| Vol. 32 No. 10 October 2011
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2 | NATIONALDRILLER October 2011
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GREG ETTLING, EDITOR
For Openers
News and Notes at Press Time A Wonderful Restoration
Maximize Your ND Experience
From Mrs. R.J. Neely, Riviera, Texas: My husband, R.J. Neely, restored this drilling rig (a 1917 Republic 3-ton truck with turn-of-the-century cable-tooling). Our son, Jim Bob Neely, hauled it to the Lubbock, Texas, state convention for display. We had the solid-rubber tires made in Hope, Ark. We have another 1917 four-wheel-drive drilling rig ready to be restored. The solidrubber tires were made in Kansas. They are difficult to find and quite expensive. My husband passed away on February 8th 2011. I doubt that rig gets restored. Not in Riviera, Texas, anyway.
Clean Water for Marines Up until recently, Marines operating from peaks thousands of feet high in Afghanistan had to carry their drinking water over a two-mile round trip on a daily basis. Engineers with 7th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), 2nd Marine Logistics Group (MLG) came up with a
the unit had to order were a 230-volt, 20-HP, 6-foot fully submersible Franklin Electric pump, a 15-HP Franklin Electric transfer pump, and hundreds of hose connections ranging in size and shape. Explains Robertson: “The transfer pump is electric, and runs off a generator. We
We can’t fit everything we’d like iinto W ’ fi hi ’d lik the print editions of National Driller, and we operate under strict deadlines with the printer – two immensely frustrating conditions for editors keen on delivering to you the timeliest information that you can use to maximize the profitability of your business. As great as the print edition of National Driller is, it can’t do it all. But National Driller isn’t confined to the publication you receive
i the in h mail il once a month. h O Our iindustryd leading website is updated regularly with the latest news, special web-only features, photos from trade shows and more (we just added a “Video Spotlight” section – check it out, maybe your firm has a video we could post there). We also have two free electronic newsletters, and we’re on Facebook and Twitter. You can find all of this and more at www.nationaldriller.com.
A Major Purchase, Indeed
Cpl. Justin Cannady, the site commander with Echo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 12th Marine Regiment, in Kajaki, Afghanistan, guides more than 1,000 feet of 95-mm cable down a mountainside during a well and water purification project. convenient, cost-efficient solution. The 15-day project implemented a proven strategy using gravity-fed hoses, transfer pumps and a lightweight water purification system. The project required 600 work-hours, the placing of more than 1,000 feet of cable weighing approximately 6,000 pounds, and covered 3,000 feet of rugged terrain in Kajaki, Afghanistan. “The generator should not need to be replaced unless it breaks down, or the Marines leave,” states Gunnery Sgt. Wyatt Robertson, the utilities chief with Support Company, 7th ESB, 2nd MLG. “The only upkeep costs for us will be generator and lightweight water purification system preventive and corrective maintenance and fuel.” Included in the commercial equipment 4 | NATIONALDRILLER October 2011
also set up electrical equipment such as switchers and breakers. We have a whole electrical room, and everything can run from Observation Post (OP) Athens. The transfer pump pumps the water to about 3,000 feet across the peaks.” The well pumps water from the lake that is created by the Kajaki Dam. A float device was crafted using four 5-gallon drums, some piping and the 20-HP pump, preventing the pump from resting on the bottom of the lake, therefore allowing it to pump water more efficiently. The water then is pumped through to OP Athens, where it is purified with the lightweight purification system at a rate of 120 pounds per hours. Afterward, it is pumped to the highest peak 3,000 feet away, called Normandy, and then gravity-fed up to a more distant peak.
Major Drilling Group International Inc., headquartered in Moncton, New Brunswick, just recently announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire all of the issued and outstanding shares of Bradley Group Ltd., a family-owned drilling company based in Rouyn Noranda, Quebec, for an aggregate purchase price of $80 million. “The acquisition of Bradley Group is a unique opportunity to further Major Drilling’s corporate
strategy of focusing on specialized drilling, expanding our geographic footprint in areas of high growth, and of maintaining a balance in our mix of drilling services. The operations of both companies are very complementary in terms of geography, personnel and strategies,” says Francis McGuire, president and CEO of Major Drilling. The move adds 124 rigs and 841 employees to Major’s base of 571 rigs and 4,362 employees. ND
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INSIDE October 2011
Vol. 32 No. 10
ADVERTISERS
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PRODUCT NUMBER
FEATURES
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10 Why Do We Have Safety Meetings? Prudent advice from your friends at Drill-Safe.com.
