Saves Time and Money........................31 Fresh Water Under the Sea.......................................11 Cold Ice Drilling.........................................................29 Stainless Steel Centralizers and Environmental........36 Battersby, Mark E.: Drilling Into Money Not Boring....7 Exploring for Heat from Below...................................27 Exploration Agreement for Howell’s Lake..................33 Gas Pipelines for Tomorrow.......................................16 ANOH Passes its First Gas.......................................28 Finding a New Use for a Nuisance............................35 Exploring Clean Energy...............................................8 Using Geothermal Resources to Meet Clean Energy...17 Storkson, Britt: The 1.2 Million-Pound Mistake.......21 Running Underground Cables Without Trenching.....24 E-News Readers’ Choice - A Clay-and-Water Mixture...26 Smith, Billy Bob: The “Idiots” Corner.......................32 New Technology Leads to Safer Jobsites..................19 Connor, Tim: Professionalism..................................28 Bartholomew, Gary: Water for Life..........................12 Banking on Groundwater...........................................23 Water for Kenya........................................................37 Star Iron Works, Inc. T&T Carbide, Inc. Texas Groundwater Assn. Twist Force Manufacturing LLC Utah Ground Water Assn. Victory Steel Products Corp. 5 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
6 OCTOBER 2026 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, exploration-blasthole, shallow gas & oil, geothermal, mining, water well, irrigation, wastewater; from bits, to pumps, to rigs, to tanks, through wire, and much, much, more. Whatever it takes to get the drilling job done! it takes to get the drilling job done! Managing Publisher/CEO/President: Veronica I. Jones Vice President: Troy Cunningham Office Administrator: Michele Stevens Editor: Bonnie Love Senior Editorial Assistant: Sophia Henline Representative / Special Assignments: Marie Cunningham Special Guest Representative: Ed Moranski Editorial Contributors for this month: Gary Bartholomew Mark Battersby Tim Connor “Billy Bob Smith” Britt Storkson 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 2026 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’ll see you On the Trail . . . NEXT UP ~ VEGAS . . . Groundwater Week! VEGAS . . . Groundwater Week! Drilling Equipment Sales ~ Your Connection for the Odin Drill 200! Call Jeff or Matt 828-322-3056 des@ drillingequip.com matte@ drillingequip.com Consultant: Mary Ann Pelletier We Recycle “One Day at a Time” September 3rd was the first day of the New Year for WorldWide Drilling Resource® magazine ~ for our workdays began in earnest on that day and have continued ever since. The statement the fisherman quoted in this “PassItOn.com” post by Steve Maraboli is truly correct. Each day is a new opportunity to live your life to the fullest. That is exactly what the WWDR Team does every day, and what we wished for you as we began our first day of the New Year for WorldWide Drilling Resource® magazine. Measuring Success ~ One Reader, One Advertiser, One more Friend for a Lifetime ~ That’s the WWDR Way. With Pen - Computer in hand . . . Veronica I. “Ronnie” Jones, 850-547-0102 ronnie@worldwidedrillingresource.com
Drilling Into Money Not Boring by Mark E. Battersby Profitable Business Financial Cleanups A thorough financial cleanup enables a business to deal, often quite profitably, with many of the challenges typically faced by those in the drilling industry. A timely, financial cleanup not only helps with better informed decision-making, it gives the drilling business owner or manager time for implementing all necessary strategic moves. Most importantly, “clean” financial records enable the drilling business’s owner and/or managers to identify taxsaving opportunities. For many, a cleanup might involve going paperless. Generally, however, a timely financial cleanup requires a checklist. Among the steps when taking a financial inventory are reviewing the operation’s general ledger carefully to identify any possible duplicate entries, outdated vendors, and inconsistent categorizations. A balance sheet cleanup will verify all assets and liabilities are properly categorized and realistic. Transactions may have been posted to the wrong accounts (e.g., classifying an asset purchase as an expense). This means: j Reclassifying transactions into the correct expense, income, asset, or liability accounts. j Ensuring tax-related items (sales tax, payroll tax) are posted accurately. j Generating clean financial reports. After all corrections are made, the following can be produced: * A clean balance sheet showing accurate entries for assets, liabilities, and equity. * Updated income statements reflecting the drilling operation’s correct income and expenses. * Accurate cash flow statements, which are ones that track actual in-flows and outflows of cash. A financial statement cleanup helps with: Accurate Decision-Making - Drilling professionals rely on correct data to make informed decisions. Compliance with Tax Laws - Inaccurate records can cause errors in tax filings, leading to penalties or audits. Improved Cash Flow Tracking - Clean books reveal true cash positions and help manage expenses more effectively. Investor and Lender Confidence - Financial statements are often required for loans or funding, and clean, organized records build trust. Don’t forget how important safeguarding the business’s financial data is. Regularly backing up and securing all files and protecting them from potential, and potentially expensive, data losses is imperative - not just as part of a timely financial cleanup. Today’s businesses face a wide range of challenges including acquiring new customers, expanding the business, and the evolving compliance requirements on federal, state, and local levels. A thorough midyear cleanup can help every drilling business owner and manager identify challenges and potential tax savings - with time to act on them. Mark michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com 7 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
