National Driller articles from September 2007

National Driller archives from September 2007

Jubilee unveils its new look.(News and Notes at Press Time)
September 1, 2007... This year's South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee featured a new schedule, and, like most situations that involve change, you sort of had to turn off the autopilot mode, stay on your toes and get used to things. Apparent from eavesdropped-upon...

On the legislation front.(News and Notes at Press Time)
September 1, 2007... This in from our D.C. authority, Caroline Mims: Global warming legislation titled, The Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007, recently was approved by the House Committee on Transportation and...

Atlas Copco's latest expansion.(News and Notes at Press Time)
September 1, 2007... Atlas Copco Construction Mining Technique USA LLC has acquired Quarry and Contractor Equipment & Supply Company Inc., based in Baltimore. It is a family-owned company with 17 employees. The main reason that Atlas Copco is making this...

New foundation drilling newsletter.(News and Notes at Press Time)
September 1, 2007... A special electronic newsletter focusing on the foundation drilling market will debut in late September. The free monthly bulletin, featuring articles, industry news, project profiles, coming events and more, can be sent directly to your e-mail...

How low do you go? (we're not talking about pricing.).(News and Notes at Press Time)
September 1, 2007... A recent Web poll at www.nationaldriller. com asked, "What is the average depth of the water wells you've drilled in the past year?" The responses: Less than 25 feet--5 percent 26 feet to 50 feet--7 percent 51 feet to 75 feet--3...

Milby celebrating 75 years.(BULLETIN BOARD)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... Milby Co. began as a small business in 1932, and as of 2007, is a thriving multi-million dollar wholesale firm headquartered in Elkridge, Md. Milby, a wholesale distributor of water system-related products, carries an expansive inventory in...

Geothermal research at Sandia.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... Sandia National Laboratories' Wellfield Construction activity, previously called the Drilling Technology Program, supports the U.S. Department of Energy's Geothermal Technologies Program (GTP) through development activities aimed at making...

How to calculate pressure drop--Part 2: the fundamentals of pumped water systems.(Tech Topics)
September 1, 2007... We began this section on friction loss pressure drop last month with a look at the factors that contribute to friction loss--flow velocity, pipe size, length of pipe, viscosity of the fluid, smoothness of the inside of the pipe, and the number...

Meet the fastest drill in town.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Thanks to more than 100 years of work on the part of scientists, inventors, engineers and company-sponsored teams, the Sonic drill now is a reliable, super-performing drill capable of drilling three to five times faster to depths of 500 feet...

Celebrating nearly a century: the countdown has begun for Mills Machine Co.'s centennial celebration.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... In 1908, at the age of 18, W. H. "Homer" Mills founded Mills Repair Shop in Shawnee, Okla., with most of the business at that time coming from the bicycle market. The mechanically inclined Homer soon gained a reputation for being able to repair...

Trading post.
September 1, 2007... Patterson Acquires a REICHdrill Patterson Well Drilling, Cadet, Mo., recently obtained this REICHdrill T-650-W LEGEND 4. Pictured accepting delivery: Johnny Patterson and Bill Patterson. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fogle Pump & Supply...

A customer's rant: I may be filled with hatred, but you better believe I'm always right!(Smart Business)
September 1, 2007... I hate it when you don't show up on time. I hate it when you're slow in returning my phone calls. I hate it when you point fingers at the GC or supplier or manufacturer or building owner or inspector or whoever else may or may not be...

Reverse circulation for jetty pile project.(On the Job)
September 1, 2007... On a $40 million liquefied petroleum gas jetty project, there is no place for down time or ineffective equipment. Such was the case offshore on the Burrup Peninsula in Australia. John Holland Construction & Engineering was required to drill...

Post-construction evaluation of HDD installations--Part 2.
September 1, 2007... There has been limited prior work performed in assessing the annular space region created during horizontal directional drilling (HDD) installations. In one project, researchers performed testing on three 530-foot HDD installations of 12-inch...

