National Driller articles from September 2003

National Driller archives from September 2003

And another thing ...(For Openers)
September 1, 2003... Just before press time, the word came that Utah governor Mike Leavitt has been nominated by President Bush to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Leavitt will go before the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works in...

In memoriam.(For Openers)
September 1, 2003... Kermit Janssen, former well products marketing manager at Certain Teed Corp., passed away in July. Janssen was issued several patents for casing and well screens. He was honored by the National Ground Water Association with the 2000...

Rig mounting.(For Openers)
September 1, 2003... A recent National Driller Web poll (www.drilleronline.com) asked, "How many trucks did your longest-lasting rig wear out?" The results: 1 truck-23 percent 2 trucks-17 percent 3 trucks-15 percent 4 trucks-9 percent 5...

Manufacturer spotlights.(For Openers)
September 1, 2003... This issue of National Driller features the annual "Manufacturer Spotlights" section, wherein suppliers to the drilling industry get to contribute their own advertorial page. You'll notice that some are similar in design and content, while...

Coming next month.(For Openers)
September 1, 2003... Your October issue of National Driller will feature articles addressing monitoring wells, pumps, drill rigs, geotechnical investigations, water treatment, pricing strategies, drilling accessories and, of course, a whole bunch more. That's why...

Coming events.
September 1, 2003... SEPTEMBER 8-12 Wyo-Ben's Annual Mud School Billings, Mont. Phone: 406-652-6351 www.wyoben.com 13-17 Ground Water Protection Council Annual Forum Niagara...

People get what they're willing to pay for: the big question is, how do you convince them of that?(Smart Business)
September 1, 2003... It was a pleasant dinner party, hosted by the president of the company that employed my wife. He had an elegant home in a plush Chicago suburb. But the backyard was not very spacious, so the 50-60 guests mingled elbow-to-elbow on a sultry July...

Pressure loss due to friction--part 1.(The Fundamentals of Pumped Water Systems)
September 1, 2003... Last month, we examined two of the three factors to be considered when determining the pressure requirements of a pump--household working pressure and lift pressure. The third factor is pressure drop due to friction loss. Friction loss is the...

PWT tabs Russell.(NewScope)
September 1, 2003... Professional Water Technologies Inc., Vista, Calif., a manufacturer of high-performance reverse osmosis chemicals and experts in membrane forensics, has appointed David Russell as the company's sales director. Russell has specialized in...

Arsenic treatment demo sites.(adedge)
September 1, 2003... Adedge Technologies Inc., Atlanta, announces it has been awarded three arsenic treatment demonstration sites for small drinking water systems by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Adedge is a supplier of specialty adsorbent...

How Porky inherited his name.(Porky's Hole Thoughts)
September 1, 2003... When Ellis Cutter, my father as very young, he decided get a burr haircut. After that, his hair stood up like a porcupine. From that day until his passing, he was known as "Porky." In Covington and Enid, Okla., Ellis Cutter, his wife Ethyl (my...

It's not just a piece of steel: choosing the right bit for your downhole drilling operations.
September 1, 2003... Selecting the best drill bit design is crucial to the success of any drilling operation. Non-experienced drillers might think that once they have their drill rig, compressor and hammer that choosing the drill bit is easy. But as more...

Don't stifle innovation.(Portfolio: the business management files)
September 1, 2003... Genuine, true innovations almost always are misunderstood when they are introduced because people look at them in terms of the past. Management consultants James Champy and Dr. Michael Hammer remind us that if something is an actual innovation,...

Borehole: examination and testing.
September 1, 2003... A wide array of downhole geophysical probes is available to measure various formation properties. Geophysical probes are not a substitute for core sampling and analysis, however, they are an economical and valuable supplement to the core sample...

Three-cone TCI bits.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Tee Jay International Inc. offers customized, three-cone TCI bits. One of the company's more popular varieties is the 9 7/8-inch TCI with a 4 1/2-inch API pin. Tee Jay International Inc., Card No. 175 [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]

Family of DTH hammers and bits.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Eastern Driller's Mfg. Co. produces a family of down-the-hole hammers and bits that are manufactured to be high quality yet reasonably priced. Drilling applications include water well, oil, quarries or mining. Eastern Driller's Mfg. Co., Card...

Step-type drag bits.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Palmer Bit Co.'s large family of step-type drag bits are said to increase penetration rates and lower bit cost-per-foot while still providing good, clean holes for water well drillers and geo-thermal heat pump loop drillers. These bits are...

