National Driller articles from November 2004

National Driller archives from November 2004

About the lead testing flap.(For Openers)
November 1, 2004... Last month, the Washington Post front-paged a story about lead levels in water being misrepresented by utilities. There was much bluster about "cities across the country manipulating the results of tests... violating federal law and putting...

We've got mail; Well abandonment: period.(For Openers)
November 1, 2004... As many variations of well abandonment differ from one to another, the United States military has quite a unique approach for decommissioning a water/monitoring well. They remove the entire well! One of the more standard approaches would be...

Repetition works best: repetition works best repetition works best repetition works best.(Smart Business)
November 1, 2004... People who sell advertising and know the ropes just cringe when they hear these familiar words--"I'll buy an ad to see if it works. If it does, I'll buy some more." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When it comes to advertising exposure, once is...

Phase converters: the fundamentals of pumped water systems.(Tech Topics)
November 1, 2004... Consider this scenario. You go to a flea market and spot an electric motor that looks similar to the one on the wash-down pump in your barn that is starting to run hot. You know that a new motor would cost way more than what this guy is asking...

Direct-push rig.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... Standard features on Geoprobe Sytems' Model 6620DT include wider tracks, a heavy-duty undercarriage, tool storage, two-speed pull cylinder, the GH60 hammer and a wireless remote control. It also can be equipped with a two-speed augerhead,...

Wire line system.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... Inland Pacific Drill Supply announces its newly developed direct-push tooling. The system is said to eliminate the need for a dual tube string, helping make production faster and having less weight to pack around. The 3 1/2-inch tool will allow...

Probe rods for sampling.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... Environmental Service Products' probe rods are designed specifically for direct-push sampling. The hardened alloy steel probe rods have multi-lead precision-machined thread joints that require fewer rotations to connect than single-lead...

Direct-push equipment.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... The AMS PowerProbe direct-push equipment is used to sample soils, soil gas and ground water. The PowerProbe also can install monitoring wells, inject remediation compounds and deploy geophysical/geotechnical test equipment. AMS Inc., Card No....

Digital cone penetrometers.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... VERTEK offers digital cone penetrometers. Turnkey systems, including cone, data acquisition, cables as well as acquisition, processing and graphing software, are thought to expand the capabilities of most drill rigs. Digital technology allows...

Jacket for slotted screens.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... The PrePak Jacket from GeoInsight slips over a 3/4-inch to 2-inch slotted screen; it is designed to make one-pass well installation using direct-push easier and more economical. Stainless steel mesh retains a pack of standard, fine or ultrafine...

Direct-push rentals.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... Rig Source Inc. offers a variety of direct-push rentals, including Geoprobe 6620DT, 540DT, 540B and 540 MT units. Rentals are intended to allow contractors to expand capabilities, try a machine before buying or just help them get through those...

Narrow Multilevel System offered.(Direct Push)
November 1, 2004... The new 3-Channel CMT Multilevel System from Solinst is only 1.1 inches in diameter. It is said to be ideal for installation with direct-push rigs. Each CMT allows the monitoring of three discrete zones. Now it is possible to install a transect...

Subtropical Arctic.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... The North Pole, synonymous with all things very cold, once had a subtropical climate, according to scientists now returning from the Arctic. The international scientific team, taking part in the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program's Arctic...

Layne Christensen acquires Beylik.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Layne Christensen Co., Mission Woods, Kan., has announced the acquisition of substantially all of the drilling and pump repair assets of Beylik Drilling and Pump Service Inc. With facilities in LaHabra and Barstow, Calif., the Beylik...

I have got an idea! "Simple" plan becomes quite the adventure.(Guest Column)
November 1, 2004... Recently I was lured by a phone call from Mike Frey. Mike and I began to swap lies for a while, as all drillers will do from time to time. Mike asked if I had any old pictures of a spring pole-type rig used around the mid-1800s. His idea was to...

Water task force created.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2004... The Department of Homeland Security recently created the Water Sector Coordinating Committee, a 24-member panel of water and wastewater community interests that is charged with helping the department bolster the security of various critical...

Great lakes water council proposes treaty.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2004... The Council of Great Lakes Governors, the heads of U.S. states and Canadian provinces around the lakes, is proposing a revision of the charter that spells out how the Great Lakes are overseen. The charter, signed in 1985, declares the lakes a...