Reverse circulation mud rotary drilling.
September 1, 2007... Reverse circulation drilling was developed to allow for larger borehole drilling without limiting the factors of drilling fluid pump capacities. Rotary rigs designed for reverse circulation have larger-capacity mud pumps and air compressors to...

Deep-hole, trailer-mounted rig.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The Schramm TXD Rotadrill is a heavy-hoist, deep-hole, trailer-mounted drill rig with automated pipe-handling. The rig features 200,000 pounds of hoist with the tophead and range 3 casing-handling in a compact package. The automated...

Automated rod-handling.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The Versa-Drill V-2000NG by Laibe Corp. features an automated drill rod-handling system, which stores, handles and positions 500 feet of 4 1/2-inch O.D.-by-20-feet on-board drill rod. The V-2000NG is mounted on a low-profile carrier and short...

Dual rotary rig.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Foremost Dual Rotary (DR) rigs feature two independent rotary drives. This means that the drill string can advance ahead, behind or flush with the casing. Simultaneous drilling nd casing occurs with no need for casing hammers, under-reamers or...

Exploration blast-hole drill.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Atlas Copco manufactures the Pit Viper drill series, available in a single-pass (PV271) or a multi-pass version (PV275). Pit Viper drills are reliable and easily fit into your drilling operation. The PV271 is designed for power and efficiency,...

Multiple rotation speed/torque combinations.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The CME-85 from Central Mine Equipment Co. has 22,900 ft.-lbs. of torque for turning large-diameter augers, as well as rotation speeds up to 530 rpm for rotary or core drilling. Other optional rotation-speed and torque combinations also are...

Production model rig.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The rotary table on the GEFco SpeedStar SS-135 is a spiral-bevel gear-type enclosed in an oil-bath case, and the rig's mast reaches a 33-foot working height above the rotary table. Hydraulically raised and lowered, the mast is equipped with...

Expanded drills series.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... REICHdrill's LEGEND series of drills continues the tradition of T-650. The LEGEND's new features, such as new hydraulic controls, digital fan-speed controller and display module for electronic engines, help improve performance and provide more...

Environmental and geotechnical.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Foremost Mobile (Mobile Drilling Co.) specializes in the design and manufacture of drills for the environmental and geotechnical markets. Foremost Mobile drills are used across a range of drilling applications, including auguring, coring, soil...

Truck-mounted water well drill.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The M5 from Sandvik is a truck-mounted, top-drive water well drill. It utilizes the chassis engine for power, and is designed for mud rotary, down-the-hold hammer and casing hammer applications. Pullback is up to 34,000 pounds. Air compressors...

All-new track-mounted drill.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Acker Drill's all-new RENEGADE is a track-mounted, high-torque drill suitable for vertical or angle-hole drilling up to 45 degrees. This radio remote-controlled drill is only 84 inches wide, and features a 9.7-HP Deutz diesel engine with an...

Crawler drill rig.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The Sonic Drill Corp. SDC550-18 crawler drill rig is compact, designed to handle short-length casings, and is suitable for maneuvering through sites with poor ground conditions and/or space limitations. The SDC550-18 is available with a full...

Hydraulic rig with 4-by-4 new carrier.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The SIMCO 2800 HS (HT) all-hydraulic drill rig now is available on this new carrier from International. The IHC 4200 4-by-4 truck provides greater off-road capability and equipment carrying capacity, yet, at 25,900 pounds GVW, it still doesn't...

Rig repair services.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Enid Drill Systems Inc. offers rig repair services. For example, this GD3000 dropped the mast 14 years ago, leaving a twisted mass of steel and bending the trailer beams. Now there is a fixed mast and frame with new high-back,...

Track-mounted probe unit.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... The track-mounted PowerProbe 9100-VTR from AMS Inc. is engineered for power and mobility, and the system runs off of remote control. Features include a 175-ft.-lb. hammer, an adjustable mast for angled probing, rubber tracks, electro-hydraulic...

Rig for various applications.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... TT TECHNOLOGIES' compact Grundodrill 4X is designed for residential service, small-diameter main installations and "last mile" operations, offering 9,800 pounds of thrust and pullback. Using the compact drill is suitable in areas where larger...