8 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Exploring Clean Energy Adapted from Information by Tucson Electric Power Tucson Electric Power (TEP) is starting to take steps to better understand geothermal energy and its potential for providing clean, reliable energy for Arizona. The company is evaluating a wide range of emerging technologies that could complement their expanding portfolio of wind, solar, and energy storage. As energy demand grows, customers, communities, and businesses are looking for around-the-clock clean power. Advanced geothermal energy systems promise clean, always available power; however, the evolving technology requires additional detailed studies and careful evaluation before it can be widely deployed. “Advanced geothermal is one of several clean baseload technologies we’re exploring to understand how it might fit into a future energy mix. This is a developing technology, and our focus right now is on actively engaging with partners to better understand the market, the risks, and where it could make sense over time,” said Sarah Moore, Principal of Emerging Technology & Innovation at TEP. Geothermal systems use heat from beneath the surface to generate electricity. Unlike wind and solar resources which are dependant on weather conditions, geothermal facilities can operate continuously and provide the same reliability as traditional power plants. Interest in geothermal energy has been growing nationwide as utilities and large energy users seek clean power that can be available 24 hours a day. New approaches are expanding the number of locations where geothermal systems can be developed by applying techniques adapted from gas and oil drilling. At the same time, evolving clean energy standards and corporate sustainability goals are increasing interest in reliable resources to meet growing demand. Because geothermal systems can provide consistent output, they are part of broader conversations about how to meet those goals while maintaining reliability. While geothermal systems offer unique advantages, they also pose significant challenges reinforcing the need for a measured, data-driven approach. Exploration can be costly and project timelines can vary. Some advanced geothermal concepts have only recently been demonstrated on a small scale, and others have yet to be proven commercially. TEP is monitoring demonstrations, learning from early projects, and tracking how costs and risks evolve over time, rather than jumping straight into development. “We’re making sure we understand the full range of options that could help us meet future needs for affordability, reliability, and cleaner energy,” Moore said. Part of the preliminary evaluation is reviewing geothermal activity in the Southwest and neighboring states, where geological conditions and existing transmission infrastructure could offer future opportunities. The company is also watching how partnerships between utilities, developers, and large energy users are helping advance early geothermal projects elsewhere. Geothermal exploration is part of the company’s broader strategy to maintain flexibility as the energy landscape continues to change. Moore explained, “We know the future grid will look different than today’s. Our responsibility is to understand what’s coming, evaluate it carefully, and be ready to act when technologies mature and make sense for our customers and communities.” For more information call: (270) 786-3010 or visit us online: www.geothermalsupply.com All New! Atlantis-Pro Vault • Traffic-Rated Capable • Simple installation • Trouble-free operation
9 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® New Compact Fluid Cleaning System Thanks to the new M150D Fluid Cleaning System from American Augers®, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) contractors can spend more time drilling and less time managing fluid. Built to pair with 20,000- to 120,000-pound drills, the M150D fills a long-standing gap in the utility HDD market by bringing American Augers’ proven fluid cleaning expertise to a smaller, more mobile platform. The system helps reduce downtime and improve project efficiency without requiring additional support equipment or contributing to congestion. “Utility contractors have been asking for a compact fluid cleaning system that delivers the same level of cleaning performance as larger systems without the added size, setup time, or complexity,” said Richard Levings, Product Manager for American Augers. “Instead of scaling down an existing cleaner, we built the M150D around the way utility contractors actually work. That allowed us to create a system that keeps crews drilling longer instead of stopping to manage drilling fluid.” The machine’s simple setup and teardown helps crews get to work faster. The unit transports its own fluid, eliminating the need for additional fluid trucks and minimizing equipment requirements on-site. Its compact footprint and selfcontained design maximizes available space without compromising cleaning capability throughout HDD operations. For a link, click on this box in our online issue. No online issue? Register at worldwidedrillingresource.com
85 sales@aardva “Quality Packers Y Mechanical Inflatable Environmental Geotechnica Packer Parts 55-546-6488 arkpackers com You Can Count On” Wireline Straddle al Mining Grout Packers Custom Design s aardvarkpackers.com sales@aardvarkpackers.com 10 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource®
