The Driller
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
  • EDUCATION
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
  • SUBMIT
  • ABOUT
  • SIGN UP
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • NEWS
  • Water
  • Geothermal
  • Construction
  • Environmental
  • Mining
  • All Industry News
  • EQUIPMENT
  • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
  • Consumables
  • Pumps
  • Featured Products
  • VIDEOS
  • Newscast
  • Drill Talks
  • Ask Brock
  • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
  • Drilling Business Insights
  • Reference Desk
  • Sponsored Insights
  • EVENTS
  • Conferences & Demo Days
  • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
  • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
  • Contact
  • Advertise
The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP
EquipmentConstruction DrillingFoundation DrillingDrilling Consumables

Rugged Computers Deliver Real-Time Data on Drilling Jobs

By Keith Schmitz
Layne Bencor uses noax touchscreen systems to allow operators to monitor a variety of drilling-related data on the jobsite.

 Layne Bencor uses noax touchscreen systems to allow operators to monitor a variety of drilling-related data on the jobsite. Source: noax Technologies photos

The real-time feedback helps operators stay on top of downhole conditions

 The real-time feedback helps operators stay on top of downhole conditions and supplies important details such as GPS location to central computers for supervisors on the jobsite.  

The noax touchscreen systems are resistant to moisture, heat, humidity and drill rig vibration.

 The noax touchscreen systems are resistant to moisture, heat, humidity and drill rig vibration. Source: noax Technologies

Layne Bencor uses noax touchscreen systems to allow operators to monitor a variety of drilling-related data on the jobsite.
The real-time feedback helps operators stay on top of downhole conditions
The noax touchscreen systems are resistant to moisture, heat, humidity and drill rig vibration.
March 1, 2014

In 1882, company founder, Mahlon Layne, combined hard work and ingenuity to devise better ways of drilling to coax water out of the arid lands of a community known as Old Swan Lake, near what is now Hurley, S.D. Mahlon’s neighbors quickly took notice and shortly thereafter, a company was born. Carrying on Mahlon’s spirit of innovation, Layne Christensen now employs sophisticated software and hardware around the world to control and monitor their drilling process for massive construction projects in harsh, unforgiving conditions. These systems rely on rugged and versatile noax Industrial PCs.

More than 130 years later, the Layne Christensen Company, now based in The Woodlands, Texas, continues to grow by offering the latest in drilling technology for water treatment and construction projects throughout offices spanning five continents worldwide. From working with the Army Corp of Engineers to build dams around New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina, to devising and executing the ingenious plan that helped rescue the 33 trapped Chilean miners in 2010, Layne’s expertise extends well beyond traditional drilling methods.

Three years ago, Layne’s GeoGroup Divison, which provides sustainable, specialized geotechnical foundation construction services to the heavy civil, industrial, commercial and private construction markets around the globe, acquired Bencor Corporation of America, one of North America’s leading constructors in foundation and underground engineering. Bencor’s capabilities, however, go way beyond simply providing heavy equipment brute force. For years, the company manually collected geological data so they could determine the best placement for drilling. In an effort to achieve greater precision, oversight and flexibility in their process, once integrated in Layne Geoconstruction division, Bencor began experimenting with software and computer hardware to produce and gather data. Quickly realizing the benefits of these improvements, Bencor worked closely with Layne Geoconstruction’s latest acquisition, Fursol Informatica, a respected Italian company leading the way in project management software and systems automation. In 2013, Layne brought Fursol’s CEO and job-monitoring software expert, Massimo Mucci, and his crew of IT experts to its Dallas headquarters.

 

Efficiency Through Automation

Layne Bencor is involved with massive dams, transportation projects and other structures that need solid support. To shore up the foundations for these projects, Layne Bencor uses the jet grouting process to pump sealing material into boreholes that measure roughly 20- to 40-meters deep. Depending on the project, construction crews can use derricks with single-, double- or triple-headed drills. Once the rig completes the hole, a pumping unit injects a grout mixture of cement and chemicals under high pressure (400 to 500 bars to a depth of 20 to 30 meters), forming a two-meter diameter column. These overlapping holes run along the width of a dam, upwards of 2,000 meters, to provide the needed reinforcement and prevent water infiltration that could eventually undermine a project. Each time the rig moves to the next drilling spot the GPS accurately spots its position, displaying the exact location on the computer. While the drill operates, information is fed to a computer from sensors mounted on the derrick. The computer screen provides the operator with crucial information on the up-and-down head movement, X and Y axis measurement, drill turning speed and pressure.

“We want the operator to know all of the drilling and injecting parameters at the same time,” notes Mucci.

 

In Control With Noax

Tracking jobsite progress is crucial for the success of these projects, and not just any computer can do the job. These sites are places where a combination of dirt, mud, water and high-pressure sprays used to blast off this caked-on grime can attack unprotected circuitry, combined with performance-threatening intense heat and humidity. When Mucci first began working on the Layne Bencor projects, he considered an Italian brand of industrial computers. After two months of testing, he concluded that although these units could handle the plant-floor environment, they would not withstand unforgiving field conditions and certainly would have problems with vibration during drilling.

