Rob Murphy

Rob Murphy is a third generation driller from the anthracite region of Northeast Pennsylvania. His family has been involved with geotechnical, mineral exploration, and water well drilling for over 60 years. He has a passion for the history of the drilling industry.

Typical Style Geotech Drill Introduced in 1960

History Lesson

Diamond to Geotech - How Two Fields Diverge

How diamond drilling and geotechnical drilling grew from shared roots into two specialized fields

Rob Murphy

September 30, 2026

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Diamond drillers and geotechnical drillers may work in distinct specialties today, but their histories are closely connected. A look back at early soil sampling, the rise of the Standard Penetration Test and the development of combination rigs shows how one drilling tradition eventually branched into two.

Ground2Grid is a new, national event hosted by The Driller where the full lifecycle of Thermal Energy Resources comes together. From the subsurface to the final system connection, this summit brings builders, policymakers, engineers, and investors into one collaborative space to accelerate the future of carbon-neutral heating and cooling.

Rob Murphy

ARTICLES

Diamond to Geotech - How Two Fields Diverge

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