14 Keeping Rail Project on Track Braun Intertec’s environmental drilling project.
22 Water for Life – Bringing Quality Water to Haiti A most powerful symbol of life.
36 The 2011 JUBILEE Show makes a move forward.
44 Ten Ways to Cut Fuel Costs Getting your consumption under control.
58 Ground Water Monitoring Well Development
22
Several factors to consider.
Geothermal Project Profiles 48 50 52 54
Vermeer Corp. Schramm Inc. Mills Machine Co. Laibe Corp./Versa-Drill
About the cover:
36
A crew from leading geotechnical contractor Hayward Baker installs epoxy-coated hollow-bar soil nails in Park City, Utah. The wall was failing and ready to roll down into some very expensive homes. The only access was from above the road, so the crew used an excavator-mounted rig from TEI Rock Drills to reach all the soil nails. Design by Mike Richison.
34 39 100 45 59 33 62 11 101 8 14 51 12 102 22 3 103 104 54 31 107 13 20 105 41 106 42 53 24 52 30 19 55 6 23 113 48 82 10 26 38 9 32 17 77 61 2 49 5 108 4 16 63 109 56 110 18 7 21 28 75 27 67 72 15 111 35 112 1
PAGE NUMBER
A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. .......................................... 23 Acker Drill Company Inc. ...................................... 39 Acker Drill Company Inc. (PLL) ........................... 56 AIR Equipment Corporation ................................. 19 AMS Inc..................................................................... 12 Armstrong Machine Company ............................ 66 ASTEC Underground.............................................. 27 Baker Water Systems............................................ 42 Baker Water Systems (PLL)................................. 56 Baroid / Halliburton Company ................................9 Bit Brokers International....................................... 26 Casagrande SPA ..................................................... 33 Center Rock Inc. ...................................................... 43 Center Rock Inc. (PLL) ........................................... 56 Central Mine Equipment Company..................... 41 Copeland Supply Company .................................. 63 Cotey Chemical Corporation (PLL)...................... 57 Doosan Portable Power (PLL) ............................. 56 Enid Drill Systems .................................................. 60 Fraste SpA...................................................................7 Geoprobe Systems (PLL)...................................... 57 Geoprobe Systems................................................. 60 George E. Failing Co. .............................................. 34 George E. Failing Co. .............................................. 35 George E. Failing Co. (PLL)................................... 57 Heron Instruments................................................. 28 Heron Instruments (PLL)...................................... 56 Higgins Rig Co. ....................................................... 65 Jet-Lube ................................................................... 30 Keller America ....................................................... 63 Keystone Drill Services Inc. ....................................5 King Oil Tools Inc..................................................... 34 KS Bit Inc. ................................................................. 40 Laibe Corp./Versa-Drill ......................................... 55 Little Beaver/Lone Star Drills .............................. 47 Merrill Mfg................................................................ 59 Merrill Mfg. (PLL).................................................... 56 Mid America Drilling Equipment Inc. ................. 83 Mills Bit Service Inc. .............................................. 32 Mills Machine Co..................................................... 53 Mincon Inc. ............................................................... 21 Mobile Drill ............................................................... 84 MudPuppy International...........................................3 N & N Drilling Supply Mfr...................................... 58 Palmer Bit Co........................................................... 11 PDSCo Inc................................................................. 62 Pulstar....................................................................... 24 Rauch Manufacturing ............................................ 20 Ring Power Corp..................................................... 29 Schramm Inc. .......................................................... 51 Schramm Inc. (PLL)............................................... 56 Semco Inc................................................................. 37 Shallow Draft Elevating Boats, Inc. ..................... 45 SIMCO Drilling Equipment Inc. ........................... 65 SJE-Rhombus (PLL).............................................. 56 Solinst Canada Ltd. ................................................ 61 Sonic Drill Corporation (PLL) ............................... 57 Star Iron Works Inc. ..................................................2 Stockdale Mine Supply Inc. ............................16, 17 Stratex Hyduke Machining Solutions ................. 65 TEI Rock Drills ......................................................... 31 Tianjin Lilin Petroleum Machinery Co., Ltd. ...... 46 Tube Technologies Inc............................................ 61 Venture Drilling Supply ......................................... 45 Vermeer Corp. ......................................................... 49 Washington Rotating Control Heads .................. 15 Water-Right Inc. (PLL) ........................................... 56 Wyo-Ben Inc. ........................................................... 25 Wyo-Ben Inc. (PLL) ................................................ 57 Yichang Wuhan Rock Drilling............................... 13
Request FREE product information online from industry leaders at
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FRASTE Spa Via Molino di Sopra, 71 - 37054 Nogara (VR) - Italy Tel. +39 0442 510233 - Fax +39 0442 88426
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Dealer for North America: Marl Technologies 5603 - 54th Street - Edmonton Alberta, Canada T6B3G8 Tel. +1 780 435 8500 - Fax +1 780 434 7242
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Vol. 32 No. 10
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News and Notes at Press Time
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12 The World According to Wayne
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by Wayne Nash, MGWC
How to Beat the Recession
4
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Tim Augustine, John H. Berry, Howard “Porky” Cutter, George Dugan, Edward Elliott, Brian McLarty, Wayne Nash, Bob Oliver, Jim Olsztynski, Robert Pelikan, Jim Piasecki, John Schmitt, Kim Stevens, Andrew Stone, Todd Tannehill ADVERTISING SALES NATIONAL SALES MANAGER: Dean Laramore -
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Using Multiple Pressure Tanks for Larger Systems
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28 Drilling Fluids by George Dugan
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HDD Geothermal Loop Installation
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40 “Let Me Tell Ya”
by John Schmitt, CWD/PPI Our Industry Loses a Valued Member
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Barotherm Gold 1.0 & 1.2
Pre-blended Easy grouting of ground source heat loops is now at your fingertips.
