Energy & Industrial Drilling

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

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

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — 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.

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

Mining for ‘Critical Minerals and Metals’ Driven by AI

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — 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

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

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — 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.

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

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — 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

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — 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

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — 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.

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

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — 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.

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — 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

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — 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.

Three bits: Recapping a handful of top stories this week, in case you missed them

Fri, 09 Oct 2026 12:40:04 -0400

Your routine roundup of news and notes curated by The Driller

Deb Haaland: Groundwater, geothermal and conservation key components to New Mexico's future

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The former Secretary of Interior and New Mexico gubernatorial candidate talks all things water and its conservation in an exclusive sitdown with The Driller.

Extreme Ownership from the Front Lines to the Rig Platform

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 15:22:53 -0400

What Rob Jones Teaches Us About Leadership

Yale Completes 263-Borehole Geothermal Field Beneath Science Hill

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 30 Sep 2026 11:17:21 -0400

Crews drilled 263 boreholes to depths of 850 feet as part of a district geothermal system that will heat and cool the university's research buildings.

Diamond to Geotech - How Two Fields Diverge

Wed, 30 Sep 2026 10:00:00 -0400

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.

Three Bits: The Behind the Scenes Extension on Coal and Drilling for Noah's Ark?

Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:30:55 -0400

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

What Do Geothermal Heat Pumps Really Cost? ORNL Wants to Know

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Fri, 25 Sep 2026 14:04:23 -0400

New DOE-backed survey asks contractors and drillers to share project costs.

Bipartisan Support is Present for Senate Bills Advancing Geothermal Energy

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Thu, 24 Sep 2026 07:26:09 -0400

Bills would increase drilling for geothermal, and support demonstration projects.

The Geothermal Renaissance: Scaling the Subsurface at GRC 2026

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Wed, 23 Sep 2026 08:00:00 -0400

The "Geothermal Decade" is no longer a forward-looking prediction; it is an active drilling and construction site.

Renewed DOE Science Panel Includes ‘Geothermal Heat’ Among its Priorities

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:24:09 -0400

Electricity generation urged to be part of the panel’s geothermal focus

Heading to this week's NDA Drill Expo? Here's what you can expect.

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 07:11:53 -0400

Big rigs, industry challenges, AI, safety and two packed days in Nashville. Here’s what you won’t want to miss Sept. 17-18.

Uncharted Waters, Chapter II: A Community Blueprint for Defending Against Industrial Exploitation.

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:02:01 -0400

An examination into stopping developers from isolating landowners, one dry borehole at a time with proactive blueprints to protect water lifelines.

The Tale of Two Mentors: How Knowledge Keepers and Wisdom Sharers Redefine Field Experience

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 10 Sep 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Veteran drillers can either guard what they know or pass it on. The difference can shape safety, uptime, crew development and the future of the trade.

City of Virginia Beach Kick Off Geotechnical Drilling Work Along Stretches of the Chesapeake Bay

Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:42:10 -0400

Working with the Army Corps of Engineers, the city is taking preventative measure to mitigate severe flood risks along the coast and in the town.

Geothermal heats up in China, a 21 year old Superfund cleanup and more

Thu, 03 Sep 2026 16:10:06 -0400

A daily crawl of the news that's affecting the industry and the people involved in all of it, brought to you by the Driller

Teaching The Next Generation of Water Well Drillers

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Wed, 05 Aug 2026 14:20:27 -0400

As experienced drillers retire, a new generation is stepping up. Meet the students, educators, and industry leaders working to build the future of water well drilling through hands-on training, mentorship, and opportunity.