11 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Fresh Water Under the Sea Adapted from Information by the British Geological Survey A science team has directly documented and extensively sampled a freshened water system beneath the ocean floor off the coast of New England in the USA. This major breakthrough comes from the first analyses of sediment cores recovered during a joint collaboration between the International Ocean Drilling Programme (IODP3) and the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Expedition 501 (See Exploring Beneath the Ocean for Potential Aquifers in the August 2025 issue of WorldWide Drilling Resource®). The cores retrieved during offshore operations between May and August of last year were sent to Bremen Core Repository at the Center for Marine Environmental Sciences of the University of Bremen in Germany (MARUM). “We greatly appreciate being able to conduct this advanced research at MARUM, supported by its world-class laboratories, exceptional facilities, and dedicated staff,” said Cochief Scientists Professor Brandon Dugan of Colorado School of Mines, in the USA With just over 2860 feet of core, taken from deep below the seafloor, it is now being analyzed and sampled by the science team. The expedition’s scientists teamed up during January and February of this year to uncover new insights into the formation, evolution, and significance of this newly documented, sub-seabed, freshwater system. The vision of this venture went beyond just collecting sediment cores. Scientists also sampled water stored within the sediments, from sandy layers acting as aquifers, to clay layers known as aquitards that keep the water in place beneath the seafloor. Although roughly 70% of the surface of earth is covered by water, large volumes of water are belowground. During the expedition, the science team successfully documented and sampled freshened water within a zone about 650 feet thick below the seafloor. Many coastal communities depend on land-based aquifers for their freshwater supply. In many parts of the world, the aquifers continue offshore and contain zones of “freshened” water beneath the ocean floor. Scientists have known these offshore systems existed since 1976, but they have remained unexplored until now. The methods used during IODP3 and NSF Expedition 501 expanded the understanding of offshore freshened groundwater systems; not only just off the coast of New England, but for similar hidden water aquifers around the world. The expedition’s initial findings are highly relevant due to many coastal communities being dependant on groundwater for their freshwater supply. The cores recovered during the expedition will be archived and made accessible for further scientific research to the scientific community after a one-year moratorium period. All expedition data will be open access in the IODP3 Mission Specific Platform “MSP” data portal in PANGAEA, and resulting outcomes will be published. With the Munsell Soil Color Chart, the cores are described visually, as accurately as possible, in color and structure. Credit: Diekamp@ECORD_IODP3_NSF.
12 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® by Rod Bartholomew, submitted by Gary Bartholomew In the middle of a portable dental clinic set up in La Compuerta in northern Guatemala, I had a life-impacting experience. Around 11:00 a.m., I noticed a woman approaching through the crowd. She was carrying a small child, a girl about five years old. Even before she reached me, something about the way she walked communicated urgency. When she arrived, I could see the child was not well. She was limp in her mother's arms, unresponsive - not fully comatose, but dangerously close. Her skin was warm with a slight fever. More concerning was her lack of responsiveness. It was clear that without intervention, she would not live. The mother's face carried a kind of fear that doesn't need translation. Through a chain of translation - Q'eqchi' to Spanish to English and back again - we pieced together the history. The child had been feverish for a little more than a week. There were no clear answers beyond that. I stopped what I was doing with my current dental patient, but kept them in the chair as I assessed the situation as best I could. I had no diagnostic equipment beyond a thermometer and a blood pressure cuff. My training was dental, not pediatric medicine, and suddenly I was being asked, implicitly, to make sense of something far outside my expertise. I asked the questions I could think of: bowel movements, signs of internal bleeding, urination, and so on. The answers I received suggested normal output. This response moved me away from what should have been an obvious consideration. I was thinking about infectious disease possibilities like malaria, systemic infection, and organ dysfunction. I worked through all the possibilities I had experienced during a life of mission service, and yet I was missing something fundamental which should have been right in front of me. Dehydration didn't even register as a possibility. We stopped and prayed as a group, asking for wisdom and guidance and that God would spare the life of this child. It was then I unexpectedly recalled an article I had read some time earlier which mentioned severe chronic dehydration can sometimes present with low-grade fever and profound lethargy in children. That memory shifted everything. Given the context - no clean water, widespread poverty, families dependent on contaminated sources or expensive substitutes - suddenly made sense in a way nothing else had. We acted immediately, taking a large cup of about 16 ounces and filled it with clean drinking water we had personally brought. At first, the child could not drink. So the mother dipped a corner of cloth into the water and placed it gently in the child's mouth. Slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, the child began to respond. Within minutes, there was a change. Her eyes opened. Her swallowing reflex strengthened. She leaned toward the water. and we allowed her to drink directly from the cup - not much at first, but steadily increasing. Ten minutes passed, then 20. She finished the first cup completely and we refilled it. Then something remarkable happened. She drank again, this time with urgency. It was as if her body, once it understood what it was receiving, could not get enough. Within 30 to 45 minutes, she was completely transformed. The limp, unresponsive child who had been carried to us was now alert. She pushed away from being held. She stood. Then walked. Shortly, she began playing with the other children nearby as though nothing had happened. In the moment, it felt unreal - not because I didn't believe the science of hydration, but because the contrast was so