EPA releases its Water Security Plan.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2004... The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a Water Security Research and Technical Action Plan. The plan identifies critical research and technical support projects in the areas of physical and cyber security; contaminant...

Senate committee approves funding.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2004... Under a plan approved in September by the Senate Appropriations Committee, 2005 funding for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund would be restored to the current $1.35 billion level. The overall budget for the EPA approved by the committee...

Clean water guidelines issued.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2004... The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued new guidelines on preventing contamination of drinking water supplies. The guidelines include instructions on ensuring reservoirs or wells avoid the risk of contamination from human and animal...

Tribal water plan approved.(Legislative Update)
November 1, 2004... The Senate Energy and Commerce Committee has approved a bill that includes the Gila River water agreement, the largest tribal settlement in U.S. history. Under the settlement, Native American tribes would control nearly half the water that...

Pumps to the rescue.
November 1, 2004... Well water pumps provide new reliability and water supply for Mongolian sheepherders. Facing economic catastrophe due to a growing water shortage, nomadic herders in the Gobi Desert in Mongolia have turned to 4-inch submersible well water pumps...

Just how good a manager are you?
November 1, 2004... How well you can manage may determine the success of your business and realization of its fullest potentials. Anything you can do to improve your present management skills is a giant step forward to increased success. To find out whether you...

Monitoring well abandonment.
November 1, 2004... A monitoring well must be investigated before it is destroyed or abandoned to determine both its condition and the details of its construction. The well will be sounded (its depth measured with a weighted line or appropriate method) immediately...

AWWA responds to lead article.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... In response to a Washington Post article suggesting that some water utilities have manipulated data to achieve compliance with the Lead and Copper Rule. Jack Hoffbuhr, executive director of the American Water Works Association, released the...

Atlas Copco buys up Baker Hughes.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Atlas Copco North America Inc. has completed its acquisition of Baker Hughes Mining Tools, a division of Hughes Christensen, a division of Baker Hughes Inc. Baker Hughes Mining Tools has annual revenues of approximately $40 million and 176...

Underwater drilling.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Scientists with the Caribbean Marine Research Center prepare to drill into a coral reef in an effort to study climate activities over the past 20,000 years. Courtesy of the National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration. [ILLUSTRATION...

Simple chlorination.(Water Well Disinfection)
November 1, 2004... Simple chlorination is the process of adding a small volume of chlorine solution into the top of the water well, followed by circulating the chlorine into the water supply's distribution system. This simplified procedure is used to disinfect...

Drilled shaft construction--Part 3.
November 1, 2004... The drilled shaft foundation is employed most frequently either to support heavy loads or minimize settlement, to support uplift loads or to support lateral loads. Because of the versatility of the methods of construction that can be employed,...

PVC well casing.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Certain Teed Corp. has expanded its line of Certa-Lok PVC well casing to include 4 1/2-inch and 5-inch diameter Integral Bell Well Casing in SDR26. Featuring a conventional belled-end joint, Integral Bell well casing is engineered to meet the...

Full ballistic button bits.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Atlas Copco has extended its range of button bits for surface and underground drilling with new models designed for soft rock formations. The new models feature full ballistic buttons that protrude 20 percent to 25 percent more than standard...

Plastic well pipe.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Endot Industries Inc. provides EndoPoly pipe, engineered for strength as well as light weight. Made from PE 3408 resin, this plastic pipe is pressure-rated from 100 psi to 200 psi, allowing pump settings of more than 500 feet. It is...

Portable rig.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Mid-Western Machinery offers the Portadrillmini drilling rig. With a 3-foot-by-3-foot portable size, this drilling unit can fit through standard doorways and between tightly spaced houses. This rig, with its pull-down pressure design, allows...

New rod handler.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Schramm now offers the KL loader as an optional accessory to its line of Rotadrill drilling rigs. This device is engineered to provide a safe, flexible and labor-saving method of loading and unloading drill rod. Its cup design allows the KL to...

Copper anti-seize lubricant.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Available with a minus 65 degree F to 1,800 degree F temperature range, Jet Lube's KOPR-KOTE is NSF-registered and meets MIL-PRF-907E specifications. Because it contains no lead, zinc or other harmful additives and comes in an aerosol,...

