Markets

Two Brothers' Journey Through the Drilling Industry

Tue, 29 Apr 2025 16:00:00 -0400

The Fleming brothers have always had a knack for heavy equipment, and they brought with them skills that they learned outside the industry that gave them a bit of an edge.

Drilling Into the Future: Building the Geothermal Workforce We Need

Tue, 22 Apr 2025 06:58:17 -0400

The Geothermal Drillers Association (GDA) is a member-driven nonprofit founded by drillers for the advancement of drillers, promoting professionalism in the geothermal drilling industry through access to educational, safety, and business resources.

Skilled, Local, Ready: A New Vision for Geothermal Drilling Careers

questions@askbrock.com (Brock Yordy) — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 05:00:42 -0400

The industry needs more to hit our 2030 goals and, ultimately, 2050 NetZero goals! We need more equipment than what is built today. We need more people to join the industry and establish careers in ground source geothermal.

Tariffs Shake Up the Drilling Industry

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Fri, 18 Apr 2025 09:00:00 -0400

The broader water well drilling industry is bracing for the long-term consequences of increased tariffs, which could lead to rising equipment and material costs.

A New Era for Indigenous Economic Power in Capital Markets

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 17 Apr 2025 10:00:00 -0400

Nations Royalty and the Nisga'a Nation released a new documentary highlighting the Nisga'a Nation's long-standing leadership in economic self-determination and its efforts to build lasting prosperity for its people.

A New Executive Order: The Push for Domestic Mineral Production Draws Praise and Scrutiny

Wed, 16 Apr 2025 06:47:26 -0400

Some warn that streamlining development too aggressively could create economic instability in rural areas if mining booms aren’t matched by long-term infrastructure or diversification planning.

XGS Energy Lands $13M in Fresh Funding to Fuel Water-Free Geothermal Expansion

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 14:54:03 -0400

The company recently completed a successful field test of its Thermal Reach Enhancement (TRE) technology and is now operating its first commercial-scale geothermal well in California.

Two Rural Colorado School Districts Win State Grants as Part of $14.4M Push for Geothermal Energy

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:33:04 -0400

In a major step toward clean energy adoption, two rural school districts in Colorado have been awarded funding through a state program supporting the use of geothermal energy for heating and cooling.

Nominee to Lead EPA’s Office of Water Vows ‘Stable Pendulum’ on Regulations

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400

The Office of Water will 'be aimed at ensuring that we can make things better,' which has prompted the Office to plan 'listening sessions' that 'cross a wide range of stakeholders' in order to help 'chart our path,' she said.

New Michigan PFAS Testing Mandate Stalls Harbor Dredging Projects

Mon, 14 Apr 2025 13:00:00 -0400

Representatives from EGLE and the Army Corps are scheduled to meet this week to explore possible resolutions, as communities and businesses across Michigan await clarity on a policy that could reshape shipping logistics throughout the Great Lakes region.

Interior Department Moves to Revitalize Coal Industry, Citing Jobs and Energy Security

Wed, 09 Apr 2025 12:59:47 -0400

The announcement reignites debate over the federal government’s role in shaping the energy landscape.

EPA May Weaken PFAS Drinking Water Protections — Here’s What’s at Stake

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 14:05:55 -0400

More than 1.3 million New Yorkers rely on water systems that could be impacted by any change in federal policy. If national protections are weakened, many of those systems may no longer be required to filter out PFAS at all.

Texas Secures First EPA Approval for CO₂ Injection Well

Tue, 08 Apr 2025 13:07:06 -0400

While the EPA’s decision opens the door for one of the largest DAC projects in the country to move forward, it also underscores the need for careful oversight, community engagement, and transparent risk assessment as CCS efforts scale across Texas.

U.S. Conference of Mayors Urge EPA to Revisit PFAS, Lead Pipe Rules

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Mon, 07 Apr 2025 11:57:24 -0400

Judy Sheahan, the conference’s assistant executive director for the environment, told The Driller the conference believes 'it was a mistake' for the EPA to set PFAS’ contamination levels in drinking water at 'four parts per trillion,' which Sheahan said is 'detection levels.'

DFI Educational Trust Accepting Scholarship Applications for Students Pursuing a Career in Deep Foundations

Fri, 04 Apr 2025 07:01:06 -0400

Several At-Large Scholarships ranging from $1,000 – $5,000 each are being awarded in 2025. They can be used for funding tuition, fees, books and or educational living expenses.