immediate, so visible, so absolute. I had to step away from the clinic for a moment. I remember tears coming to my eyes as I tried to process what I had just witnessed. And what struck me most was not only the medical reality of dehydration, but the broader reality that people need "Water for Life." Other children around noticed and also asked for water. We gave all we had, but it wasn't enough - not even close. My experience in La Compuerta is not an isolated case. It was a symptom of an entire environment where clean water in Guatemala is often unavailable and where children pay the price. It made the work of Water for Life feel even more urgent than before. Every well drilled, every failed attempt, every success - it all mattered in ways which were difficult to fully quantify. We later received the report, and the news was simple but profound: for the first time in memory, an entire year had passed without the loss of a single child in La Compuerta. This is what clean water does; it gives life. If you would like to help, contact Gary Bartholomew at 509-939-1941. Gary Gary Bartholomew may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com Luke’s Military Museum was established in Danville, Vermont, by teenager Luke Morrison in 2024. The museum itself has military ties since it was built in the 1850s and belonged to Luke’s greatgreat uncle who was involved in the Burma Campaign during World War II. Luke collects military items whether past or present. A video of the museum can be seen at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RdhEwCjOfBQ If you would like to contribute items, e-mail: lukesmilitarymuseumvt@gmail.com
13 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Xylem Acquires Cornell Pump and Roper Pump Xylem Inc. announced they have entered into an agreement to acquire the Cornell Pump and Roper Pump divisions from Indicor for $1.46 billion. This acquisition enhances Xylem’s ability to serve a wider array of essential industrial applications. “The long-term demand drivers supporting our business continue to strengthen, creating new opportunities across industrial markets where water is increasingly critical to operational success,” said Matthew Pine, President and CEO of Xylem. “This acquisition expands our presence in key growth sectors and enhances our ability to help customers address evolving operational requirements. It also strengthens our portfolio in ways that support long-term value creation.” For a link, click on this box in our online issue. No online issue? Register at worldwidedrillingresource.com WHO’S IN THE NEWS Additional announcements from Hitachi Global Air Power US, LLC, and Sims Crane & Equipment can be found in our online issue at: worldwidedrillingresource.com Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) DFI’s Distinguished Service Award was presented to Mary Ellen Large, P.E., BC.GE, President of Geotechnica, making her the first woman to receive the award since its establishment in 1981. Large has over 35 years of experience in geotechnical engineering, specialized geotechnical construction, professional society leadership, team development, mentorship, and program management. Mary Ellen Large
14 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Shaking it Up with Drills Adapted from Information by terra infrastructure GmbH Denmark's most significant infrastructure project is currently the Nordhavn Tunnel in Copenhagen. The Danish Road Directorate (Vejdirektoratet) are in charge of the project with the execution of the project being carried out by a joint venture between MT Højgaard Danmark and BESIX, supported by NIRAS, Jacobs, and Bravida Danmark in planning and consulting. They aim to provide lasting relief for urban traffic in northern Copenhagen and significantly improve connections to the expanding Nordhavn district. Several specialist civil engineering companies were commissioned to anchor the sheet piles driven into the ground to secure the excavation pit, with the application of various pieces of equipment and technical methods. Grundbau Nord GmbH used the VibroDrill VD 150 from terra infrastructure, among other equipment. The vibratory drilling rig was able to demonstrate its strengths in terms of performance, precision, and quality. State-of-the-art technology was used to anchor the sheet piles driven into the ground to secure the excavation pits. A total of three to four anchor layers were installed to secure the sheet piles for each of the pits, which had a length of approximately 984 feet with a depth of 39 feet. The first anchor layers were drilled at depths of between 82 and 115 feet. Pipe sockets were welded to the sheet piles. Drilling was carried out using the duplex method with a downward drilling angle of between 25 and 30 degrees. The drill rods and pipes were used in two-meter sections and placed on the drilling rig with the aid of an excavator. Once the final depth of around 88 feet had been reached, the cement was driven via the inner rods. The inner rods were then removed and the strand anchors inserted into the outer pipes to anchor the sheet piles. Although the tunnel's length is just under a mile, it is a key project designed to relieve traffic congestion in the Østerbro district. Approximately 2296 feet of the structure runs beneath Svanemøllehavn Bay, with the remainder mainly constructed using the proven cut-and-cover method which is a technically demanding method of tunnel construction in urban environments. The project aims to manage traffic flow more efficiently, divert heavy commercial traffic away from residential areas, and at the same time, lay the foundations for a possible eastern ring road around Copenhagen. The Nordhavn Tunnel is an important component of Copenhagen's long-term transport strategy. The new roadway will connect Østerbro and Nordhavn more efficiently, improve access to new development areas, and enhance mobility north of the city. The focus on climate-friendly construction with optimized concrete and steel types, as well as extensive recycling measures, is expected to reduce the carbon footprint by 30% compared to conventional construction methods.