Rigs for sale or rent.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... This Diedrich D-50 drill rig, mounted on a Morooka LTX-800, is an example of the equipment in which Rig Source Inc. specializes. The company's focal point is equipment for rent or sale, and its knowledge of the geotechnical and environmental...

Previously owned drill rigs.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Higgins Rig Co. specializes in previously owned drilling equipment, including auger rigs, cable tool rigs, rotary, core drilling and oilfield equipment. The company currently has more than 700 drills listed for sale, and its new...

Rig distributorship.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... MARL Technologies Inc. is the North American distributor for the Fraste line of drills. The Fraste Multidrill XL is designed for power and versatility, making it suitable for geothermal installation, soil investigation, environmental work,...

New track-driven directional rig available.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... American Augers now has expanded its maxi-rig product lineup to include the DD-440T. Equipped with a Caterpillar C-15 540 HP diesel engine, the DD-440T provides 440,000 pounds of maximum thrust/pullback. The rotary system includes a...

Horizontal directional drill offered.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Designed for large-diameter drilling projects, the Vermeer D330x500 NAVIGATOR horizontal directional drill offers 50,000 ft.-lbs. of rotational torque and 330,000 pounds of thrust/pullback force for large-diameter drilling projects. It features...

Self-contained HDD system.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Ditch Witch offers the JT8020 Mach 1, a track-mounted, self-contained horizontal directional drilling system. The JT8020's 261-HP turbocharged, air-cooled diesel engine and enhanced hydraulic system deliver 80,000 pounds of pullback. The...

Release of new rig announced.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... For 2008, Taylor will be releasing the all-new TI-5D Titan. The three-axle trailer-mounted drill will have a depth range to 5,000 feet, with a 60-foot clear space and 200,000-pound-capacity mast. The TI-5D TITAN will be configured for rotary...

New rig model.(PRODUCT SHOWCASE: Drill Rigs)
September 1, 2007... Watson Inc. now manufactures its largest rig to date--the Model 4400. Designed for large shafts in a wide range of conditions, its typical hole diameters range from 48 inches to 144 inches, and hole depths can go to 135 feet. Its torque with...

Properly sealing unused wells.
September 1, 2007... Today we are seeing much emphasis being placed on proper grouting techniques and materials; however, an issue of at least equal importance is that of sealing unused water wells. In most cases, unused wells are domestic wells that no longer...

Kyle Equipment Co. offers Hydro-Frac equipment.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... For 25 years now, Kyle Equipment Co. has specialized in the manufacturing of Hydro-Frac equipment. Recognized as the leader in the water well industry, we always have strived to put out the highest quality Hydro-Frac systems available. Whether...

Keystone Drill Services offers air boosters.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Keystone Drill Services Inc. packages new Gardner Denver single-stage and two-stage air boosters with rated discharge pressure up to 2,500 psi. These units feature Gardner Denver JY500 frames, a Caterpillar C-18 engine rated at 630 HP @ 1,800...

Goulds Pumps' new Guardian System with CentriPro motors: proving themselves in some of the toughest submersible pump applications.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Two years ago, Goulds Pumps' mission was to design, develop and manufacture the highest quality submersible product for the water industry--the GS submersible pump featuring the Guardian System. Now there are more than 100,000 GS pumps with the...

Keyser chooses Flatwater Fleet.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Three years ago, Dan Keyser of Keyser Well Drilling in Claverack, N.Y., purchased an RTT-Rig Tender Model RTB-2100-22 from Flatwater Fleet Inc. This unit includes the options: Extend-A-Flood night lights, divided 12-volt fuel system, internal...

Bit Brokers International--expanding visions.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... What started out as a vision for one small-town man is becoming a reality. Tim Thomas grew up working in the bit business, laboring long hours, repairing tricones, extracting carbide and selling bits. Thomas had big ideas and a global vision,...

A.Y. McDonald's dealer rewards.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. is pleased to announce the introduction of its Diamond Dealer Program. The Diamond Dealer program is designed to reward dealers and distributors for their purchases of A.Y. McDonald pumps and tanks. As always, A.Y....