Mucci and his team encountered noax while attending the Hannover Fair in Germany. “The noax computers were practically ready for our use right away,” says Mucci, “and the computer’s experts were very understanding of our needs.”

A noax C12 computer with its 12-inch screen is mounted on the single-head drill rig. On machines with multiple heads, the bigger 15-inch C15 allows for easier viewing while accommodating the larger number of sensors. Mucci and his team have also set up a system so the operator can use the responsive noax touchscreen to easily change the way the data is displayed. On multiple-head rigs, the operator can view information for each drill head and scroll through different pages of data simply by using the touchscreen. The operator is able to observe both the operation of the drill and the information on the noax computer screen. This requires that the PC be mounted directly on the derrick, subjecting it to jarring vibrations during the drilling. Mucci is well aware of these demands.

“We are not only working in remote locations, but we are also working on strict schedules and there is normally tight coordination with the subcontractors on projects. Failure is not an option.”

One of Layne Bencor’s toughest challenges has been the Belo Monte Dam project located on Brazil’s Xingu River, where an army of 20,000 workers are on the job, using equipment that had to be transported hundreds of miles through rugged country. When completed, this will be among the largest hydro-electric dam projects in the world, generating 11,233 megawatts and adding to the country’s energy self-sufficiency program. On top of the impressive size, this project is in the middle of a remote, lush jungle. During many months, the temperatures can reach in the upper 80s, with high, oppressive humidity and frequent rains that can be damaging to electronic circuitry. The weather-resistant, environmentally sealed IP65 (NEMA 4) rated noax computers with heavy-duty cast casings give Layne Bencor the confidence they need to keep their projects running on schedule and on budget. Despite the punishing heat, extreme humidity and heavy vibration, their noax PCs have never failed.

 

Real-Time Data in Remote Locations

Back at the contractor trailer, an engineer is wirelessly connected to the noax computer and is looking over the shoulder of the operator as the work progresses in real time, communicating through a speaker so proper instructions can be delivered to on-site operators. Along with jobsite control, the noax computers feed the data captured on the site to the computers in the job trailer and at the main office. With each project, Layne Bencor and the contractors gain a greater understanding on how to create process efficiency, to improve the use of resources and to provide traceability.

Mahlon Layne’s rugged spirit helped him conquer the Dakota plains and led to the founding of the great company that bears his name. He would certainly appreciate the same spirit that goes into the noax computers that enable his company to surmount even bigger challenges today, and into the future through the power of data.

 “The noax computers,” says Mucci, “enable us to provide contractors with a complete understanding of the process going on at jobsites. We can tell customers if the job is going according to spec and can provide any information when needed. This gathering of information must be ongoing every second while on the jobsite. What we were looking for was reliability, and with noax computers, we got it.” 

Find Out More about noax and Layne

For more about noax Technologies computer systems, email info@noaxna.com or visit www.noax.com. For more information about Layne Christensen and related companies, visit www.layne.com or email info@layne.com.

KEYWORDS: drilling technology foundation drilling

Share This Story

Looking for a reprint of this article?
From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

 Keith Schmitz is a freelance writer working with noax Technologies. 

Recommended Content

JOIN TODAY
to unlock your recommendations.

Already have an account? Sign In

  • geotechnical drilling rig

    6 Onsite Phrases Environmental Drillers Hate

    Here are six phrases that highlight common frustrations...
    Markets
    By: Jeff Garby
  • Wayne Nash

    Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

    If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or...
    Markets
    By: Wayne Nash
  • submersible pumps, water well pumps

    Selecting and Sizing Submersible Pump Cable

    This article helps pump installers and servicers decide...
    Markets
    By: Bob Pelikan
You must login or register in order to post a comment.

Report Abusive Comment

Subscribe For Free!
  • eNewsletters
  • Online Registration
  • Subscription Customer Service
  • Manage My Preferences

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast: Coiled Tubing Drilling and the Future of Geothermal

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast, Episode 147: Global Geothermal Collaboration at NY-GEO 2025

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: New York Geo Talks 2025 Conference with Hands-on Driller Education

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

The Driller Newscast: 21st Century Drillers | Part 1 DEMAND

More Videos

Sponsored Content

Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the The Driller audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of The Driller or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

close
  • demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit
    Sponsored byGeoprobe

    Built for You: Smarter Drill Rigs, Stronger Support, Bigger Opportunities

Popular Stories

MainPhotoTwoBrothers.jpg

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

Tariffs

Tariffs Shake Up the Drilling Industry

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

The Driller Classifieds

COMPRESSORS

EAST WEST MACHINERY & DRILLING IS BUYING AND SELLING AIR COMPRESSORS, AIR BOOSTERS, AIR ENDS & PARTS
Company: East West Machinery

DRILL RIGS

LOOKING FOR LATE MODEL TOPHEADS & DRILLTECH D25'S
Company: Spikes’s Rig Sales

DRILL RIG PARTS

MEETING DRILLERS NEEDS AROUND THE WORLD
Company: East West Machinery

ELEVATORS

SEMCO INC. PIPE ELEVATORS
Company: Semco Inc.