16 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Gas Pipelines for Tomorrow Adapted from Information by Enbridge The Birch Grove program proposed by Westcoast Energy Limited Partnership (Westcoast) will expand a section of a natural gas pipeline known as Transmission North located in British Columbia, Canada. This project seeks to meet the ever increasing demand for natural gas in the region, as well as support the potential export of liquefied natural gas. To do this, the company proposes installing and replacing pipeline segments, in addition to upgrading current compressor stations. In doing so, they look to increase the capacity of natural gas that can be transported. One of the processes the company will deploy is pipeline looping. For example, the company will be installing 36-inch-diameter pipeline segments alongside and connecting to the existing pipeline system. Think of it like a highway expansion, just without the traffic delays. Unlike a highway expansion, this process has minimal environmental disturbance due to using the preexisting pipe corridor. The project will begin just southwest of Taylor, south of the Peace River and will go on for about 20 miles. Additionally, about 1300 feet of pipeline east of Taylor will be replaced with heavier pipe to suit the larger volume of natural gas that will be pumped through. With the additions and replacements of the pipelines, two compressor stations are intended to receive upgrades as well; these stations being Compressor Station-01 (CS-01) and Compressor Station-16 (CS-16). CS-01 will be getting some pipe upgrades along with related modifications needed for the increased amount of natural gas that will be flowing through the station. CS-16 is planned to get three new cooling bays to regulate gas temperatures. Temperature of gas rises with increased traffic and pressure, thus the need to cool them down to safely transport natural gas is crucial. During the project, Enbridge and the company will be committed to involving the local communities and groups with the planning, construction, and operation of the project. All while committed to achieving net zero emissions by 2050.
17 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® In Memoriam Mike Carlin (1971~2026) Team Geoprobe® is mourning the loss of friend, teammate, and leader Mike Carlin who sought excellence in his every endeavor. Born in Salina, Kansas, in 1971, Mike passed away August 13, 2026. After graduating from Central High School, Mike attended K-State Salina and studied mechanical engineering. With degree in hand, he joined Geoprobe® full time and was there for 32 years. Mike loved the outdoors and shared his appreciation for God’s creation with his family through countless adventures. Whether road-tripping to Oregon to visit family - with stops to explore Twin Falls and swim in the Snake River -skiing in Colorado and Utah with dear friends the Knopf family, fishing in Branson as his grandfather had taken him many times, or, most recently, hiking and mountain biking in the Canadian Rockies, Mike treasured every opportunity to experience the beauty of God’s creation with those he loved. Mike is survived by his wife Stephanie; their three sons Cooper, Zachary, and Brooks; his mother Phyliss; sisters Stephanie and Kendra; brother Ryan (Danielle); nieces, nephews, and many others who were part of his extended family, including the many “Geoprobers” and countless friends. He was preceded in death by his father Bill. The management and staff of WWDR extend their sincere condolences to Mike’s family, friends, and former colleagues. Lest we forget . . . Using Geothermal Resources to Meet Clean Energy Goals Adapted from Information by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Geothermal energy is a sustainable form of energy that uses natural resources to produce electricity. With the combination of heat, fluid, and permeability a geothermal plant can produce many megawatts of power. There are three primary types of plants they use steam to turn turbines and generate electricity. Dry steam power plants use natural hydrothermal fluids that occur as steam, which is a rare occurrence. Flash steam plants use change of pressure to rapidly change the super-heated water into vapor to power the turbines, called “flashing”. Finally, there are binary-cycle plants which use lower temperature resources to heat other fluids that turn the turbines. Some geothermal facilities are built using existing drill sites from natural gas or oil sites. Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) use man-made reservoirs to inject fluid into hot rocks creating new fractures or opening existing ones to modify the fluid pathways. Once these conditions are in place, the EGS will work the same as a conventional hydrothermal system. In Blue Mountain, Nevada, a geothermal plant uses the binary cycle method to create electricity. Utilizing the heat from lower temperature water or “brine”, a secondary liquid called isopentane is vaporized and passed through the turbines generating electricity. Once completed, the brine is reinjected into the geothermal reservoir, allowing the plant to maintain the natural resources being utilized. The binary cycle method does not allow the reservoir fluids to come into contact with the turbines, maintaining the integrity of the natural resource. Blue Mountain is expected to generate 240,000 megawatt hours of clean energy every year. Further helping to reduce the environmental impact, this specific installation will help offset the CO2 emissions by 143,300 tons annually. This will allow the company to support over a dozen permanent jobs and over 200 construction jobs. Blue Mountain Geothermal Facility