You want to grout your thermal loops flawlessly—and then move on to the next job. Another industry first, the BAROID IDP BAROTHERM® GOLD 1.0 and 1.2 thermally-conductive grout service— precise “ready to go” mixes of high-quality sand and grout—delivers the conductivity you want, while preventing the pump clogging you don’t need. Description Featuring two levels of conductivity, BAROTHERM Gold 1.0 and 1.2 are preblended mixtures of sodium bentonite and high-purity silica (quartz) sand designed for use in grouting boreholes containing ground source heat loops. BAROTHERM GOLD 1.0 thermally-conductive grout yields a grout with a thermal conductivity of 1.0 BTU/hr·ft·ºF (1.73 watts/m·ºC). BAROTHERM GOLD 1.2 yields 1.2 BTU/hr·ft·ºF (2.08 watts/m·ºC). The BAROTHERM GOLD 1.0 and 1.2 Advantage t Single sack system t Produces uniform slurry for smooth pumping–no need to add extra water t Creates a low permeability seal t Develops a permanent, flexible seat to prevent commingling between aquifers t Promotes efficient heat transfer t No heat of hydration t NSF/ANSI Standard 60 Certified t No cement added
Baroid Industrial Drilling Products Technical Service 877-379-7412 281-871-4613 Customer Service 800-735-6075 281-871-4612 www.baroididp.com © 2011 Halliburton. All rights reserved. Card No. 8
Why Do We Have
You’re encouraged to share this important message with your drilling firm’s operations personnel: afety meetings are an opportunity for management and your safety department to communicate to employees how they can do their jobs safer and better.
S
Nothing is more important than the safety of your most important assets. U.S. Navy photo by mass communications specialist 1st class Palmer Pinckney. Topics discussed in safety meetings may be topics that you are familiar with, or topics that you have limited knowledge about. If the topic is something that you are familiar with, it may be easy to tune-out and not listen to the safety information presented. Do yourself a big favor and listen to the information as if you have never heard it before. You may just learn something new – maybe about the newest protective equipment or a smarter, more efficient way to do your job. Information passed on in a safety meeting has a rather important purpose – to stop you or one of your co-workers from being injured. Safety meetings also allow employees an opportunity to relay safety/health concerns or ideas for improvement to their supervisors. Accidents result from unsafe acts or unsafe conditions. For a variety of reasons, unsafe acts typically account for 90 percent of all accidents, according to some experts. Safety meetings serve as a preventive measure against unsafe acts by educating employees on how they can do 10 | NATIONALDRILLER October 2011
their jobs safely. If you still are not sold, let’s look at the potential cost of accidents – more specifically, how accidents can directly affect you. UÊ i>Ì
ÊqÊThe ultimate unwanted result. Where does this leave your loved ones? UÊ >V>Ê VÃÌÊ qÊ Lost pay or reduction in pay. Who pays the bills? Are you the sole income producer in your household? UÊ *>Ê >`Ê ÃÕvviÀ}Ê q An obvious detriment desired by no one. UÊ Ã>LÌÞÊqÊA life-changing experience. Now you’re not able to do what you’re used to doing. Maybe now you can’t cast that fishing rod, ride that bike, hug your wife, lift your child, or simply see? Or perhaps you’re confined to a wheelchair. UÊ «iÌÛiiÃÃÊÊL``}ÊLÃÊq Other than payroll and benefits, workers’ compensation insurance and accident costs may represent the bulk of a company’s operating expense. When a company’s operating expenses
increase, it then is less competitive to bid jobs. If your company is not awarded jobs, where does that leave you? UÊ 9ÕÀÊ VÜÀiÀÃ½Ê Ã>viÌÞÊ q Perhaps you and your co-worker have been working together for some time now. Chances are you may spend as much or more time with your co-workers than you do with your own family. Obviously, you do not want anything bad to happen to them. Watch out for their safety, too. Safety meetings are a perfect opportunity for you to communicate any safety ideas or concerns that you may have. Participate in your safety meetings. If you don’t participate, your ideas will not be heard. Who knows, the idea that you have may very well save a co-worker’s life – or even your own. ND /
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Card No. 17