Polyethylene septic tanks.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... NORWESCO septic tanks are available in 500-gallon to 1,500-gallon sizes. They are manufactured by means of the rotational molding process that produces a one-piece, seamless and watertight tank. The tanks are made with polyethylene, which is...

Colloidal grout plants.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... HighShear colloidal grout plants from Drilling Technique LTD feature a self-contained mixing, storage, agitation and pumping design, now with upgrades to models 7/14B and 10/10B. In addition to the new orange color, there are new engines,...

Face and plunge mill in bigger sizes.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Sandvik Coromant has expanded its offering of CoroMill 210, the milling cutter with the capability for both productive plunge milling and high feed-face milling. Now cutter diameters up to approximately 4 inches are being introduced. Combining...

New Web site.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Little Beaver Inc. recently launched its new Web site--www.littlebeaver.com. The new Web site features navigation tools in a new page format. Pages include product information, seven product videos, re-sources, the company background,...

Control valves.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Asahi/America Inc. introduces the Globe Control Valve. These modulating control valves have been engineered for precise flow control and are available in pneumatic or electric models, in body materials of PVC, PP, PVDF and PTFE, and in sizes...

Back-up alarm.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Superior Signals Inc. offers the 2100 Series Safe-T-Alert back-up alarm. The STA2100 series operates from 12-24 VDC, has a decibel rating of 97dB, 102dB and 107dB, and is available with wire leads only. The 2100 series conforms to SAE J994 Type...

Airline water under scrutiny.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... About one of every eight passenger airliners tested by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) carried drinking water that fails agency standards because it contains coliform bacteria, according to U.S. Water News Online...

Goulds supports kids camp.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Goulds Pumps, ITT Industries has united in a new way with professional racecar drivers, race sponsors and other individuals throughout the NASCAR community to support one charity benefiting thousands of kids--the Victory Junction Gang Camp,...

Eastern Driller's expands.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Eastern Driller's Manufacturing Co. is the first business to locate in a new tax-incentive zone in Columbia, Pa. Hoping to spur economic development in the community, officials recently approved the addition of 25 acres to Columbia's existing...

Consumer attitudes survey.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... The Water Quality Association (WQA) has published the results of a consumer survey targeting only the point of use/point of entry (POU/POE) industry. The research included focus groups with household decision makers, face-to-face interviews...

Mars rovers probing water history at two sites.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... The Jet Propulsion Laboratory reports that NASA's rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have been exploring Mars about three times as long as originally scheduled. The more they look, the more evidence of past liquid water on Mars these robots...

Drilling commences at Golden Dome.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Gateway Gold Corp. has commenced a 9,900-foot reverse-circulation drilling program on its Golden Dome property in northeast Nevada. The Golden Dome project consists of a Carlin-type gold target hypothesized to exist under a thin veneer of...

Streamside forests help protect freshwater sources.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Scientists have discovered that streamside forests can play a critical role in protecting the world's fresh water, United Press International reports. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The scientists, at the Stroud Water Research Center in...

Agreement reached.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... State and federal environmental agencies have announced an agreement with Dow Chemical Co. to ensure the water source for Plaquemine, La., remains protected from contamination found in the ground water north of the city. The city's water system...

Effective preventive maintenance for wells.
November 1, 2004... Well rehabilitation usually is done to correct past mistakes and problems. There are two primary axioms at work here: * There are no "magic bullets." * Treat--then establish a maintenance program. Maintenance can be established...

Pentair sells Tools Group.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Pentair Inc., Golden Valley, Minn., has completed the sale of its Tools Group to The Black & Decker Corp. of Towson, Md., for approximately $775 million. "The sale of our Tools Group to Black & Decker completes the transformation of Pentair...

What customers really want.(From the "Various and Sundry" files)
November 1, 2004... A recent study reveals that customers care most about reliability, responsiveness and empathy. Of these, reliability is critical; it usually is perceived as the weakest element of most companies' performance, as well as the largest souce of...

Learn to renew yourself.(From the "Various and Sundry" files)
November 1, 2004... Are you no more energetic on Sunday night than you were on Friday afternoon? If so, you may not know how to use your leisure time to renew and refresh yourself. Some suggestions: * Avoid feeling guilty about having fun during your free...