GROUTERS

GROUTING EQUIPMENT - GROUT PUMPS & GROUT HOSE REELS
Company: Geo-Loop Inc.

PUMP HOISTS

SEMCO INC. - BASIC PUMP HOISTS
Company: Semco Inc.

WELL PACKERS

LANSAS PRODUCTS - INFLATABLE WELL PACKERS
Company: Vanderlans Lansas Products

WELL SCREENS

WELL SCREENS & SLOTTED PIPE
Company: Alloy Screen Works

Products

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

Water Quality Engineering: Physical / Chemical Treatment Processes

By carefully explaining both the underlying theory and the underlying mathematics, this text enables readers to fully grasp the fundamentals of physical and chemical treatment processes for water and wastewater.

See More Products

Subscribe to The Driller Newscast

Related Articles

  • Geokon handheld

    Rugged Computers Put the ‘Tech’ in Geotechnical

    See More
  • Design Blasting Services

    Drilling Contractor Relies on Data to Optimize Blasthole Jobs

    See More
  • Ask Brock video series

    Why Does Ask Brock Deliver Answers on Drilling and the Drilling Industry?

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9780128231456.jpg

    Seismic While Drilling

  • 1119083621.jpg

    Formulas and Calculations for Drilling Operations, 2nd Edition

  • 9780128034170.jpg

    Formulas and Calculations for Drilling, Production, and Workover, 4th Edition

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Vanair, a Lincoln Electric Co.

    Vanair, a Lincoln Electric Company, offers an extensive product line of vehicle-mounted air compressors, generators, welders, hydraulics, Electrified Power Equipment, chargers/boosters, and engine starters, making it the most comprehensive Mobile Power Solution® provider in the world. Through innovative design, training and support, Vanair delivers rugged and reliable products that enhance efficiency and productivity globally. Wherever, whenever and however you need it... Vanair is there. For more information about Vanair and its products and services, visit the Company’s website at https://vanair.com/.
  • East West Drilling

    "Meeting Drillers Needs Globally", since 1987. A supplier for manufacturers of high-quality used/new Drill Tooling & Parts. From our full-service facility we re-manufacture Drill Rigs, Trucks, Air Compressors, Engines, Mud Pumps, and Machinery for Drilling Contractors. Visit our website and contact us for prices on the drilling equipment we buy & sell.
  • Geoprobe Systems

    Launched in 1987, Geoprobe Systems® manufactures innovative drilling rigs and tooling - engineered to simplify fieldwork - empowering drilling companies around the globe to succeed as productive and profitable industry leaders. We incorporate customer feedback to continuously develop solutions to make drillers' jobs faster, easier, and safer, across water well, geothermal, cathodic protection, geotechnical, environmental, exploration and construction drilling industries. Recognized for providing superior service support, Geoprobe® keeps you in the field via live phone support by our expert service technicians and a network of service centers around the country.
×
 Layne Bencor uses noax touchscreen systems to allow operators to monitor a variety of drilling-related data on the jobsite. Source: noax Technologies photos
 The real-time feedback helps operators stay on top of downhole conditions and supplies important details such as GPS location to central computers for supervisors on the jobsite.  
 The noax touchscreen systems are resistant to moisture, heat, humidity and drill rig vibration. Source: noax Technologies

Dig deeper into the drilling and water supply industry!

Build your knowledge with The Driller, covering the people, equipment and technologies across drilling markets.

SIGN UP NOW
  • RESOURCES
    • Advertise
    • Contact Us
    • Directories
    • Store
    • Want More
    • Classifieds
  • SIGN UP TODAY
    • Create Account
    • eNewsletters
    • Customer Service
    • Manage Preferences
  • SERVICES
    • Marketing Services
    • Reprints
    • Market Research
    • List Rental
    • Survey/Respondent Access
  • STAY CONNECTED
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • YouTube
    • X (Twitter)
  • PRIVACY
    • PRIVACY POLICY
    • TERMS & CONDITIONS
    • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
    • PRIVACY REQUEST
    • ACCESSIBILITY

Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

The Driller
search
cart
facebook twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
The Driller
  • NEWS
    • Water
    • Geothermal
    • Construction
    • Environmental
    • Mining
    • All Industry News
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EQUIPMENT
    • Rigs & Heavy Equipment
    • Consumables
    • Pumps
    • Featured Products
  • SAFETY
  • VIDEOS
    • Newscast
    • Drill Talks
    • Ask Brock
    • Emerging Drillers
  • EDUCATION
    • Drilling Business Insights
    • Reference Desk
    • Sponsored Insights
  • SOURCEBOOK
  • EVENTS
    • Conferences & Demo Days
    • Newscast LIVE
  • SUBMIT
    • Drillers @Work
  • ABOUT
    • Contact
    • Advertise
  • SIGN UP