National Driller articles from March 2004

National Driller archives from March 2004

New data in regarding pricing.(For Openers)
March 1, 2004... We do a lot of preaching about the importance of drilling contractors keeping their prices at levels that ensure a fair profit. Too many drilling contractors aren't charging enough and that causes problems for all concerned--the driller, the...

We've got mail.(For Openers)
March 1, 2004... I appreciated Jim Olsztynski's article ("The Golden Rule," January 2004). If only everyone could live according to "morals." Personally, I'm looking forward to an eternal life after this one, where we'll enjoy morals--and much, much more. ...

Selecting the right pump cable.(Tech Topics)
March 1, 2004... Guidelines for electrical installations are contained in the National Electric Code (NEC). The code contains general requirements regarding the type of cable to be used when installing pumps, but the installer is given some latitude as to the...

Bumming around on the Web: the history of drilling leads to interesting nooks and crannies.(Smart Business)
March 1, 2004... A lot of people my age wax nostalgic for the "good old days" when life was simpler and slower. Not me. There's no other era I'd rather be a part of than our modern age of electronic marvels. Yes, e-mail, cell phones and so many other wondrous...

Holiday superstitions and my election predictions.(The World According to Wayne)
March 1, 2004... I'm writing this on New Year's Day, a day that could be a lot more productively spent working, except I've developed a strong superstition about working on holidays after what happened some years ago. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Sometime...

How to prosper because of your competition.
March 1, 2004... Business owners frequently consider their competition as the enemy. Even the word "competitor" creates a need to compete against--to destroy, to attack or to beat. Business owners are most often very competitive themselves and the idea of...

AWWA to develop security guidance.(NewScope)
March 1, 2004... The American Water Works Association (AWWA) has begun work on a security guidance document and related training materials to assist in the design and construction of new drinking water systems and the improvement of existing ones. AWWA is...

HDD Good Practice Guidelines -- Part 1.
March 1, 2004... A wide range of directional drilling units exists in the marketplace. The smallest drilling rigs typically are used for the installation of telecommunication residential service cables. Larger rigs are capable of installing pipelines up to 48...

WQA's online education program.(NewScope)
March 1, 2004... Learning more about water treatment issues--from basic water chemistry to the latest on arsenic removal--will now be as convenient as logging onto the Web. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The new e-learning program will be unveiled at the...

Mid-weight drill.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Ingersoll-Rand's newest model in its water well drilling product line is the TH60-900/350, a mid-weight drill for water well drilling applications where the truck's engine is preferred as the drill power supply. Powered by an International...

Drill technology.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The Versa-Drill model V-1555 has been engineered to increase maximum drill performance with a decreased overall weight. With a combined weight under 50,000 pounds, the V-1555 features a 55,000-pound pullback, direct-coupled, hydraulic...

Mud rotary/geothermal rig.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The SIMCO 7000 is an all-hydraulic top-head drive, mud rotary water well/geothermal drill rig with a 10-rod carousel designed for today's driller. Its rotary capacity is rated at 1,200 feet, and the 7000 combines PTO-powered hydraulics with...

New HDD system released.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The new Ditch Witch JT1220 Mach 1 compact directional drilling system is a productive 12,000-pound horizontal directional drilling machine. Even with high horsepower, it produces less than 100 dBA of noise; minimal noise allows contractors to...

New rig with dual rotary capability.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The new DR-12W from Foremost has full dual rotary capability to advance casing in difficult formations. It also is equipped with a carousel, a new mast that allows the top-drive to come off the hole and an 18,000-pound drawworks winch for quick...

Versatile drill series.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The RT Series from Taylor Rigs is a drilling package specially designed for large diameter water, gas and shallow oil drilling operations. Available with pullback through 200,000 pounds, the RT is engineered for versatility and power. Taylor...

Complete line of rigs.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... REICHdrill provides a complete line of rigs, the features of which include 6,000-pound single-line to 12,000-pound double-line capacities, sandline winches, hydraulic extendable booms and all-aluminum bodies with increased storage. The...

T450WS enhancement.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Schramm's current enhancement to its T450WS platform includes options that are designed to ensure productivity and cost improvement for the contractor. Holding 700 feet of 3.5-inch pipe enables the contractor to have all the steel onboard for...

Customizable rig.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The 30K-DH from GEFco has equipment options to handle several types of drilling methods and can be customized with options such as casing hammer packages and mud pumps. Standard features include a single pipe loader, six-pod carousel, pipe...

Direct push rig.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The new PowerProbe 9630 PRO direct push unit from AMS Inc. has been equipped with a powerful hyd-raulic hammer to provide the power needed to accomplish your direct push sampling tasks. The standard two-speed auger drive head allows for the...

Sonic rig.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Diedrich Drill's sonic rig features an automatic rod-maneuvering system that delivers drill rod and up to 13-inch diameter casing to the drill head, a 10-foot jib crane for support truck assistance and a fixed breakout table and floating makeup...

