National Driller articles from May 2002

National Driller archives from May 2002

Drilling equipment and accessory trends. (For Openers).
May 1, 2002... I had the opportunity to speak with a few of the industry's leading suppliers of equipment and accessories, and asked them about the latest trends in their markets. Their responses were quite varied; I'm sure if I spoke with four, five or six...

America by the numbers. (Portfolio).(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... In his book 100% American, Daniel Weiss comes up with some diverse and sundry statistics of varying degrees of significance: * Two percent of Americans think the federal income tax they pay is too low. * Eleven percent of American...

Those rainy day decisions. (Portfolio).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Who stays drier -- the person who runs for shelter from a rainstorm or the one who walks there? Two meteorologists at the National Climatic Data Center conducted a study to get the answer to this age-old question. Each donned identical...

Key to your success: people. (Portfolio).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Every day another company realizes that while effective marketing attracts customers, you need to do even more to get them and keep them. These progressive firms work to get customers by providing genuine quality, value and service, and they...

Find the perfect ending. (Portfolio).(finishing the job)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Don't neglect thc end of the job. It's easy to do -- the project essentially is complete and everyone breathes a sigh of relief and is eager to move on to the next job. However, even though there is a psychological feeling of completion, the...

Fine-tune your marketing plan. (Portfolio).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Raleigh, N.C.-based FMI, management consultants to the construction industry, recently conducted a poll asking contractors: "What is one new competitive strategy your firm has successfully implemented in the past year?" The most common answers...

Manage the information overload. (Portfolio).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... For all of us who have a difficult time keeping up with the bombardment of articles, brochures, emails, books, Web sites and all the other sources of information, management guru Tom Peters has some counsel. "There are about 1,000 books on...

Want to be a true leader? (Portfolio).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In his book Taking Charge: Making the Right Choices, Perry Smith offers some advice on what it takes to be a successful leader. It is important to build trust within the organization. This is a two-way street. You need to be trusted by your...

Fine tune your pressure cooker. (Portfolio).(positive use of stress)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In today's work world, nearly everyone is subject to some degree of pressure. Some managers subscribe to the theory that by turning up the heat as high as possible, they'll get the most from their staffs. Indeed, some people find that they...

Contractors gather in land of lincoln.(Illinois Association of Groundwater Professionals; annual meeting 2002)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Illinois Association of Groundwater Professionals (IAGP) presented its annual meeting in the state capital of Springfield, March 3-5. The general tenor of the meeting was both upbeat and business-like -- a nod to the professionalism and...

Sunshine state association going strong. (Newscope).(Florida Ground Water Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Florida Ground Water Association (FGWA) has plenty to report from the Sunshine State. According to president Wayne Smith, the association's recent "You're in the Money" convention and trade show was a big success. Attendees enjoyed the...

NDA board changes. (Newscope).(National Drilling Association)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Earlier this year in Pittsburgh, the National Drilling Association (NDA) held the first meeting of is new board and officers. Four new board members were elected to serve two-year terms - Jeff Thew of North Star Drilling (Cortland, N.Y.,);...

Witnessing our tax dollars hard at work.(government versus private enterprise)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... I recently wrote about the government's attempt to control the lives of the farmers in the Klamath basin in Oregon through the control of water recourses, and I got wondering -- how well do they do when the government actually does the...

Why insurance rates are skyrocketing: terrorism is partly to blame, but the insurance industry also is on the rebound from a long tailspin.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2002... Talk to people in the insurance business and you'll hear them explain today's skyrocketing rates as bouncing back from a decade and a half of premium decay. In this case, the bounce resembles what you might get from a trampoline, thanks to the...

Arsenic removal technology. (Newscope).(Severn Trent Services and Bayer AG in Bayoxide E33 water treatment agreement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Severn Trent Services and Bayer AG announced an agreement between the two companies to distribute a proprietary media that removes arsenic from drinking water. This long-term agreement provides Severn Trent with global distribution rights...

Oil workers kidnapped. (Newscope).(Tidex Marine)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A boat servicing a drilling rig off the coast of Nigeria's southern coast was stormed last month by angry villagers who took 10 workers hostage, according to Shell Oil. The 10 workers, including one American, were captured by 40 young men...