Former EPA Official Expands Water Safety Training Program with Lessons from Flint Crisis

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 15:00:37 -0400

EPHI’s program has drawn support from respected organizations in the global water sector, including the American Water Works Association, the European Water Association, the Illinois Section of AWWA, and the Singapore Water Association.

Maverick Metals Raises $19M to Commercialize New Critical Metals Recovery Technology

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 12:01:48 -0400

Maverick Metals has raised $19 million to scale its LithX™ technology, a novel chemical solution designed to improve recovery of copper and other critical metals from low-grade and waste materials

Idaho Copper Gains Federal Approval to Move Ahead with CuMo Exploration Activities

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:49:02 -0400

The decision is not without controversy. Conservation groups, including Idaho Rivers United and the Idaho Conservation League, have previously expressed concerns

‘Water Is the New Oil’ as Texas Cities Square Off Over Aquifers

Thu, 03 Apr 2025 11:43:52 -0400

Two cities and the Texas A&M University System are suing to stop a project that would pump up to 89 million gallons per day of groundwater 80 miles away to other boomtowns in Central Texas.

SLB Awarded Contract by Woodside Energy for Trion Ultra-Deep-Water Drilling Project Offshore Mexico

Wed, 02 Apr 2025 11:20:15 -0400

AI-driven technologies and integrated services to support Mexico’s first deep-water oil development, with operations set to begin in 2026

Office of Water Nominee Wants States to Execute EPA Policies

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 06:00:00 -0400

Kramer, who served in the Office of Water during the first Trump administration, said under cooperative federalism EPA programs such as the Underground Injection Control Well Program (UICWP) would be “delegated from federal implementation to the states,”

Millions Invested in Geothermal Projects to Boost Clean Energy and Cut Utility Costs

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 26 Mar 2025 13:00:00 -0400

With state funding now secured, Pueblo’s fire station project and other geothermal initiatives will move forward in the coming months.

Supreme Court Rules EPA Must Set Limits on Pollutants in Water Discharges

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Mon, 24 Mar 2025 08:00:00 -0400

The Supreme Court ruled that the EPA must first establish pollutant limits in discharges before holding NPDES permit holders accountable for water quality violations.

Voices from the Field: Drillers Share Insights on Challenges, Technology, and Advice for the Next Generation

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 12:00:00 -0400

As technology advances and drilling continues to evolve, one thing remains constant: the need for tough, skilled professionals who know how to get the job done—no matter the conditions.

Colorado Will Require Oil and Gas Companies to Increase Water Recycling for Fracking

Fri, 21 Mar 2025 10:45:45 -0400

Billions of gallons of freshwater are used for fracking every year in Colorado. Companies will now have to gradually increase the amount of recycled water they use.

EPA ‘Deregulation’ Plan Targets Environmental Protection Rules

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Fri, 21 Mar 2025 09:37:46 -0400

Touting the plan as the 'biggest deregulatory action in U.S. history,' EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin said the deregulation effort is 'driving a dagger straight into the heart of the climate change religion.'

Congressman Pushes Bill to Reopen Public Lands for Energy Development

Thu, 20 Mar 2025 12:25:47 -0400

A new bill introduced by Rep. Jeff Hurd aims to roll back Biden-era land protections, reopening millions of acres for energy development, mining, and grazing while sparking controversy among conservation groups.

An Abandoned Oil Well Has Created a 200-Foot-Wide Sinkhole

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 12:30:18 -0400

Meanwhile, earthquakes linked to wastewater injection wells continue to rock the area. The Railroad Commission has restricted deep injection to reduce seismicity in the area.

EPA Freezes, Then Terminates Multi-Billion Dollar Climate Grants

Tue, 18 Mar 2025 14:53:23 -0400

The lawsuits could take months, if not years, to resolve, experts say, leaving green banks, clean energy startups and low-income communities in financial limbo.

DFI and EFFC Collaborate on Sustainability Guides to Support Geotechnical Industry

Thu, 13 Mar 2025 12:20:46 -0400

The Deep Foundations Institute (DFI) is partnering with the European Federation of Foundation Contractors (EFFC) to develop a series of sustainability guides.