Rock drilling hammer.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... The new 6-inch hammer, COP 64 Gold from Atlas Copco Secoroc, is a DTH hammer with an operating pressure rated at 430 psi. COP 64 Gold's piston has a polygon shape, which, combined with milled slots in the cylinder, has been engineered to...

DTH water well hammers.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Numa introduces the newest members of its Patriot hammer line--the Patriot 60W and Patriot 60WQ--which were specifically designed for the demands of the water well industry. These hammers provide the ability to drill holes 6 inches to 8 1/2...

Hammer and bit surplus inventory.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... KS Bit Inc. carries a complete line of hammers and hammer bits as well as many other products. Currently, the company is operating in full inventory reduction mode. The company's website--www.KSBit.com--offers prices and descriptions. KS Bit...

20-button bit.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Bit Brokers International is proud to announce the newest innovation to the its hammer bit line--the TIM-INATOR. Designed in-house by the company's own Tim Thomas, the TIM-INATOR is a hammer bit for the 6-inch series hammers (QL60, SF6/360,...

Multi-use bit.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... The Ditch Witch Aggressive Talon Rock Bit is a multi-use bit that is designed for horizontal directional drilling applications in a variety of soil conditions, including sandstone shale and chunk rock. This bit features replaceable...

6-inch and 8-inch hammers.(Product Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Halco's newest Deep Well 600 and Deep Well 880 hammers have completed an 18-month test market and now are available nationwide. While this rate should not be considered typical, a ROP exceeding 200 feet per hour is not unusual, providing...

Rotary hole openers.(Products Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... T&T Carbide prides itself on the quality and workmanship of its tri-cone rotary hole openers. The company has manufactured single-, double- or triple-stage hole openers for more than 25 years. Custom built for each application, they can be...

Drill-through casing driver.(Products Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Boasting size definitely does matter, Atlas Manufacturing produces what claims to be the largest, hardest-hitting, drill-through casing driver available on the market. The company's Web site--www.casingdriver.com--allows for additional product...

DTH hammer.(Products Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Drillmaster International manufactures custom and standard DTH products, including the Shockwave 6 Series hammer. Available in several configurations, such as SD6, IR360 or the QL60, the Shockwave 6 DTH hammer is built for 6-inch to 7 7/8-inch...

DTH bits with a new multi-dome carbide design.(Products Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Rockmore International introduces a new carbide design concept to the water well drilling industry. The Multi-dome design carbide now is featured in DTH bits up to 10 inches in diameter and has been engineered to offer improved performance for...

DTH hammers.(Products Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... The 18- and 24-inch down-the-hole hammers from Sphere Drilling Supplies are constructed with close attention to detail. All hammer parts are machined and ground according to tight tolerance limits. The 18-inch hammer is recommended for hole...

Powerful hammer.(Products Showcase: hammers and bits)
September 1, 2003... Epley Enterprises offers the Titan hammer--engineered to be one of the heaviest pistons in the industry with maximum feet per minute. The EEI-8000 is a valveless, pneumatic tool designed for power. This hammer may be converted from a...

Drillgear expansion.(NewScope)
September 1, 2003... The John Lawrie Group has expanded its North American piling and construction division Drillgear with the opening of an office in Pennsylvania. The move reflects Drillgear's increasing focus on the supply of piling and micropiling products to...

It's a dog's life.(NewScope)
September 1, 2003... Don Magier, CEO of K9 Water Co., Valencia, Calif., announces the availability of Taller Water, Puddle Water, Hose Water and Gutter Water, vitamin-fortified bottled water specifically formulated to provide dogs with essential vitamins that...

Engineering proposals sought.(NewScope)
September 1, 2003... The Awwa Research Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to advancing the science of drinking water, announces that proposals are being requested for an engineering research project scheduled to be launched later this year. The...

Grundfos appoints new sales company president.(NewScope)
September 1, 2003... Larry Wimmer has been appointed president of the Grundfos Sales Company (GPU) in the United States, Grundfos recently announced. He also will remain president of Grundfos Manufacturing Company, a position he has held since 2002. For the past...

SWPA offers training CD.(NewScope)
September 1, 2003... "The Very Versatile Submersible" training video now is available from the Submersible Wastewater Pump Association (SWPA) in CD format for $4.95 each. Contractors, distributors, specifiers and users, pump company marketers, industrial wastewater...