Tetra acquires Hartman. (Newscope).(Tetra Tech Inc. acquires Hartman and Associates Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Tetra Tech Inc., Pasadena, Calif., has announced the acquisition of Hartman & Associates Inc., an engineering and consulting firm that specializes in solving complex water resource issues. Hartman & Associates has offices throughout Florida and...

Don't get stuck with drill pipe in the ground.(drilling practice)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... One concern shared by vertical well and horizontal directional drillers alike is having the drill string stuck in the ground. The cost incurred by the loss of time and equipment can be especially devastating for the small contractor running on...

What's in that water? (Newscope).(U.S. Geological Survey reports on stream contamination)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) unveiled the first-ever study of pharmaceuticals, hormones and other organic waste water-related chemicals in steams across the nation. And while the findings are significant in their own right, the work points...

Adventures with big and little boys' toys. (Porky's Hole Thoughts).(a family grows up with motorbikes, peddle cars and amphicars)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... At the age of 3, for Christmas, Granddad Porky Sr. and Santa brought Randy his first motorized toy: a gas-powered mini go cart. He began to learn to ride it in a covered shelter at the city park. This area soon became too restrictive for Randy,...

Davis delays ban of MTBE. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... California Gov. Gray Davis recently announced a one-year delay on banning the pollutant MTBE from the state's gasoline supplies, explaining that he wants to avoid price hikes and shortages as the state moves to use ethanol as a substitute. He...

Senators plan to eliminate MTBE. (Legislative Update).(replace MTBE with ethanol)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... U.S. Senators recently agreed to triple the ethanol used in gasoline and to ban MTBE, leading to a nationwide ban in four years. The compromise assures that a package of new gasoline requirements aimed at giving refiners more flexibility,...

EPA supports safer water systems. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... EPA Administrator Christie Whitman recently addressed the Association of Metropolitan Water Agencies where she emphasized EPA's commitment to assist local utilities in safeguarding the nation's water systems. She detailed a national effort to...

House committee approves infrastructure bill. (Legislative Update).(funds to Clean Water Act State Revolving Loan Fund)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee recently approved a $20-billion legislative package to reauthorize the Clean Water Act's State Revolving Loan Fund (SRF) for the next five years. The bill encourages investment in...

Dealer Meeting focuses on training. (Newscope).
May 1, 2002... A.I. McDermott Co. of Oshkosh, Wis., held its 57th Annual Dealer Meeting at the Oshkosh Convention Center earlier this year, with nearly 400 contractor customers, suppliers and employees in attendance. The focus of this year's meeting was...

Pesticides threaten wells. (Newscope).(on Long Island)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Tests of wells located in Long Island, N.Y., near areas where there has been high pesticide use continue to show contamination in the ground water, according to a draft report. At a legislative hearing last week, officials presented...

$3-million water quality program. (Newscope).(from Colorado State University and the EPA)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Colorado State University researchers are beginning work on a four-year, $3-million project funded by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to improve water quality assessments and address environmental problems related to water resources....

Groundbreaking news from WLS. (Newscope).(WLS Drilling Products Inc.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... WLS Drilling Products Inc. - a company that offers a mining bit product line developed through study of drilling applications across the United States, Mexico and South Africa - is building a new office/warehouse facility near Lake Conroe,...

All American customer service demonstrated.(All American H2O Inc.)(Brief Article)(Interview)(Company Profile)
May 1, 2002... Every time I asked water treatment service technician Tony Mikhail to explain one of the procedures he was executing, his response invariably included the phrase, "... because that's what the customer wants." "Customer satisfaction is...

Preserve your right to fire at will.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... There was a time not too long ago when you could get rid of any poor-performing employees rather easily. But times have changed. There are reams of legal red tape to get through that can make terminations rather tricky. There are more...

EPA OKs herbicides. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The EPA recently announced it will allow farmers to use herbicides in irrigation canals without permits, despite a federal appeals court ruling that permits are necessary. EPA said applying aquatic herbicides to maintain an irrigation system,...

Water grant approved. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Senator Jeff Bingaman, D-New Mexico, recently announced that the government has approved a $1 -million Department of Agriculture grant for residents in Rincon Marquez-Torreon, a Navajo community where there is not running water in the homes....