Mincon Rockdrills--30 years strong.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... Mincon International celebrated its 30th birthday in February this year. Founded in 1977 to service the underground metal mines in Ireland with top hammer drilling parts, Mincon International has experienced unprecedented growth since its new...

Some Labor Day particulars.(PORTFOLIO: From the "Various and Sundry" files)
September 1, 2007... United Brotherhood of Carpenters founder Peter McGuire gets credit for the idea of Labor Day. In 1882, he suggested having a parade to celebrate the working class and its contributions to the community. The first Monday in September was chosen...

Risk needn't be so scary.(PORTFOLIO: From the "Various and Sundry" files)
September 1, 2007... Are you a risk taker, or are you afraid to take a step into the unknown? Have you been wanting to try a new marketing tactic, or do you have a great business idea but worry it's too risky? If stepping out of your comfort zone just isn't your...

Ingersoll Rand's latest sell-off.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... Ingersoll Rand Co. has agreed to sell its Bobcat, Utility Equipment and attachments business units to Doosan Infracore for cash proceeds of approximately $4.9 billion. The sale is subject to customary closing conditions and is targeted to close...

Build your business credit score.(PORTFOLIO: From the "Various and Sundry" files)
September 1, 2007... Small-business owners know how difficult it can be to stay on top of financial obligations. Payrolls must be met. Suppliers must be paid. Rent and other overhead must be taken care of--all within a reasonable period of time. When your company's...

What's your disaster plan?(PORTFOLIO: From the "Various and Sundry" files)
September 1, 2007... Many entrepreneurs may believe they do not need a disaster plan due to the smaller size of their business. The truth: Any business can experience a crisis, such as hardware failures, theft, accidents or natural disasters. SCORE,...

Nevins is honored.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Kirk Nevins (r), a vice president at Franklin Electric, was given special tribute at the company's recent grand opening of its new tech center in Wilburton, Okla., in recognition of his spearheading the project....

Summit/ERC merger.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... Summit Drilling Co., one of New Jersey's largest environmental and geotechnical drilling companies, has merged with Environmental Remediation Contractors (ERC) of Delran, NJ. The merger was announced by Summit president Robert Kreilick Jr. from...

In memoriam.(BULLETIN BOARD)(Obituary)
September 1, 2007... The industry lost a great friend this summer as Norma Wortman passed away quietly in her home in Shreveport, La. Wortman served the Louisiana Ground Water Association for more than 15 years, and she will be remembered for her friendliness and...

Grundfos promotes Teach.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... It has been announced that Terry Teach is the new vice president on the residential side for Grundfos Pumps Corp. Teach joined Grundfos two years ago as a regional sales manager in the central states.

SJE-Rhombus honored.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... Leading pump switch manufacturer SJE-Rhombus has been named one of the 50 Best Small & Medium Companies to Work for in America. The list recently was announced before an audience of more than 15,000 at the Society for Human Resource...

Ion exchange event.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... The Society of Chemical Industry (SCI) has announced that its SCI Separation Science and Technology Group is set to host IEX 2008 from July 9-11, 2008, at the University of Cambridge's Fitzwilliam College in Cambridge, United Kingdom. The...

Establishing fair market value.(Drilling Fluids)
September 1, 2007... Picture this: You are in the market to purchase a new laptop computer. You decide on the brand and extras that you need, and then proceed to look for your best price. ABC Store is selling your selected unit for $1,799--a fair price, and in the...

A long-time friend.(Porky's Hole Thoughts)
September 1, 2007... A friend, Julian Stetnish, turned 100 years young this past June 9 in Edmond, Okla. Julian is in excellent health, and still quite active. I have known Julian since I was about 10 years old--or even younger. I lost track of him for many years...

Flexcon industries: people, innovation, quality.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Three words perfectly describe Flexcon Industries--people, innovation and quality. Flexcon has built a reputation as one of the finest tank manufacturers in the industry since 1988 with a culture built around those three important words. ...