[email protected]
WAYNE NASH, MGWC
The World According to Wayne
How to Beat the Recession
ith everything slowing down in the housing industry, and a lot of housewell drillers very short on work, a lot of people (myself included) have had to turn to alternatives to keep busy and make a living. So far this year, I have been to Poland, which was very interesting, but not very productive; I have been to the Marcellus Shale play both as a consultant and as a teacher; and now I am in the Bakken Shale play out West in the Williston Basin, supervising fishing operations for one of the biggest service companies in the world. One thing I can say about the current boom in shale drilling: I haven’t seen a boom like this in 30 years, and I’m glad to be alive to see this one. The Marcellus in Pennsylvania is going great guns, and
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there is a developing infrastructure to support it. Jobs are plentiful, and living conditions generally are good. The specialty jobs still are being filled by hands from the more traditional oilfields, but training locals is coming along nicely. With the economy in the shape it’s in, and the severe downturn in new housing, a lot of house-well drillers are having a very bad year. Drilling is down, service is on an emergency-only basis, the guy down the road is cutting his prices to keep his rig working, and the supply house increases the price every time you buy something. It’s hard to make payroll when the rig is in the yard. Since our industry is a tight-knit group with many family-owned-and-operated
businesses, it is not uncommon to see second-, third- and even fourth-generation drillers in the same company. It has occurred to me that multi-generational drilling companies may be able to take advantage of this situation. Suppose you are a father-and-son drilling company, and there is not enough work to make a check for everyone. If I were in that situation, I’ll tell you what I would do: I’d send my son to the oilfield, at least until the next election. He could learn very important techniques and methods that would benefit the company when he comes home, have an adventure, and make a good check while he’s doing it. To the father: When you get him back, you will have a seasoned hand with a bet-
9570-VTR See the 9570-VTR in action at 1
www.ams-samplers.com/9570-vtr-video 1
3,000 lb. Hydraulic Hi-Speed Winch Requires Less Operator Attention
2
4,000 ft-lb. Hydraulic Auger and 201 ft-lb. Hammer with Hydraulic Pivot & Locking Systems
3
New Auto-Drop Hammer with Improved Hammering Capability & Functionality
4
Stronger Mast with a Larger Foot for Increased Stability and Pullback Force
5
Tier 4, 60 HP John Deere, Liquid-Cooled Diesel Engine with 30 Gallons Fuel Storage
6
Hydraulic Tooling Rack with Increased Capacity for 4ft and 5ft Tooling
7
Dozer blade functions as independent outriggers and accessory carrier
8
Run Everything from an Easy-To-Use Control Panel with Digital Engine Diagnostics Display
9
Stow-Away Control Panel Arm to Store Panel Inside During Transport
3
2
The hammer, auger, winch, and auto-drop can all be positioned over the same borehole without realigning or repositioning the rig More Compact Height and Width Fully Equipped Weight Under 12,000 lbs. with a Lower Center of Gravity
6
5 8 9
7
4
800-635-7330 12 | NATIONALDRILLER October 2011
[email protected]
Card No. 59
www.ams-powerprobe.com
Oil well in the Williston Basin. Photo courtesy of USGS. ter skill-set than when you sent him off, and you don’t have to feed him. To the son: This might be the biggest adventure of your life, next to the military. You are going to have to man-up, put on your big-girl panties, and take care of yourself. Momma won’t be there to cook for you or mend your boo-boos. The good part is that you will bring home a check bigger than Daddy could ever pay you. If you want a challenge and fairly easy conditions, go to the Marcellus. The infrastructure is there, and conditions are pretty good. The drilling is easy, and not too deep. Rig moves are kinda tricky because of the terrain and the fine Pennsylvania highway system, but most distances aren’t too bad. If you really want to man-up and work on the cutting-edge of drilling technology, come to the Bakken. You can learn more and make more money than anywhere in the world right now. Entry-level positions