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I bet a lot of readers think they’re pretty careful — and environmentally considerate — when handling drilling fluids and solids byproducts. But, I was thinking of this recently as I attended the Underground Construction Technology (UCT) event in Atlanta last month.

This month, I will turn 80 years old. For most of these years, I have been involved in drilling of some type.

As I look back at the past year in the drilling industry, the changes are pretty dramatic.

As I write these columns and think about different subjects, I seem to have more to say about certain procedures and products used in our industry than others.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter (PM) are undeniable contributors to the formation of ground-level ozone and the presence of harmful airborne pollutants.

Dry bentonite sealants have become very popular because they are easy to apply and require no mixing or pumping.

The North American oil and gas industry has experienced unparalleled growth of oil production over the last five years.

Drilling is a disruptive process in which most of the damage is created subsurface and is never seen.

Being in business for yourself, like a lot of my readers are, involves making decisions all the time to move your company forward.

After leaving Georgia Tech, we reformed Cutter and Dad Drilling Company in 1968 in Adel, Ga., and we drilled wells around the area for many years.