In conversations with drilling contractors, particularly since returning to the field full time after Covid-19 restrictions, the lack of available skilled labor keeps coming up. It has become such a prevalent issue, I hear of contractors refusing to bid on jobs due to lack of available personnel.
The absence of knowledgeable drilling fluids technicians can prove especially difficult for drilling contractors due to the important role drilling fluids play in the success of a drilling operation. Utilizing drilling fluids requires an understanding of how to identify soil conditions/types, and match drilling fluids to those conditions to maintain borehole stability, convey drill cuttings out of the hole and control reactive clays. This understanding of drilling fluids must include practical application of polymers, additives, drill foams and other products that can facilitate the drilling process. Be it vertical rotary drilling, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) or foundation drilled shafts, the degree of success relates directly to the proper usage of drilling fluids, slurry and/or drill foam.