Quality manufacturing from Central Mine Equipment Co.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Central Mine Equipment Co. (CME) designs and manufactures a complete line of drilling equipment for the geotechnical, environmental, mineral exploration, water well drilling and construction industries. The drill rig product line includes...

Franklin's Pumptec offers premium pump protection.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Franklin Electric's Pumptec is a microcomputer-based pump protection device designed for single-phase submersible motors. It continuously monitors motor load and incoming power to protect against damaging well conditions such as dry well, rapid...

VersaJet revolutionizes jet pumps.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Franklin Electric's new VersaJet is the most versatile jet pump the market has ever seen. Built for easy customization, just one VersaJet covers a variety of performance needs. With Franklin's patent-pending nozzle replacement system and a...

Foremost Mobile--a legacy of excellence: serving the geotechnical and environmental markets since 1948.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... Located in Indianapolis, and established in 1948, Foremost Mobile is a wholly owned subsidiary of Foremost Industries. Also known as Mobile Drilling Co., Foremost Mobile specializes in the design and manufacture of drills and tooling for the...

Hardern-Helle: high performance hardfacing.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... 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...

Coming events.(Calendar)
September 1, 2007... SEPTEMBER 5-6 Clean Water Partnership Summit Cincinnati 866-483-4764 www.htfwo.org 9-12 Watereuse Symposium Tampa,...

Water contract Web site.(BULLETIN BOARD)
September 1, 2007... H2bid.com's vision is to create an efficient market for commercial transactions in the water and wastewater industries. The site's intention is to provide 24/7access to any water or wastewater contract opportunity anywhere in the world. ...

Around the world with Laibe Corp.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... There's a wise old adage that says, "If you dig deep enough, you'll reach China." In the case of Laibe Corp., the company has reached halfway around the world to Australia. Known as an industry leader for its innovative, state-of-the-art...

80 years of industry service.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... CETCO is supported by 80 years of experience in mining, processing and marketing bentonite clay. CETCO's corporate technical center provides the setting for comprehensive research and development, as well as technical support necessary to...

Wilo puts emphasis on performance and efficiency.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)(Company overview)
September 1, 2007... Wilo USA LLC is a leading global supplier of efficient pumping systems, with customers in more than 70 countries. "We're a 135-year-old company--very well established. At the same time, however, we're relatively new to the North American...

Air Equipment specializes in all sizes of air compressors.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Since its introduction in 1983, Air Equipment Corp. has established itself as the largest rental house of air compressors in the Greater Pittsburgh area, with a rental fleet of more than 200 air compressors, ranging from 185 cfm to 1,600 cfm....

FRASTE: devoted to drilling development.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... FRASTE was established in 1964 by its president Benito Fracca, and since then, the company has been designing, developing and manufacturing high-quality hydraulic rotary drilling rigs. More than 40 years of experience give FRASTE a relevant...

New BBB hammer features EDM's winning combination.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Reliability and speed have come together in one package with EDM's new BB8 hammer! This is the 8-inch drilling hammer that you, in the industry, have been waiting for. You'll love the way this tool eats up the toughest rock. It is, without a...

Schramm's complete commitment to excellence.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Schramm Inc., a veteran manufacturer of portable drilling rigs, confirms its commitment to leading the industry in innovative rig design with the introduction of the T455i Rotadrill equipped with i-Control, the programmable drilling control...

Side-by-side well comparison: EZ-MUD GOLD clay stabilizer helps improve penetration rate and prevent hole enlargement in New Mexico.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Operator's Challenge Some of the most common difficulties encountered in water well drilling are filtration control and borehole stability, coupled with the ensuing economic impacts. Conventional drilling fluid additives, while effective,...

Foremost offers an effective approach: one rig. Any hole. No compromise.(2007 Manufacturer's Spotlight)
September 1, 2007... Difficult overburden, characterized by fractured rock, gravel, cobbles and boulders, has been a constant source of frustration for drillers in countries such as India, Chile, New Zealand, Korea, Trinidad and El Salvador. Accordingly, these...