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
MarketsEquipmentIndustrial DrillingWater WellsGeothermalDrill Rigs & Heavy Equipment

Drill Rig Development, Supply Chain with Tom Moffitt

From High-Tech Diesel Engines to Rod Handling

By Jeremy Verdusco
drill rig development

Rigs and other heavy equipment evolve all the time when it comes to safety, productivity and, yes, regulations.

Source: The Driller file

drill rig development

Whether you do exploration drilling, geothermal or water, manufacturers always weigh production and safety enhancements with what drilling contractors will actually buy.

Source: The Driller file

drill rig development
drill rig development
June 29, 2022

Tom Moffitt knows drill rigs and drill rig development. Now a geothermal and drilling consultant, the former Atlas Copco (now Epiroc) sales and product line manager has had a front-row seat to rig evolution over his 20-plus years in the industry.

“A lot of my job was traveling out to the field and meeting with customers and trying to learn, what where their pain points?” Moffitt says. “How could we help them improve the rig from a productivity and safety point of view?”

Moffitt came on our Drilling In-Site video and podcast series to discuss drill rig development, the supply chain and other topics. This is an edited summary of our talk. Click here to see the full video, or here to listen to the podcast.


Q. It seems obvious that you’d want equipment to improve over time, but there’s always going to be pushback over price and just plain inertia. What’s the case for changing a perfectly good rig that makes perfectly good hole?

Tom Moffitt
Tom Moffitt

A. It comes down to, where can you improve productivity of the machine, the longevity of the machine and, importantly, safety? We all want to have a safer drilling machine. Those were things that I at least tried to look and, as a company, we tried to look at. At the same time, you got to keep product cost in mind because you want people to buy the product. There’s so much that could be done to a drill today, but it would be a $2-3 million drill rig that nobody would buy. You have to keep in mind what the market is willing to pay for. But there’s things that are easier to do from a longevity point of view, [like] switching to nylon sheaves versus metal sheaves. Or going from a pipe wrench to a Petol wrench, from a safety aspect. There’s things like that, [but] a dramatically different machine is hard to introduced to the market.


Q. Let’s get right to those changes. Companies obviously don’t turn over their rigs every year. But what’s a big product development from, say, the last 10 years — for either production or safety — that needs wider adoption?

A. Let me jump back to the prior question for a second, which ties into this. Probably one of the biggest changes over the last 10 years has been the engine changes. Unfortunately, it doesn’t improve productivity, but it’s all EPA mandated to get us a cleaner environment. Those those things are mandated and as a manufacturer that takes a tremendous amount of work to go from Tier 0, which was back in the ’90s, to Tier 1, 2, 3, 4 Interim and then 4 Final. You’re constantly redesigning your cooling system and then the truck manufacturers are also making changes.

As far as the last 10 years ... I’d say I think you see a lot more rod-handling systems and … some people have some better breakout systems. As I said, we moved away from pipe wrenches to Petol wrenches, but there’s even more automated breakout systems that are available. A lot of European machines have safer breakout systems.

From a productivity side, if we look back to the changes in the engines, it’s pushed a lot of the rig manufacturers to go to PTO-based (power take-off based) equipment. Traditionally, most big air-rotary machines, which is typically the market we sold to, and some mud rotary equipment, it was all two engines with a deck engine and you had a big air compressor and everything. Because of the EPA mandates, it just got really hard to be able to do everything on a two-engine rig due to weight, space, truck designs and everything. Most manufacturers have moved to mostly or strictly PTO-based equipment. In doing so, it was you trying to get a bigger engine under the hood to get you a bigger air packaged and then pushing the pullback capability of those machines so that we could drill deeper holes. There’s been a tremendous amount of shift from deck-engine machines, to PTO and trying to get them to go do what deck-engine machines have done in the past.


Q. Is this the worst you have ever seen the supply chain issues with trucks and other components?

A. It’s a challenge. I remember once, years and years ago, when somebody from the accounting department came up and said, “You need to build one standard configuration.” I think it was a T4W … or maybe it was at T3. East and West are different. The Midwest is different and I was like, “Do you want to cut our sales in half?” You can’t do that, and at that time the rig’s weren’t designed to be as flexible to reconfigure them. It’s tough. With the supply chain issues today, trucks are probably the biggest issue. When I was at NGWA, I talked to a couple of the manufacturers. You’d hear stories: “We ordered 24 trucks and the manufacturer told us we’re getting 12.” … Unfortunately, the industry is small and to a major truck manufacturer, you know, Wal-mart can come in and order 200 trucks and, as a whole industry, we’re probably only going to order, of that class of machine, maybe 60 trucks among four or five different manufacturers. It’s really tough right now as a manufacturer. All of them are supply chain constrained. It’s almost like you need to build your own truck. But I’m not suggesting that.