Aboveground treatment of arsenic--part 4.
September 1, 2003... Membrane filtration can remove a wide range of contaminants from water. The process separates contaminants from water by passing it through a semipermeable barrier or membrane. This technology typically can reduce arsenic concentrations to less...

Control costs through safety.(Portfolio: the business management files)
September 1, 2003... To control costs associated with worker's compensation, contractors need to implement strong safety programs, advises the American Subcontractors Association. A good safety program is like any good long-term investment--you put money in, and...

Meeting the challenge: collecting water levels during an aquifer test.(Kwader's Corner)
September 1, 2003... Pumping test data (pumping rates, water levels, etc.) often are used to quantify aquifer characteristics such as transmissivity, storage and leakance. These characteristic values then are used to design ground water recovery well systems,...

Solids control--part 1.(The World According to Wayne)
September 1, 2003... With most aspects of drilling, economy is a major consideration. Bits, time, pump parts and the ability to set casing successfully all add up to money. The faster and more economically you can accomplish your task--with minimal wear-and-tear on...

The nitty-gritty on drilling fluids.(Drilling Fluids)
September 1, 2003... If a well drilling contractor wanted a miracle cure that would help increase the drilling penetration rate, decrease wear and tear on drilling equipment, help ensure a good open hole, improve grouting performance and increase overall profits,...

Dawn of the replacement era: AWWA emphasizes reinvesting in drinking water infrastructure.
September 1, 2003... The American Water Works Association's (AWWA) Water Industry Technical Action Fund sponsored a study that analyzed 20 utilities' needs for repair and replacement of drinking water infrastructure. Here we present the executive summary of the...

NRWA receives security grant.(Legislative Update)
September 1, 2003... U.S. EPA Assistant Administrator for Water, G. Tracy Mehan III, announced the award of nearly $2 million to the National Rural Water Association. Through the grant award, the NRWA will assist small-community water systems that serve populations...

Nebraska caps abandoned wells.(Legislative Update)
September 1, 2003... State grants are available to Nebraska communities to close abandoned wells in populated areas. Nebraska's Department of Environmental Quality has $75,000 to help cities and villages cap wells that pose a health risk. The funding will be...

Mexico sends U.S. water.(Legislative Update)
September 1, 2003... In an agreement signed in El Paso, Texas, Mexico has guaranteed that a third of the water conserved by irrigation projects in the state of Chihuahua will be sent to American farmers. Sally Spener, a spokeswoman for the International...

Temporary EPA officials.(Legislative Update)
September 1, 2003... President Bush recently named Marianne Lamont Horinko as acting U.S. EPA administrator. Prior to this appointment, Horinko served as assistant administrator for the Office of Solid Waste and Emergency Response at the EPA. In her tenure as...

Farmers support water referendum.(Legislative Update)
September 1, 2003... Two Colorado farming groups have announced support for a November ballot referendum that would authorize the state to issue up to $2 billion in bonds for water-storage and dam repair projects. The Casper Star-Tribune reported the Colorado...

Support for infrastructure bill.(Legislative Update)
September 1, 2003... The House Transportation and Infrastructure's Water Resources Subcommittee marked up HR 1560, the Water Financing Act of 2003. Under the legislation, states could receive $20 billion over five years in federal grants from Clean Water State...

Find Driltech Marlins at midAmerica drilling.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Driltech Waterwell Drills Driltech waterwell drills fulfill contractors' needs for performance, value and flexibility. The optional equipment was developed from real work experience to meet all normal requirements. Leading design, quality...

Baroid IDP hosts 40th customer workshop.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Baroid Industrial Drilling Products recently held its 40th annual set of workshops for industrial drilling customers, and this year's event offered an added feature. For the first time, a Spanish class provided training for the Latin American...

Rock Hog's new hammers outlast & out-perform the competition.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Rock Hog Rock Drilling Products is pleased to formally introduce our next generation of down-the-hole (DTH) hammers. These hammers include our models RH5QI, RH6QI and RH6QHDI, which respectively use DTH bits with bit shanks of QL5, QL6 and QL6....

Epley offers what you need when you need it.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... It's 6:00 a.m. Your driller's down. You're losing money. You need an 8 1/2-inch 360 drill bit--NOW! Who do you call? Epley Enterprises Inc., because they could have that ready for you by that very afternoon. Relatively speaking, Epley...

Danfoss-flomatic leads the way.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Producing valve products in a size range from 1/4-inch, Flomatic Corp. is a dedicated valve manufacturer through to 20 inches in various configurations and models, with exports to more than 40 different countries. Located in upstate New...

