The Driller

Washington Utility Seeks Contractor for 300-Foot Water Well

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:53:25 -0400

Skagit Public Utility District plans to replace an aging water well with a higher-capacity source, but drilling into a flowing aquifer will require extra precautions.

California Water Utility Buys Pump Contractor for $4.1 Million

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:47:51 -0400

Sacramento Suburban Water District decided to purchase Kirby's Pump and Mechanical rather than continue outsourcing its well maintenance and repair work.

Historic Highway Reappears as Colorado Drought Drains Dillon Reservoir

Sat, 31 Oct 2026 22:42:47 -0400

Dillon Reservoir has fallen to roughly 58% of capacity, exposing a decades-old roadway and raising new concerns about water supplies heading into 2027.

Well Integrity Under Pressure: Preventing Failures That Threaten Groundwater

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 13:21:49 -0400

Recent EPA enforcement notices put mechanical-integrity testing back in the spotlight.

Three Bits: Volcanic electricity, Missouri goes to war with abandoned wells, and play our quiz!

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 12:38:29 -0400

Your routine roundup of drilling news and notes from across the globe

Ghosts in the Borehole: Jobsite Terrors & The 33 Rescue

Fri, 30 Oct 2026 07:00:00 -0400

Brock Yordy exposes the real nightmares on the rig: silica dust, 88-hour burnout, and viral social media OSHA fines.

Recognizing Uncertainty: Grant Piraine, Founder of NAPUA Talks the Imperfect Science of Remote Monitoring

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 15:00:12 -0400

Using intuition first could mean the difference between a stress-free job site and potential catastrophe

The Well From Hell — A Halloween Tale from the Rig Floor

Thu, 29 Oct 2026 10:57:49 -0400

Dropping tools, bloody shaker screens, and a dive into the boulder zone conclude this Halloween tale from the rig.

Missouri is paying up to $20k to plug abandoned wells. Here’s how residents sign up.

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 16:10:14 -0400

Officials estimated there could be as many as 500,000 abandoned wells across the state. They’re hoping this initiative aids in bringing that number down considerably.

Geothermal Knows No Border: Navigating Tariffs, Grid Strain, and the Next Era of North American Geothermal

Wed, 28 Oct 2026 10:22:26 -0400

North American geothermal is entering a critical growth phase, but tariffs, strained electrical grids and concentrated manufacturing could slow momentum. OGA President Paul Frith explains how stronger supply chains, smarter policy and expanded geothermal deployment can position the industry for 2027 and beyond.

The Well From Hell — A Halloween Tale from the Rig Floor

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 14:34:19 -0400

Nothing went right on the Melbourne injection well—and then a raspy voice started calling out from the casing pipe

Report to Congress Outlines Importance of Geothermal Energy, and the Significance of Drilling

Tue, 27 Oct 2026 11:11:58 -0400

Report cites USGS assessment and BLM regulation of geothermal drilling reserve pits

This Safety Helmet is Giving Conventional Hard Hats a Refresh

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 15:18:42 -0400

Job-Site Safety Institute and Comer Construction Pilot Launch a Type II Safety Helmet

Three Bits: Trade Meets the Rig Floor, Mining for AI, and Texas' $3 Million Drill Project

Mon, 26 Oct 2026 12:25:17 -0400

Your routine roundup of drilling news and notes from across the globe

The Kid, the Auction Block, or the Buyer: Why Succession Planning Can't Wait

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:54:18 -0400

Most well services companies are family-owned, and most owners hope to keep them that way. Fewer have a plan for when the next generation is not ready or says no.

India Opens a New Airport Terminal Powered Entirely by Geothermal Heating and Cooling

Fri, 23 Oct 2026 12:48:20 -0400

The $67 million project made the airport in Leh become the first in the country to have a fully-functional geothermal conditioning system.

Mining for ‘Critical Minerals and Metals’ Driven by AI

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:17:53 -0400

Exploration at the Whistler Gold-Copper project in Alaska and CuMo Project in Idaho are progressing as demand surges

Another strain caused by the continued growth of data centers? Wastewater infrastructure.

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 06:00:00 -0400

Recently, The Driller spoke with Kevin Gast, co-founder and CEO of water technology firm, VVater, about the challenges facing municipalities and the industry.

"The Road Not Planned" Howe to inspire the next generation of drilling professionals

Thu, 22 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Tom Howe’s unconventional path from a Michigan fruit farm to WMU helped shape an educator who has trained more than 500 students while strengthening ties between geoscience and the drilling trades.

EPA’s Rulemaking Process that Produced PFAS Rule is Focus of Litigants Arguments

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:51:49 -0400

Petitioners’ lawyer said 60 days to comment on the proposed rule was insufficient

From Trade Wars to the Rig Floor: What the Global Potash Scramble Means for U.S. Drillers and Groundwater

Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As geopolitical whiplash highlights America's 90% reliance on imported potash, unlocking domestic reserves comes down to solution mining, deep injection wells, and protecting shallow aquifers.

Wyoming Uranium Exploration Program Surpasses 65,000 Feet of Mud-Rotary Drilling

Tue, 20 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Premier American Uranium has completed 80 drill holes at its Kaycee Project, with new uranium discoveries and expanded mineral rights setting the stage for additional exploration.

Texas Water Authority Advances $3 Million Well Drilling Project as Reservoir Levels Fall

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 16:30:30 -0400

Greenbelt's North Well Field project could add four production wells tapping the Ogallala Aquifer, with extensive pumping tests helping determine how many wells are ultimately needed.

NORTIV 8 GeoPilot WorkNano Step Composite Toe Work Boots

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:56:27 -0400

The NORTIV 8 GeoPilot WorkNano Step combines a lightweight composite toe, responsive cushioning, arch support, and slip resistance for drillers and field crews moving from rig floors to service yards and paved work zones.

NORTIV 8 Peakforce-Nano Composite Toe Work Boots

Mon, 19 Oct 2026 14:52:27 -0400

Rugged protection for crews moving through rough ground, changing conditions, and demanding outdoor jobsites.

Three bits: Thermal energy, meet grid, The tanker that couldn't and we made a quiz!

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 11:00:25 -0400

Your routine roundup of drilling news and notes from across the globe

Drilling Know-How and Geophysics are Guiding Kenorland's 16,000-Foot Plus Exploration Program

Fri, 16 Oct 2026 08:00:00 -0400

A vast corridor has exposed itself as rich in gold ore, The challenge? Determining the site’s geometry and whether even more exploratory drilling needs to happen.

The Real Cost of Doing Business: Leadership, Scaling, and the Professional Driller

Thu, 15 Oct 2026 12:54:07 -0400

Four environmental drilling executives share how hidden downtime, owner burnout, rapid expansion and changing workforce expectations are redefining what it takes to build a resilient, professional drilling company.

The DOE Recently Created the Geothermal Center of Excellence. Here's why.

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 12:00:00 -0400

The Center says it plans to unite government and private sector research on geothermal energy

Are We Developing Thermal Energy Infrastructure While the Grid Dies? The Case for Immediate Deployment

Wed, 14 Oct 2026 09:20:57 -0400

Thermal energy networks could ease grid strain and accelerate building decarbonization, but deployment must move faster. Industry leaders say utilities, policymakers and contractors need committed infrastructure pipelines before critical replacement windows close.