Q. How do you incorporate safety standards to an industry that rebels against it?

A. I think it’s trying to get people accepting of some of the technology that’s out there. The rod handling, people get afraid of, “Well, if I push the button, and it doesn’t work …” Trying to simplify it, so that it does work every time, because rod handling is scary. I mean, you’re picking up a drill rod and — especially if you’re using a Murphy plug or something like that — you hit the rod and people have been seriously injured and killed from that. So it’s trying to move the industry forward. That’s why we would look to partner with certain drillers and have them be kind of a showcase for us. We could bring in customers to watch them drill and see how the new product worked and the technology, and to get them to accept it.

As far as on delivery of a new machine, it starts with training the operators. You know, how to run the machine safely during the startup. And every rig goes out with a training manual. There’s a placards on the side with, “don’t do this” and “don’t do that.” Do people look at those? Not always. … We constantly read about that happening. You know, look up before you do that. There are sensors and things that could be put on the rig that would warn you that there are power lines. It all costs money, but it can be done. But people have to be willing to pay for it.

As a manufacturer, you’re constantly looking at, how do we keep it cost-effective [enough] that somebody’s going to buy but trying to build as safe a product as possible. It’s a challenge. On the weight issue, I’ve been out and seen people who had, I don’t know, five, six, seven extra drill rod loaded on the drill pipe tub. Then they’ve had a mud pit hanging down on the back of the drill rig and it’s loaded with bags of mud. It’s just terrible because that weight’s cantilevered over the back and it’s adding a tremendous amount of weight. … From an engineering point of view, we don’t look at it when we’re doing our axle ratios and weight rations. Well, jeez, what if somebody adds a mud pit on the back? If we supply one, then we calculated in. But if somebody does it after the fact and then loads it up with all their tooling? … It’s best for the drillers to talk to the manufacturer if they plan to do some of these things with it. We try to build them as safe as we can, but there’s always somebody that’s going to do something you didn’t expect.

The Full Interview

We interviewed geothermal and drilling consultant Tom Moffitt for episodes 44 and 45 of Drilling In-Site. See this and other conversations at www.thedriller.com/insite or listen to the podcast version at www.thedriller.com/insite-podcast. Also available in Apple’s Podcast store and Spotify.

Working on an interesting project or have industry wisdom to share? Email verduscoj@bnpmedia.com to be considered for a guest spot on Drilling In-Site.

KEYWORDS: geothermal drilling safety water well drilling

Share This Story

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

Jeremy verdusco 200px

Jeremy Verdusco worked as Editorial Director for The Driller from late 2012 through early 2024. He’s worked in publishing since 1997, including stints as a reporter, copy editor, page designer and technical writer.

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...
    Opinions
    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

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

AI and Drought Concerns

AI’s Growing Thirst for Water and Power

demo of a DM450 drilling rig during a customer factory visit

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

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

  • Drilling In-Site episode 44: Tom Moffitt on Drilling Rig Product Development

    Tom Moffitt on Drilling Rig Product Development

    See More
  • Drilling In-Site episode 45: Tom Moffitt on Drilling, Construction Supply Chains

    Tom Moffitt on Drilling, Construction Supply Chains

    See More
  • Oil and Gas Default

    Schramm Enters Global Supply Chain Partnership

    See More

Related Products

See More Products
  • 9780128034170.jpg

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

  • 1119083621.jpg

    Formulas and Calculations for Drilling Operations, 2nd Edition

  • M:\General Shared\__AEC Store Katie Z\AEC Store\Images\ND\new site\General_Drilling_Boring.jpg

    DRILLING, BORING, CORING, AUGER Inspection Checklist BOOK

See More Products

Related Directories

  • Valley Farms Supply

    Valley Farms Supply is the largest water-well supply distribution entity in Michigan, providing a robust inventory of groundwater, wastewater, geo-thermal, and piping products. We offer a fully equipped test and repair facility providing contractors with outstanding service and support in the Michigan, Indiana and western Ohio markets.
  • Groundwater Supply Co. Inc.

    A family-owned business, opened in 1992, located in Central Mass. We are a wholesale supplier and source for Water Well, Environmental, Geothermal, Geotechnical and Construction drilling. We represent many manufactures and have most everything you could possibly need for your drilling project.
  • Milan Supply Co.

    Milan Supply Company has served the pump industry and water resource markets since 1962. Their trusted reputation has been established by providing quality solutions at competitive prices, and their customer service has truly set them apart in the industry. Strategically located and well-stocked branches throughout the state of Michigan make it convenient for customers to get the parts and service their jobs demand.
×
Rigs and other heavy equipment evolve all the time when it comes to safety, productivity and, yes, regulations. Source: The Driller file
Whether you do exploration drilling, geothermal or water, manufacturers always weigh production and safety enhancements with what drilling contractors will actually buy. Source: The Driller file

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