19 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® New Technology Leads to Safer Jobsites Adapted from Information by Epiroc Working in mining means navigating an environment where dangerous scenarios can arise daily. As safety has been a major concern for drilling companies, especially in underground and uphole drilling operations, two new safety products will help make work environments safer for the drilling crew. EMESRT (Earth Moving Equipment Safety Round Table) plays a crucial role in improving safety standards in the mining industry by facilitating collaboration among stakeholders and driving initiatives to enhance vehicle interaction controls. Epiroc, as a collision avoidance systems (CAS) vendor, is involved in EMESRT's initiatives by actively participating in collaborative efforts to improve vehicle interaction controls. This involvement ensures Epiroc's CAS solutions align with industry requirements and standards set forth by EMESRT. The Epiroc Titan CAS uses several sensing technologies and supports safety from Level 7, where operators and pedestrians are warned, to Level 9, where the system takes control of the vehicle and stops it automatically. CAS can improve efficiency and safety, but the key to success is change management. Every site and region has its own workplace culture that must be respected when introducing a new system. Operators are the ones using the system daily, so their support is crucial. “Everyone, from operator to CEO, needs to understand that the goal is to make sure everyone gets to go home safely every day. Leadership needs to take ownership and walk the talk. If safety is a priority, the foundational levels need to be under control. If CAS is deployed just to tick a box, it will likely fail. Involve staff early so they feel ownership. When they understand the system is there to keep them safe, they are more likely to have a positive approach,” said Schalk Janse van Rensburg, General Manager of Epiroc Digital Safety Solutions in South Africa. In uphole drilling, one critical safety risk is the potential loss of water pressure, making it possible for the inner tube assembly to free fall through the rod string. This poses a serious risk of injury or significant equipment damage. The Uphole Brake is engineered to automatically stop a free-falling inner tube assembly by deploying its braking elements against the inner surface of the core barrel or rod string whenever downward movement exceeds the speed of the overshot. This ensures immediate engagement and protection in the event of a pressure drop. In addition, the system is designed for easy retraction after brake activation. By maintaining water pressure and pulling the wireline, the braking elements retract, allowing the operator to easily retrieve the inner tube at any point of the rod string. The Uphole Brake does not interfere with normal drilling operations. It remains disengaged during the pump-in stage or any upward movement. Once the head assembly lands in the core barrel, the Uphole Brake becomes activated and ready to engage. Some benefits and advantages of the Uphole Brake: j Protects drill operators from free fall, or mislatch incidents by stopping the inner tube assembly before it can accelerate down the drill string. j Prevents damage to rods, head assemblies, and overshot components caused by uncontrolled inner tube descents. j Improves safety compliance for steep uphole applications where many drilling companies currently refuse to operate without a certified braking device. j Reliable disengagement thanks to Epiroc’s brake pad geometry and pressure retention design, reducing the risk of jamming or wireline breakage. In addition to standard underground implementation, the use of other technologies allows the Titan CAS system to be applied to any operation. The system's modularity ensures technology implementation can be adapted over time as on-site needs evolve. Multilayered safety system detects and warns the equipped vehicle’s operators and pedestrians of each other’s presence. Uphole Brake module, highlighted in yellow. Time for a Little Fun! September Puzzle Solution: Leadership Determined Techniques Employment Management Win a prize! Send completed puzzle to: WWDR PO Box 660 Bonifay, FL 32425 fax: 850-547-0329 or e-mail: michele@ worldwidedrillingresource.com Match the three-letter words on the right to complete the seven-letter words on the left. TANG_ _ _ AGE TREE_ _ _ HER FOOT_ _ _ TOP FART_ _ _ LED SECT_ _ _ ION
20 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® 2026 We Vu Lyn and Ray with Well-V ff with Mobile Drill In u. Jef ntl. Walthall Manufacturing and Jennings with Helanbak. It’s always good to see Kerrie with Ryan and Dave? k. e Did you stop by and spea American Granby ak Inc. Drilling Applications. Guru with Kovai Eq quipment Company Cotey C Central Mine Tom with Dr Chemical Corp. T . Austin for Baski, rill Pipe, Inc Allegheny Instruments ff from .® with Geoprobe Systems Todd and Donnie Jef Todd and Michelle Tool Mfg is Tools s. King Oil T Infinity T Water Systems Council Eastern Driller Manufacturi W ing SEMCO, Inc. Merrill Manufacturing g Water Systems. BakerW Allen with Foremost Cen Produc Wa nterline Mfg. Burch W cts LLC Well U.S.A. Corporat Mitsubishi Mater ater W tion rials www.worldwide Take a sneak peek here ~ then visit w. Ed, Ronnie, and Sophia. Teamof WWDR The Hole Products had a great crew . edrillingresource.com/gallery Funk Brothers Manufacturi for more photos online! .html Works, In with Star Iron W ing Adam and Larry nc.