It's turkey time.(From the "Various and Sundry" files)
November 1, 2004... Some things to ponder while you settle in for your after-Thanksgiving dinner nap: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Ben Franklin proposed the turkey as the official United States bird. * The average American eats 17.75 pounds of turkey...

Making headlines.(From the "Various and Sundry" files)
November 1, 2004... News often is something that just happens. A house fire, tornado or bank robbery are examples of things that happen with little or no advance notice. On the other hand, much of what is reported as news is carefully choreographed--news...

Six signs of success.(From the "Various and Sundry" files)
November 1, 2004... According to Connie Gruen, president of Resource National, a recruitment firm, the most consistently successful people possess the following traits: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * They are realistic about their value to their organization...

Checkbook won't balance?(From the "Various and Sundry" files)
November 1, 2004... Many of us just can't get our checkbooks to balance to the penny. Personal finance expert Jane Quinn tells us not to worry about it. She says to enter every deposit and withdrawal immediately, including ATM and debit card transactions, and keep...

Manage by example.
November 1, 2004... A fellow author and friend, Jay Carter, the author of Nasty People (a book I have been recommending for several years), has a new book coming out this summer called, Nasty Bosses. Will it sell? You betcha. Why? Because there seems to be more...

New sales manager for Drilling World.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Drilling World, a manufacturer of supplies for drilling professionals, announces the appointment of John Walker as eastern regional sales manager, a newly created position. Walker will be responsible for maximizing sales in the eastern part of...

Time to review your marketing strategies.
November 1, 2004... Times of economic change are when a business needs to re-evaluate its marketing emphasis and effectiveness. Contrary to popular business practice, effective marketing does not mean "spending the most money." Effective marketing simply means...

Coming events.(Calendar)
November 1, 2004... NOVEMBER 3-6 Association of Water Technologies Convention & Expo Nashville, Tenn. Phone: 800-858-6683 www.awt.org 3-6 Groundwater Foundation Conference Washington, D.C. Phone: 800-858-4844 ...

Hurricane season.(The World According to Wayne)
November 1, 2004... It's been a hectic year here in the Southeast. Four hurricanes in six weeks and the season isn't over yet. I hadn't even heard of "hurricane fatigue" until I had it. Right here at home, we've only caught the edges, but it's been enough to have...

New developments for Franklin Electric.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Franklin Electric Co. Inc. has announced that it will begin selling its submersible motor products in North America directly to water systems distributors in addition to its existing original equipment manufacturer (OEM) customers. The company...

Suction flow control device.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Aquastream is a suction flow control device designed to slow down and re-direct the flow of water in a vertical well. Constructed of a slotted PVC pipe that is coated with a silica/epoxy compound, Aquastream helps control sand pumping, reduce...

POU unit.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... The VORTEX Water Machine from Vortex International is a portable water purification unit that utilizes a five-step photo-oxidation process to deliver purified drinking water. Photo oxidation occurs when ozone is catalyzed by ultraviolet light,...

Water turbidity instrument.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... The 6538A water turbidity instrument from Unidata will measure and record water turbidity over the wide range of 0 NTU to 2,000 NTU in three automatically selected ranges. A high resolution of 0.2 NTU with sunlight filtering is achieved by...

Submersible pump cable.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... The PVC flat heavy-duty jacketed submersible pump cable by Kalas is made for use within the well casing to supply current to the submersible pump. The maximum conductor operating temperature is minus 104 degrees F to 167 degrees F in circuits...

Rig designed to use 10-foot pipe.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... DrillMax's Max 180 is a compact, portable rig designed for drilling wells with 10-foot drill pipe. The deck engine-powered top drive can be used for rotary, mud and air applications. Drill power comes from deck-mounted gas or diesel engine...

Constant-pressure manifold offered.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Maass Midwest introduces a new constant-pressure manifold manufactured in no-lead brass. The design allows for either a 1-inch or 3/4-inch tank fitting and water line use. Optional wall bracket and set-up packages are available. Maass Midwest,...

Flush joint pipe.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... The Per-Fit flush joint pipe by L.B. Foster features a thread design to assure the connection integrity in pipe sizes 3 1/2 inches OD to 12 3/4 inches OD. It offers a low-profile thread design with an internal thread on one end and an external...