Arctic oil drilling studied. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A Reuters survey of President Bush's proposal to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) to oil drilling says the plan seems doomed in the Democratic-led Senate. Fifty senators, including five republicans, said they are opposed to...

Indian tribes gain water. (Legislative Update).(Gila River Indian Community, Arizona)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... In the near future, the federal government is expected to sign the largest Indian water settlement in U.S. history -- an agreement with the Gila River Indian Community that will complete negotiations with a dozen Arizona tribes. Those tribes...

Mining companies settle lawsuit. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A settlement between mining companies, the state of Montana and the EPA will clean up acidic mine drainage at the Berkeley Pit, the nation's largest body of contaminated water. The Berkeley Pit is part of the Silver Bow Creek/Butte-area...

Water protection bill proposed. (Legislative Update).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... New Hampshire Gov. Jeanne Shaheen recently proposed a water protection bill that would clarify the governor's authority to declare water supply emergency and impose additional protections, remove barriers to regional cooperation among water...

Mud School dates set. (Newscope).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Wyo-Ben Inc. has set the dates for Mud School 2002, recently announcing that the weeklong session will be held Sept. 9-13. This event has brought attendees from around the world, and positions are limited to the first 14 registrants. It begins...

New Flomatic sales manager. (Newscope).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Flomatic Valves of Glens Falls, N.Y., has announced the promotion of Nick Farrara to national sales manager. Farrara has been with Flomatic for over five years, and in this new capacity, he will head up all sales activities, as well as...

Kinley named president. (Newscope).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Layne Christensen Co., Mission Woods, Kan., has announced the appointment of Colin B. Kinley as president of its Specialty Products and Services Division. The division encompasses several business enterprises, including Layne Christensen...

Blake wins drawing. (Newscope).
May 1, 2002... Atlas Hydraulic Casing Drivers presents Ellen Blake a pearl necklace, bracelet and earrings. The drawing for the jewelry tool place at the most recent conference of the Wisconsin Water Well Association. Pictured are Shawn Foster of FOSTCO,...

Bullets may be harming drinking water wells. (Newscope).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... An Englewood, Fla., gun club may not have its lease renewed. because officials say lead bullets that have been used for three decades may be adversely affecting nearby drinking water wells, according to the Associated Press (AP). Members...

Meets in B. C. (Newscope).
May 1, 2002... About 150 attendees and 16 exhibitors traveled to the Grand Okanagan Resort in Kelowna, British Columbia, for the 2002 British Columbia Ground Water Show, which took place earlier this year from Feb. 28 to March 2. The successful event featured...

Skiing on Sewage? (Newscope).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... What is your community doing with its sewage? Probably getting it as far out of sight as possible. However, not every place in this world is hiding its sewage. According to Reuters, an Australian ski resort has just completed trials to see...

Exploring Submersible pump cable.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... There are two classifications of insulated multi-conductor wire used in the ground water business -- submersible pump cable and underground feed cable known commonly as UF. Submersible pump cable is used between the well head and the pump and...

Sources of monitoring well contamination.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Most of us will agree that it is expensive to sample monitoring wells and the data may dictate even more expensive actions if the results of the testing are elevated above certain action levels. Therefore, we should always strive to obtain...

Chemicals used in water well rehabilitation -- Part 1.
May 1, 2002... Chemicals are used in water well rehabilitation to remove products that are either contaminating the well water or blocking or plugging the well environment. Contamination can be the result of chemical infiltration into the well, such as...

Learn to fight the dreaded 's' word.(stress management)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Stress definitely has become a hot topic of late. Everyone talks about stress: "I've been stressed out lately," "I'm really stressed," "I'm under a lot of stress," "All this stress is getting to me." We hear these phrases and many more, all...

Drilling unit. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Midway Rig Inc. presents the Midway 13 MA, a rig that is mounted on a new 2000 Mack truck. The drilling rig specifications include 24 MA drawworks with air clutches; derrick with 34-foot working height, hydraulically raised and lowered with two...

Limited access auger rig. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The M1.3T limited access auger rig from MARL Technologies is a small drill with big power. Designed to fit in narrow spaces with limited headroom, this little drill will fit through 3-footwide doors. The model shown has variable-width tacks to...

Subsurface machine. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Geoprobe Systems designs and manufactures several models of subsurface machines, ranging from the powerful 6600 series track- and truck-mounted machines 540MT units. Geoprobe machines to the highly mobile 54LT and -- working in tandem with...