21 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® The 1.2 Million-Pound Mistake by Britt Storkson Owner, P2FlowLLC On YouTube, there’s a video titled “The 1.2-Million-Pound Mistake.” The “mistake” here details the problems of a 1.2 million-pound (600-ton) locomotive developed shortly after World War II when the rail industry was transitioning from steam to diesel electric locomotives. For background, I’ll give a short history of locomotive energy sources used to produce steam to move the locomotive. The first energy source was wood, which was replaced by coal because coal delivers more energy per unit volume. Then coal was replaced by bunker fuel, which is a very thick, minimally refined crude oil. It was easier to store and could be pumped into the locomotive. It was also cheap and contained a lot of heat energy (British Thermal Units or Btus). One of the disadvantages of using bunker fuel was it needed to be heated to flow easily through the piping. A public school I worked at some years ago used bunker fuel for heating their classrooms. It contained more Btus than diesel fuel which this school used temporarily when the pipe feeding the fuel to the boiler failed. A lot of ships at sea still use bunker fuel even today. Around the 1950s, most locomotives switched to diesel engines as a motive force and continues to the present time. Also a part of this equation was the fact that steam locomotives not only needed fuel to operate, they needed a lot of water as well. So water stops had to be strategically placed along the route to refill. Refilling with water was a very expensive part of the steam locomotive operation, but it had to be done. So eliminating the water requirements greatly reduced operational costs. The 1.2 million-pound mistake video details how some wealthy individuals who happened to be coal barons wanted to continue using steam and coal for locomotives because they owned the coal mines and could get it very cheap. They wanted to “upgrade” to steam turbines that would generate power to run the motors which moved the train. Big mistake. They were heavy, costly, complicated, and unreliable. They didn’t even fully go into service and were eventually scrapped. This is how product development in general terms works. One experiments with various solutions to the problems to find out what does and doesn’t work. Thomas Edison was quoted as saying: “I have not failed; I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.” The moral of this story is that in order to find out what works, one needs to identify what doesn’t work as well. Oftentimes, a solution works, but it turns out to be more costly than it is worth and, as a result, never gets into production. One of the reasons electronics/semiconductors have been so successful and are used everywhere is because of what they deliver relative to their cost. Microprocessors (micros), the brain of a computer, were very expensive when they first came out, but are now dirt cheap. I mean literally “dirt” because the major component of micros is silicon which is nothing more than beach sand. Same goes for computer memory which is also composed of similar materials. One can buy a small micro nowadays for less than 50 cents in quantity. Not only are they cheap, but properly applied, they can be durable and reliable. A microprocessorbased temperature control (think: mechanical thermostat) for example, uses a small fraction of the parts and costs less than a conventional mechanical temperature control. The mechanical control consists of a bimetal strip coiled to increase its surface area, which physically expands or contracts in response to temperature. This movement can be harnessed to move a switch to turn something (like heating or cooling) on or off. The mechanical thermostat has many times the mass, much more cost of materials, and limited flexibility. The electronic component can combine quite a number of functions on one chip and can be modified or programmed using switches or other inputs to execute a wide variety of functions. Like everything, electronics has its limitations. Most electronics are very low power, meaning using less than 0.1 amp or 100 milliamps. When one starts running more amperage (current) through them, they dissipate heat, which must be removed. This is a somewhat complicated addition which greatly increases the cost, so higher power applications are generally not suited for electronics. So what one normally does is use the low power electronics for the computing, then output to a mechanical part to handle the power. Nothing in this world is perfect, but we can make products that serve us adequately, reliably, and inexpensively by respecting these principles. Britt Britt Storkson may be contacted via e-mail to michele@worldwidedrillingresource.com Join us for: Educational Courses Raffles Door Prizes Exhibits Buck Lively Scholarship Auction Golf Tournament February 10th! For more information, call 480-609-3993 info@mountainstatesgroundwater.com mountainstatesgroundwater.com Looking for Events? Click on this box in our online issue worldwidedrillingresource.com