Performance Alloys wages war against wear.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Performance Alloys Corp. has been dedicated to the battle on wear caused by abrasion, impact and corrosion since its inception. It produces a line of hardfacing products that have proven to be the finest available in North America. What started...

Washington rotating heads--providing the industry with quality diverters.(2003 Manufacturers Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... The Divertech Pneumatic Diverter System is a compact, easy-to-install accessory for diverting drill cuttings away from the drill rig. The patented Flow-thru Booc expands from the Divertech spool to form a seal against the ground or rock face,...

Atlas Copco is proud to be your drilling partner.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Atlas Copco Construction Mining Technique USA Inc. will be there to support your endeavors in both familiar and remote places. We will share in your challenges and celebrate your triumphs. We will be your partner and supplier. Atlas Copco...

A water well driller's dilemma--what hammer to buy.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... With the many options available in hammers, how can drillers be sure that they are getting the best deal available? If you consider the cost of your rig, and the fact that running costs to produce the air on that rig are the same regardless...

Cycle stop answers the call(s).(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Hate being a Constant Pressure Guinea Pig? Cycle Stop Valves Made by Well Drillers for Well Drillers Since 1993 Every day, a pump installer finds a new application for Cycle Stop Valves. They are being used in high-rise buildings,...

Stockdale Mine Supply focuses on customers' needs.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Success in today's widely diversified drilling market is measured by how well you understand and appreciate the needs of the customers you are serving. Stockdale Mine Supply Inc., a family owned-and-operated Business based in Punxsutawney, Pa.,...

Merrill continues its innovative tradition.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... In 1949, Merrill Manufacturing Company was founded by Noel Merrill Anderson in a one-car garage in Des Moines, Iowa. Mr. Anderson started the company with his invention of the Merrill Any-Flow Frost-Free Yard Hydrant. The original marketing...

Impressive demo for Halco's Storm 500 hammer.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... A rock drilling seminar/ demonstration co-produced by Halco America Inc. and Central Mine Equipment Co. took place earlier this summer at a quarry near St. Louis. Also helping out was Keystone Drilling Services. Attending the event...

Nearly a century of progress for Mills Machine.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Ninety-five plus years of business in the same family indicates that something has been going right along the way. Mills Machine has been doing the right thing since being founded in 1908.The company is built on a line of strong people and a...

Rotary drilling equipment features the strong Driltech line.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Driltech Waterwell Drills Driltech waterwell drills fulfill contractors' needs for performance, value and flexibility. The optional equipment was developed from real work experience to meet all normal requirements. Leading design, quality...

Welcome to Venture Drilling Supply!(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Venture Drilling Supply LLC was formed in 1983 to provide professional sales and service of the highest quality in Oklahoma and the surrounding states. The business is growing and prospering alongside her sister company, Venture Drilling Inc.,...

Schramm strives to meet your needs.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Schramm Inc. continues to build upon its foundation of over 100 years of supplying market-leading technology to the drilling industry. Three new drills were successfully launched in 2002: T130XD, T555 and T555C. All three models are...

Time--Boart Longyear delivers.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Time--there's never enough of it, especially when you're busy juggling clients, crews, projects, equipment and vendors. There is a multitude of choices out there, and it takes time to ensure that you are making the best choice for your business...

Centerline mud pumps ... then ... now ... and into the future.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... The introduction of the Centerline Manufacturing hydraulic-drive mud pumps at the NGWA Expo in December 2000 represented a milestone in mud pump technology for the water well industry. For more than 50 years, the industry standard--the...

T & T Carbide continues to grow.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Rick Thomas, owner of T & T Carbide, started the business in 1976 in the small town of Logan in southern Illinois. "T &T Carbide is a family business and, at one time or another, we have had our son, daughter, brothers, nephew and niece working...

Well-X-Trol Line of pre-pressurized well tanks celebrates 40th year of setting the industry standard.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... The WELL-X-TROL Professional line of pre-pressurized well tanks from AMTROL Inc. redefined the industry in 1963 with the introduction of its new tank technology offering advanced engineering and innovative product design. Since then, AMTROL has...

Customer service comes first at bit brokers.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Tim Thomas, after having worked in the industry since the age of 12, founded Bit Brokers International in 1988. He is continuing his vision of being a leader in the industrial drill bit field with his theory that the key to making and retaining...

Find quite the selection at drilling equipment sales.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Drilling Equipment Sales Inc., located in Hickory, N.C., is proud to introduce our newest piece of equipment--the ProDrill DE500. It is equipped with the following: * Pulstar 8000E with hydraulic outriggers and holding valves *...