Restricted space access. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Acker Drill's new Soil-XLS is an all-hydraulic, high-torque drill rig specifically designed for fast and economical soil investigation, ground water monitoring or core drilling with multiple mast positions for easy access in restricted spaces....

Diamond Core Drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Boart Longyear is proud to introduce its next generation of hydraulic diamond core drills for surface applications: the LF70 Hydraulic Diamond Core Drill -- PQ. Based on the LF70 and equipped with a PQ head, this drill is designed to offer...

Customized rig. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The GP900R Brat Rotary Series rig from Gus Pech Mfg. Co. features 9,000 foot-pounds, 200 rpm and pullbacks up to 32,000 pounds. Various mud pumps and air compressors are available. Many optional features are offered to customize the rig to meet...

Track unit. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Diedrich Drill Inc.'s radio controlled track unit has over 3,400 square inches of rubber track in contact with the ground. Its hydraulic drive, 3-mph speed and responsive controls help make it a safe and productive track unit. Now, as part of...

Third Generation machine. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... AMS introducers the new PowerProbe 9630 Generation III. The unit's sleeker design includes a metal power track, adjustable control panel, increased pull-up force, added safety features, a new pull yoke system and larger probe foot. Highlights...

All-hydraulic rig line. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The Aqua Tech line from Taylor Rigs LLC is a complete line of all-hydraulic water well drilling rigs for wells up to 5,000 feet deep. The HTD line includes four standard top drive rigs, and the HRT line includes two standard table drive rigs....

Water well drills. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisment)
May 1, 2002... Driltech water well drills are designed to meet demanding conditions, in hard or mixed ground conditions. Drilling power and longevity are increased with a separate deck engine. In line design improves accessibility and serviceability. The pipe...

Self-contained drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisment)
May 1, 2002... The DD-3 from American Augers is the company's first offering of a self-contained drill in the active market comprising drills rated from 15,001- to 30,000-pounds pullback force. The DD-3 has 28,000 pounds of thrust and pullback force. Its...

Directional drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The new StraightLine 3550 drilling system is robust, user-friendly, and loaded with features to help make the drilling operation successful and provide greater return on investment for the customer. With 35,000 pounds of thrust/pullback and...

Mid-range rig. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Ingersoll-Rand's T3W is a midrange water well rig. Equipped with an Ingersoll-Rand over/under airend that renders 900/350 or 1070/350, this drilling rig delivers high performance from downhole drills and bits. An optional carousel package...

HDD system. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... New from The Charles Machine Works Inc. is the Ditch Witch JT4020 All Terrain horizontal directional drilling system. Using a mechanical dual-drive drilling system, the self-contained 40,000-pound pullback model permits drilling and steering...

Percussion directional drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The Grundodrill 10X from TT Technologies is a combination hydraulic/percussive steerable drilling system designed to install pipe or conduit beneath rail, river and major highway crossings in difficult soils. It generates 27,600 pounds of...

HDD drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Designed to minimize support equipment and maximize operator efficiency Vermeer Manufacturing Co. offers the Vermeer D150x300 NAVIGATOR, a horizontal directional drill in the over 100,000-pound class that utilizes a fully integrated...

Compact rig. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The DR150 from DeepRock is a compact rig with the drilling capacities and speed of much larger rigs. It features high torque tophead, pullback and options found on many larger rigs. It is available with a new positive displacement high volume...

High-tech drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Versa-Drill International Inc. builds the high-tech Advantage V-2000 drill rig. What sets this drill apart is its low-profile design complemented with a 6-by-6 carrier mounting; patented operator friendly features, such as VersaDrill's totally...

Adaptable drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The GEFCO SpeedStar 30K has several equipment options to handle most any job. Choose from a variety of air compressors, mud pumps, water injection pumps, hammer lubricators, casing hammer packages and deep hole packages. Standard features...

Geothermal rig. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The SIMCO 2800 HS(HT) is a powerful, reliable geothermal drilling rig that is compact enough to get into tight spots. Typical rig features include diesel-powered Ford F550 4-by-4, 17,500-pound GVW; PTO powered with dual hydrostatic systems;...

