Rod handling is one of those elusive innovations attempted and often, after several failures, abandoned for traditional methods. Layne succeeded where many had failed by capitalizing on its strong drilling knowledge to create a solution that would be practical in the field.
When deciding whether to add rigs and other large equipment to a fleet, contractors need to consider how much they can afford to pay, how to best structure the terms to leave some cash flow intact, whether to lease or buy, and a host of other questions.
Jeff Hart uses the Chilean Mine Rescue to stoke interest in drilling among the next generation. The Driller saw his presentation at the National Drilling Association (NDA) annual convention in September and caught up with him afterward to talk about the rescue, its legacy for him and his training efforts.
True exploration drilling is when a driller goes into an area that nobody has drilled before. I have been involved with some true exploration projects over the years, and thought I’d share some of my experiences.
One of the surest ways to improve operational efficiency of an exploration project is to find a way to shorten trip time — without compromising safety.