Kyle Equipment Co. features the Evolution pump hoist.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Kyle Equipment's Evolution pump hoists are the most versatile pump hoists you'll ever own. Coming in 5,000-pound, 8,000-pound and 12,000-pound capacities, this line of pumps hoists can do anything your average stiff boom pump hoist can do and...

Flatwater Fleet's well rehabilitation system.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Flatwater Fleet is a company devoted exclusively to designing, engineering, manufacturing and servicing equipment and tools for the drill rig support and well rehabilitation needs of our customers. We are located on U.S. Highway 53, 10 miles...

Laibe Corp.'s Versa-Drill division is building power through technology.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... The Versa-Drill division of Laibe Corp., headquartered in Indianapolis, builds a complete line of state-of-the-art water well drills and a unique sonic drill model. Versa-Drill's tremendous growth can be traced back to the company's...

GEFco delivers rigs to suit your needs.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... GEFco--the George E. Failing Co., founded in 1931--was built around the ideas of innovation, customer service and, most importantly, listening to the customers in the industry. This still stands true today as the company manufactures rigs with...

KS Bit will keep you drilling.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... For more than 20 years, KS Bit Inc. has been providing drillers with high quality bits. With a global sales base--having customers across the United States and Canada and in 11 other countries--KS Bit truly is flourishing. Ken Sentel,...

Imagine ... One solution to constant water pressure.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... The Grundfos SmartFlo SQE Constant Pressure System for domestic water supply applications. CONSTANT WATER PRESSURE If you use well water, you've probably discovered the more water you need, the less water pressure you have. Constant...

Mr. Rupe & Otto from DeepRock manufacturing.(2003 Manufacturing Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Quality drilling equipment since 1962. Accomplishments: Drilling rigs currently in all 50 states and over 100 foreign countries. Purpose: Form a working relationship with each driller and help them become successful. Scope: 15...

Driltech mission captures kinetic energy.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... What can a game of pool teach us about DTH drilling performance? It's all about the transfer of energy, and it can be illustrated by using two same-sized billiard balls of equal weight. Propel one towards the second, which is static, and...

Drilling Supply and Manufacturing.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Supplying drill rig replacement parts has been the specialty of Drilling Supply and Manufacturing (DSM) since it first opened its doors in 1977. Today, it is not only known as a supplier of essential replacement parts, it is also known as a...

Foremost introduces new Dual Rotary drill for foundation piles.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Unconsolidated overburden presents a challenge to water well and construction drilling contractors around the world. Since 1979, Foremost Dual Rotary drills have proven to be an effective tool for drilling in the toughest formations...

Keystone Drill Services expands its products line.(2003 Manufacturer Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... Here at Keystone Drill Services Inc., we have been busy packaging Ariel boosters. These mini-packages are designed to take pressures from 350-psi suction to 700-psi discharge and 500-psi suction to 1,000-psi discharge! These units are great for...

Ingersoll-Rand equipment & services company's rotary drill re-conditioning center.(2003 Manufacturing Spotlight)
September 1, 2003... The Ingersoll-Rand Rotary Drill Re-marketing Group, headquartered in Clarks Summit, Pa., is supplying quality, pre-owned, rotary drilling equipment for all sectors of the drilling industry. The facility is especially suited to accommodate the...

Wells & Water Systems attains Rotadrill.(Trading Post)
September 1, 2003... Wells & Water Systems Inc. of Ft. Myers, Fla., recently received a new Schramm T300M Rotadrill. The rig is equipped with a centrifugal mud pump, 300/200 air and pipe carousel and mounted on an International model 7400 6-by-6 truck. Chuck Dolby...

Woodward Drilling purchases a PowerProbe.(Trading Post)
September 1, 2003... Tom Thompson and Rick Barragan of Woodward Drilling Co., Rio Vista, Calif., take delivery of a new AMS PowerProbe 9630 Pro-Diesel system. Their model features an 80-inch probe stroke that allows the operator to use up to five-foot tooling. It...

Northeast Drill Supply delivers to Sima Drilling.(Trading Post)
September 1, 2003... Sima Drilling Co., Southington, Conn., acquires a new Reichdrill 690W from Northeast Drill Supply, Middletown Springs, Vt. Shown left to right are Raymond and Rob Sima, Jerry Parker of Northeast Drill Supply and Larry and Jimmy Sima.