Model M-75.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Enid Drill Systems Inc.'s model M-75, shown on location in Colorado, features a 60,000-pound hook-load mast, three-drum drawworks and a high-volume centrifugal pump. EDSI offers a large selection of new and used rigs as well as complete rig...

Driltech upgrades.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Driltech's new 2004 T 2 5 K W has been upgraded to provide the driller with greater productivity. The new T 2 5 K W drill offers ease of set-up as all of its walkways and platforms fold up and down, eliminating the need to carry them manually....

Restricted space access.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Acker Drill Company's new Soil-XLS is an all-hydraulic, high-torque drill rig that is specifically designed for soil investigation, ground water monitoring or core drilling with multiple mast positions for easy access in restricted spaces....

Down-the-hole crawler drill.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... The Gill Beetle from Gill Rock Drill Co. is a down-the-hole crawler drill that can produce hole sizes from 4 inches to 24 inches in diameter and at any angle from vertical to horizontal. The drill's 140 model can drill parallel to the ground at...

Mid-size HDD.(Drill Rig Roundup)
March 1, 2004... Specially designed for working on small- to medium-diameter HDD projects, the new mid-size D18X22 HDD from Vermeer offers a rack-and-pinion drive system and a compact 48-inch width. The D18X22 provides 2,200 foot-pounds of torque to turn...

Mystic waters: the power of Ireland's holy wells.
March 1, 2004... Most people have dropped coins into a well and made a wish at some time. But have you ever wondered how this odd custom arose? Surely, parting with our loose change doesn't really persuade fortune to smile upon us? For those who dream of...

Belasco stresses relationship building: environmental drilling contractor emphasizes the personal side.
March 1, 2004... The way Al Belasco goes on about all the people he's indebted to for helping his business start, grow and flourish, you're tempted to remind him, "Hey, Al, you were there, too, you know." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]...

Programming flexibility.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Water Right's Impression Series water softeners are designed to offer programming flexibility, allowing users to customize the system for any application. Six levels of programming and display include an automatic-cycle sequence feature that...

Three-inch ball check valves.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Danfoss Flomatic Corp. has added the 3-inch size to the model 208T product offering of ball check valves. The product has a corrosion-resistant PVC body, an easy-access port and is available with threaded NPT or socket-weld female-by-female...

Snap Cap.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Enviro Design Products presents the 2-inch and 4-inch grip N lock well cap. It has transformed the old Snap Cap into the new grip N lock, a hard-hitting cap built for the worst environments. Intended to be easy to install and cost efficient,...

Landscape Rocks.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Plastic Landscape Rocks from Topp Industries are constructed out of weather-resistant polyethylene resin. The standard bottom opening of 91/2-inches ID can easily be increased to 18 inches ID at the site. The molded-in weight tray prevents...

Bearing Mount for worn parts.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Permatex Bearing Mount is a non-running gel that can be applied onto cylindrical parts to fill surface imperfections and repair worn areas. It contains no metal, but once assembled, hardens to a strength that often doubles that of a press fit....

Swivels.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... The 1-J and 2-J swivels from King Oil Tools are engineered for drilling household water wells, drilling shot holes in marshes and jungles and for use on light hydraulic rigs and small jetting rigs. The bearings are duplex, angular-contact type,...

Heavy-duty water filter.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... The Campbell heavy-duty water filter is a large-capacity unit for large residential and commercial/industrial applications. Constructed of FDA-approved polypropylene, it features 1 1/2 inch NPT inlet and outlet for a high flow rate and offers a...

Sand filtration enhancer.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Manufactured by Vanson HaloSource, Storm-Klear, a natural chitosan-based biopolymer made from crustacean shells, enhances the ability of sand filtration systems to remove suspended solids, heavy metals and other pollutants from water runoff on...

Inflatable packers.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... The inflatable packers from Kyle Equipment Co. are available from 4 1/2-inches OD to 7 1/2-inches OD and cover a range of well diameters from 4 1/2 inches to 12 inches. Each inflatable packer will inflate to 1.5 times the original packer...

Tag Line.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... The model 103 Tag Line from Solinst Canada is designed for use in monitoring well installation and uses a weight attached to marked stainless steel cable. It can be used to measure the depth to the top of backfill sand or bentonite layers...

Industrial submersibles.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... General Pump Manufacturing's enclosed impeller L-series of industrial submersibles offer capacities ranging from 40 gpm to 1,500 gpm. Designed for greater head capabilities, greater efficiency and deeper settings, applications include water...

New carbide design.(Product Info)
March 1, 2004... Rockmore International offers the new Multi-Dome carbide design for DTH drill bits, engineered to provide faster bit-penetration rates and ensure greater overall insert life. Its dual-diameter design is said to enhance bit performance by...

WQRF seeks endowments.(NewScope)
March 1, 2004... The Water Quality Research Council (WQRC) has changed its name to better reflect its purpose; it now is the Water Quality Research Foundation (WQRF). In addition, on the occasion of its 50th anniversary, the WQRF is announcing a new...

Passively enhanced in-situ biodegradation of chlorinated solvents.
March 1, 2004... Harding Lawson Associates (HLA) conducted a field demonstration to evaluate in-situ enhanced anaerobic biodegradation of chlorinated solvents using a hydrogen-release compound (HRC). The technology is designed to enhance the natural...