22 OCTOBER 2026 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Blacklick Creek Sewer Tunnelling Adapted from Information by AECOM and Michels Trenchless, Inc. When the city of Columbus, Ohio, needed to increase the capacity of its sewer line infrastructure, AECOM and Michels Trenchless, Inc. were tasked with completing the project. Using an earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine (EPB TBM), the Blacklick Creek Sanitary project included drilling a 22,620-foot linear sanitary sewer interceptor tunnel. The tunnel was installed with a 12-foot-outer-diameter reinforced tunnel. The EPB TBM was able to complete the installation in one pass. Prior to installation, the liner was corrosion protected, bolted, and gasketed then placed successfully along its nearly four-mile-long path. The EPB TBM used for the Blacklick Creek project was specially engineered to handle materials outside of its initial design. Normally suitable for soft earth, the soil on the project site was complicated with silts, sands, gravel, cobbles, rocks, and boulders; some areas even contained shale and bedrock. As part of the project, ten drop shafts with connected manholes were also constructed. Some of the shafts are 35-135 feet deep providing access to different sections of the main tunnel. Since the tunnel path also intersected gassy sections with high methane, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen sulfide, a passive odor control vault was installed. The tunnel connects residences east of Columbus, in the Reynoldsburg/New Albany area, using a collection system feeding the Southerly Wastewater Treatment Plant. The tunnel contains 12 curves, one with a 3000-foot radius, two with a 3600-foot radius, and nine with a 1300-foot radius. Tunnel junction chambers connecting new and existing infrastructure were also included. Hydrogeological, geotechnical, and geophysical studies were used to select the best method of construction for the tunnel while the EPB TBM was designed to operate in a manner which reduced impact to the surface structures, utilities, and nearby wells. The joint venture was a successful one. Earth pressure balance tunnel boring machine. Photo courtesy of Michels Trenchless. www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 Serving the Construction Industry
WorldWide Drilling Resource® 23 OCTOBER 2026 www.starironworks.com 257 Caroline Street Punxsutawney, PA 15767 800-927-0560 • 814-427-2555 Fax: 814-427-5164 Serving the Water Well Industry Banking on Groundwater Adapted from Information by the Mojave Groundwater Bank A hundred years ago, California and the Western U.S. built an extensive network of reservoirs and aqueducts, with predictable mountain snowmelts able to move water from where it fell to where it was needed. With snowmelt and precipitation no longer reliable, storing water during wet years has become essential as dry years grow hotter. Underground water storage is more important than ever in this new reality. The Mojave Groundwater Bank is a groundbreaking public-private partnership bringing water agencies together with Native American tribes and the Fenner Gap Mutual Water Company to deliver clean, reliable, and affordable water to every community. The project is dedicated to sustainably capturing, storing, and supplying water resources to people in underserved areas, improving long-term water reliability while protecting the environment. The plan is to deliver an annual reliable supply of water of approximately 50,000 acre-feet per year while also storing imported surplus water to access in dry years. Together, supply and storage will strengthen long-term water security for the entire region. The Mojave Groundwater Bank sits at the base of a 2000-squaremile watershed in the Mojave Desert overlying a significant freshwater aquifer estimated to hold 30 to 50 million acre-feet of high-quality groundwater. The Fenner watershed is a closed hydrologic basin, where rain and snowmelt from the surrounding mountains enter the aquifer and slowly travel underground beneath Cadiz toward saline dry lake playas and evaporates. Fresh water that could be used to sustain families, farms, and ecosystems is lost to evaporation when it reaches the dry lakes of Bristol and Cadiz. The project’s goal is to capture and preserve water for communities that often go without, creating an immediately available supply within the Colorado River Basin. By combining modern water banking with active recharge and monitoring, the project both safeguards community supplies and protects local ecosystem for generations to come. Conversion of the Northern Pipeline are expected this year, with water deliveries projected to start next year, making this one of the rare shovel-ready solutions capable of addressing California’s water crisis.
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