Split-shaft PTOs available.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... OMSI Transmissions Inc. offers split-shaft PTOs with two or four outputs for hydraulic pumps and drive-shaft direct drives. Applications include drill rigs, septic tankers, hazardous waste transport tankers, fire trucks, trash compactors and...

Water Level Meter.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... The Model 102 Water Level Meter by Solinst has been designed for measuring ground water levels, especially in small diameter tubes and piezometers. The Model 102 uses a 9-volt battery and a small-diameter probe on narrow coaxial cable. The...

Dry chlorination pellets.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Osmonics' Well Sanitizer comes in the form of dry chlorination pellets for the temporary sanitation of wells, storage tanks and cisterns. The pellets sanitize well water from top to bottom, dissolving as they sink and offering 70 percent...

Two-wire transmitter.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Aaliant offers the model 2000 smart, Hart compatible, two-wire 4-20 mA signal transmitter for use with its Strain Gage Target flowmeters. The model 2000 4-20 mA analog output can be proportional to flow rate or proportional to flow rate...

Newly launched Website.(Product Info)
November 1, 2004... Water Right Inc. has announced the launch of its new Web site--www.water-right.com. Redesigned for easier navigation, the site features drop-down menus to provide both dealers and consumers with specific solutions to common water problems in...

Well drillers long gone but not forgotten: Lester W. Davis, 1907-1992; Desmond Davis Sr, 1910-1988; and Albert M. Hyatt, 1936-1986.
November 1, 2004... In the late 1930s to 1960s, there were two drillers in New York's Dutchess and Putnam counties who formed the Davis Brothers' Artesian Well Company--Lester W. Davis and his brother, Desmond Davis Sr. They operated two Beal core drills, which...

Rig seminar.(NewScope)
November 1, 2004... Schramm Inc. announces that it has scheduled a seminar focusing on top head drill rig operation, maintenance and service, offered free of charge to qualified industry personnel. Scheduled at Schramm's West Chester, Pa., factory headquarters for...

Porky in Haiti--Part 2.(Porky's Hole Thoughts)
November 1, 2004... Our son, Chris "Piglet" Cutter, CWD/PI, traveled to Papaye, Haiti, on August 5, to complete what Mr. Loring Green and myself started--teaching a drill crew in Haiti to operate a new trailer-mounted drilling machine. Upon arriving, Piglet found...

Process venturi system explained.(Drilling Fluids)
November 1, 2004... Simply stated, a process venturi is an engineered restriction in a pipeline. Fluid flowing in the pipeline (the "motive fluid") speeds up to pass through the restriction and in accordance with Bernoulli's equation, creates a vacuum in the...

Valley Drilling acquires 4th Flatwater Fleet.(Trading Post)
November 1, 2004... Valley Drilling Corp. of Upperville, Va., has bought its fourth unit from Flatwater Fleet Inc. This 1,600-gallon RTT-Rig Tender, mounted on a 1992 Kenworth T800, came equipped with the standard 230-gallon auxiliary fuel tank and optional...

North Central sells to Vinson's.(Trading Post)
November 1, 2004... Dave Vinson, Vinson's Well Drilling, Coldwater, Ontario, purchased a 2,500-gallon DRSB from North Central Mfg., Saginaw, Minn. The unit is equipped with a 230-gallon fuel tank, vertical tool cabinets, four underbody toolboxes and a rear...

Texas Tech works with Howard Equipment.(Trading Post)
November 1, 2004... The Texas Tech University Grounds Maintenance Division, Lubbock, Texas, purchased a Smeal 6T from the Howard Equipment Co. The unit was mounted on the customer's 1977 Cheverolet 2-ton truck. Pictured from left to right are Butch Long and...

Higgins and Sima do business.(Trading Post)
November 1, 2004... Bill Sima, Pittsburg, N.H., bought this Bucyrus Erie 22W from the Higgins Rig Co., Hodgenville, Ky. This three-line rig is equipped with a Rockwell rotary attachment, 750/125 Gardner Denver compressor, Driltech hammer, 5 1/4-inch retractable...

DeepRock ships to Haiti.(Trading Post)
November 1, 2004... This tender truck was custom-built for Mouvman Peyizan Papay, Haiti. It will service a DeepRock DR 100 purchased for the organization. Loring Green of Engineers Without Borders coordinated the transaction. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]