Arsenic facts.
March 1, 2004... Arsenic in well water may come from natural sources or human activity. Arsenic is an element commonly found in soil and rocks, and certain rock types tend have higher levels of arsenic. Pesticides and herbicides containing arsenic were commonly...

The history of water pumping -- part 2: the force pump marks a major advancement in technology.
March 1, 2004... The Greek inventor Ctesibius began his adult life as a barber but that career got pushed aside quickly as his fascination with mechanics began to consume him. One of his earliest inventions was a counter-weighted mirror that could be adjusted...

Plants revealing their secret of splitting water.(NewScope)
March 1, 2004... In early February, researchers declared they had taken another step toward understanding how plants split water into hydrogen and oxygen atoms--which may provide a cheap way to produce clean-burning hydrogen fuel, an article by Reuters...

The path to small business success.
March 1, 2004... A study of 200 resilient small businesses has surfaced a path all firms can take to increase their likelihood of success despite intense competitive and economic pressures. According to insights gleaned through a comprehensive study conducted...

N.J. sets new arsenic rules.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey has proposed new standards for the acceptable amount of arsenic in drinking water. McGreevey's proposal would cut the standard to half the level deemed acceptable by the federal government. The rules are...

New Mexico unveils state water plan.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has unveiled a statewide water plan to promote desalination and water banking. Water banking is important because of the way state water law works. Under the law, any water-right holder who does not use their...

Interior department announces Grant Program.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... U.S. Interior Secretary Gale Norton recently announced a $4 million Challenge Grant Program that will help areas of the West hard hit by chronic water supply shortages to develop conservation and water efficiency projects. The grants...

Water quality bill pushes for higher arsenic standards.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... Arizona Rep. Tom O'Halleran has introduced a bill focusing on the new federal arsenic standards scheduled to take effect in 2006. House Bill 2288 seeks to establish a special task force charged with making recommendations related to strict...

Drilling education rules revised.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... The Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation has revised continuing education requirements covering water well drillers and pump installers. One provision provides that, in order to renew their licenses, water well drillers and pump...

Minnesota Gov. announces new environmental projects.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... Gov. Tom Pawlenty recently announced a $147 million environmental bonding initiative recommending money for a land set-aside program, wastewater treatment and drinking water improvements, flood mitigation measures and land purchases, according...

Mexico pays water debt.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... Mexico delivered enough water to Rio Grand reservoirs in January to fulfill its entire annual obligation to the United States under a 1944 treaty, but remains uncommitted to paying the almost 1.4 million acre-feet of water it still owes. Under...

Strip-mining rules could change.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... The Bush administration is in the process of changing a rule protecting streams in Appalachia that involves the strip-mining technique of mountaintop removal. The proposed rule change by the Office of Surface Mining would make clear that...

Michigan proposes better water protection.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm has announced a broad plan to better protect the state's ground water and the Great Lakes that would include managing new water withdrawals and creating a statewide code for sanitary systems, according to an...

Gas drilling permits could triple.(Legislative Update)
March 1, 2004... Interior Secretary Gale Norton has requested to triple the number of drilling permits approved in Wyoming's natural gas fields to help meet the nation's growing energy needs. In an Associated Press interview, Norton stated Wyoming, Colorado...

Bentonite grouts and solids content.(Drilling Fluids)
March 1, 2004... Recently, I have been getting some questions regarding the solids content that can be achieved with bentonite grouts currently available in the marketplace. Other questions have centered on which products actually work as grouts and what are...

Coming events.(Calendar)
March 1, 2004... MARCH 4-5 Kentucky Ground Water Association Annual Convention Lexington, Ky. 270-251-3004 7-9 Water Summit Vancouver, British Columbia Phone: 246-431-1074 8-9 North Dakota Well Drillers Association Annual...

"I better put on my shoes".(Porky's Hole Thoughts)
March 1, 2004... In 1959, Bess and I had just lost our first child--Cindy Lynn had died at birth--in Beaver, Utah. We returned to Chanute, Kan., shortly after. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Once I had notified the Selective Service that we had lost our...

Trading Post.
March 1, 2004... A Pulstar for Black Mountain Pump Service Mick Bates of Black Mountain Pump Service, Divide, Colo., recently visited the Pulstar Mfg. facility in Dodge, Neb., to pick up the company's second new Pulstar P10000HD3L pump hoist. ...

Bottled water price war.(NewScope)
March 1, 2004... The recent price war in the $9 billion U.S. bottled water market is expected to get even nastier this year. PepsiCo and Coca-Cola own the top selling bottled water brands, while brands from Nestle combine to hold the largest overall share of...

Safety Award to MED.(NewScope)
March 1, 2004... For the second year in a row, Midwest Environmental Drilling Inc., Cincinnati, has been awarded the annual Excellence in Safety Award from BP Oil. Pictured (1-r) are Patricia Gallery and Jim Wallace of BP Oil, Midwest president Jim Rudd and...