Dual rotary drill. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Known primarily for its ability to set casing in difficult formations, the Foremost DR-12 now is available with a rod box and single arm loader to provide faster loading in open-hole applications and on tight work sites. The DR-12 rod box holds...

Kelly bar/rotary rigs. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Drilling Supply and Mfg./Mayhew manufactures kelly bar/rotary rigs, designed for depths from 500- to 2,500-foot capacity. The rig featured is a Mayhew 1400 rig with a retractable 8 1/2-inch table; 9-speed rotary transmission; 3-by-4 Mission...

Truck-mounted drill rig. (Drill Rig Roundup).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... Schramm Inc.'s T450WS Rotadrill is a compact, lightweight and manuverable truck-mounted drill rig. The T450WS can be outfitted for water well, geothermal, exploration, environmental, blast hole and construction drilling. The rig is available...

What makes for an effective leader?(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... An effective leader is a person with a passion for a cause that is larger an they are. Someone with a dream and a vision that will better society, or, at least, some portion of it. I think a very key question has to be answered: Can someone who...

NGWA hosts Indian ground water professionals. (Newscope).(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The National Ground Water Association (NGWA) recently hosted a mini-seminar on ground water remediation for a group of professionals from India. The seminar took place April 5 at NGWA headquarters in Westerville, Ohio. It was titled...

April Fool's prank gone bad. (Newscope).(radio hoax)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Officials in Olathe, Kin., will file a complaint against Kansas City radio disc jockeys whose April Fool's Day gag about water that caused several residents to call 911. The disc jockeys told listeners that water in Olathe contained "high...

Vegetable oil to the rescue. (Newscope).(cleaning up trichloroethylene)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Trichloroethylene (TCE), a colorless, toxic liquid widely used as a solvent for dry cleaning and degreasing, has been known to seep into ground water and make it dangerous for consumption. TCE also has been found in ground water on some...

Plastic filters. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A selection of corrosion-free plastic filters from industrial Specialties Mfg. Inc. are designed to eliminate contamination on pick-up lines for air, vacuum, liquid or oil applications. Effective in protecting pumps on any downstream device,...

Constant pressure. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Flomatic Valves, a member of Danfoss' Water Valve Division, introduces the CycleGard II, which features an unleaded pilot. The CycleGard II incorporates an adjustable unleaded pressure-reducing pilot that can give a constant pressure from 30...

New York System. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... AMS Inc. introduces the new Pull Yoke System as a standard feature now available on its PowerProbe 9630 Generation III. This system is permanently attached to the PowerProbe, eliminating the removal of the old style pull yoke every time the...

Flow meter. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... FloCat introduces the C-LA10-B Series non-thermal, mass gas flow meter. To determine mass flow, the C-LA10-B Series use discrete differential pressure, absolute pressure and temperature sensor measurements within the laminar flow region....

Drilling Fluid Mixer. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The MX250 Modular Drilling Fluid Mixing System from Vermeer Manufacturing Co. is designed for fast mixing of high volumes of drilling fluid for HDD applications. The system's 22-Hp Hatz diesel engine can support a total of up to three different...

Drag bits. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Star Iron Works, a division of Drilltube International, manufactures and distributes a comprehensive array of products for any type of water well drilling application. For example, the company manufactures a complete line of drag bits that are...

Water tanks. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... Value-Well pre-pressurized water system tanks from Amtrol are steel constructed and include a buty1/EPDM diapharagm, polypropylene liner and rubber air stem. The Value-Well models are NSF Standard 61 listed and also are helium tested. These...

Sump pump. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. Introduces the ENVIROMAC 1/4-Hp submersible sump pump for clear and surface water with built-in check valve for house, yard and garden. The ENVIROMAC is designed to be three pumps in one: automatic, manual and floor...

Well Brush. (Product Info).(advertisement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2002... The Cotey Well Cleaning Brush is designed to agitate, surge and scrub simultaneously. It features interchangeable brushes that clean from 4- through 16-inch ID casing. The brush can be used in all types of water well casing, can attach to cable...

Electronic motor protection. (Product Info).(advertisement)
May 1, 2002... The Grundfos Control Unit, CU 3, is an electronic motor protection device that also can monitor pump, motor and borehole performance from a distance when connected to a PC or via the Grundfos Remote Control R100. In this way, the operator is...