are around $80,000 a year, if you are willing to work. And since there isn’t much else to do, work is all that is here. Housing is pretty much non-existent, so make sure you have a place to stay when you go or bring your own house. This might be the time to borrow Dad’s motorhome. You can do anything you are interested in. The unemployment rate is lowest in the United States, and anybody who wants a job can have his pick. Heck, even my idiot brother Willard has a job. Weather conditions can be a mite tough. Winters get to -40 degrees F, with 30 inches to 40 inches of snow per year and frequent white-outs, but if you can handle it, no problem. Bring most of what you need with you; this is an empty area. It’s possible to drive 100 miles without seeing a tree, and the only thing between here and the North Pole is a barbed wire fence, and half of it is down. There is an occasional Wal-Mart, but be prepared to drive a while to get there. The drilling industry is crying for hands, and this might be the perfect opportunity for a young man (or woman, the ratio here is 60% men to 40% women). If you are a woman, you can have your pick of jobs and fine young roughnecks with good checks. Just sayin’. Something to think about while you are waiting for the housing market to pick up. If you are interested, send me an e-mail, I’ll try to hook you up. ND vÌiÀÊ
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Card No. 1
www.NationalDriller.com | 13
Keeping Rail Project on Track
A quiet morning in front of the Minnesota state capitol building, pulling samples along the route of the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit line.
B
raun Intertec, Minneapolis, used its Geoprobe 7720DT and 6620DT rigs to collect environmental samples on a 10-mile stretch of roadway prior to construction of the new Central Corridor Light Rail Transit (CCLRT) line. The rail line, which will run through a mix of neighborhoods, commercial and industrial areas, will offer commuter service between Minneapolis and St. Paul – Minnesota’s two largest cities. The CCLRT line should begin service in 2014. According to Greg Bialon, Braun Intertec’s drilling manager, the overall versatility, power and size of the 7720DT made it a good match for the proj14 | NATIONALDRILLER October 2011
ect. “We needed something with versatility to go off-road and use in a variety of settings,” Bialon explains, “but still narrow enough to collect soil
samples from inside buildings. We were extremely pleased with how it performed on the project.” The 6620DT, a smaller version of the 7720DT, provided additional assistance on the job. During a 100-day period, two Braun Intertec field teams collected soil and ground water samples from about 500 borings along the proposed rail line. “Having two rigs on the job helped keep the drilling on schedule,” says Jaclyn Dylla, a project manager for Braun Intertec. “We assigned two field scientists to each rig to keep up with the large amount of footage produced during this (Continued on Page 18)
DIVERTECH
By
WASHINGTON ROTATING CONTROL HEADS, INC. 3PRINGlELD !VE s 0/ "OX s 7ASHINGTON 0!
0HONE &AX www.washingtonrotating.com 7E MANUFACTURE A COMPLETE LINE OF 2OTATING #ONTROL (EADS as well as Non-Rotating Diverters Sizes up to 30” Table Drive or Top Drive for all applications. 7HETHER YOU ARE DRILLING OIL GAS WATER we have a Diverter to do the job!
0.%5-!4)# $)6%24%2 3934%!00,)#!4)/.3 s 7ATER 7ELL s -ONITORING 7ELL s #ONSTRUCTION s "LASTHOLE 3AMPLING s -INERAL 'RADE #ONTROL s 5NDERGROUND -INING s s /IL AND 'AS 7ELL 3PUDDING s !NCHOR (OLE $RILLING s /IL 'AS $RILLING s
The $IVERTECH 0NEUMATIC $IVERTer System is equipped with a multistage flow through rubber boot system, which is inflated with air. Inflated to only 10 psi, the boot sysTEM ON THE STANDARD UNIT EXERTS OVER 1000 pounds of pressure against THE GROUND /NCE INmATED THE BOOT requires no further air flow to remain pressurized. Since the boot is mEXIBLE ADEQUATE SEALING IS OBTAINED even on unlevel terrain. A small, easily mounted vacuum sytem is used to retract the boot to “travel” position.
The $IVERTECH 0NEUMATIC $IVERTER System is a compact, easy to install accessory for diverting drill cuttings AWAY FROM THE DRILL RIG 4HE 0ATENTED &LOW THRU "OOT EXPANDS FROM THE Divertech spool to form a seal against the ground or rock face, allowing cutTINGS TO BE DIVERTED THROUGH A &LOW