Drilling Industry News

Houston-based Prime Horizontal announces buyout with a goal of expansion into more global markets

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Wed, 06 May 2026 12:29:40 -0400

The company still prides itself on being the first HDD guidance firm to complete an intersect pilot hole and still holds records for drill depths with its system.

With the House passing Rep. Luna’s amendment to remove pesticide liability protections, here’s what that could mean for remediation efforts

Wed, 06 May 2026 11:30:43 -0400

Awaiting approval in the Senate, this amendment preserves the ability of states and individuals to hold manufacturers accountable and prevents federal overreach that would override stricter local protections.

California announces plan to strengthen water management

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Wed, 06 May 2026 10:50:47 -0400

The project, being dubbed “A Vision for the San Joaquin Valley," is a fully integrated strategy with immediate and long term action plans to stabilize water resources

Three bits, presented by The Driller

Tue, 05 May 2026 16:21:11 -0400

With so much happening in the industry and at-large, The Driller plans to provide a weekly wrap of three topics you should know before you head out the door.

New Lead Website Expands Public Education Push on Exposure Risks

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The EPA’s latest update is a step toward making information more accessible. As lead exposure continues to affect homes, schools, andcommunities, clearer guidance could help people take action sooner.

Fervo, Vallourec Ink $800M Deal to Scale U.S. Geothermal Buildout

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 07:00:00 -0400

This is another signal that geothermal is trying to move into a different phase. Less experimental, more repeatable.

Senator Durbin Pushes Data Center Transparency Bill as Utility Costs Climb

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Data centers are often backed by large investments and long-term energy agreements, and in some cases, companies have already secured water and power rights years in advance.

Eavor Wins Global CleanTech Award for Closed-Loop Geothermal Technology

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 03:00:00 -0400

The company’s first commercial-scale Eavor-Loop is now operating in Geretsried, Germany. This marks a key milestone as it looks to prove the concept at scale.

EPA Launches WRAP 2.0 to Expand Water Reuse Nationwide

Wed, 22 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

The updated plan reflects a broader shift in how water is managed across the country - less as a one-time-use resource, and more as something that can be treated, reused, and reintegrated into the system.

Denver Water to Drain Antero Reservoir as Drought Intensifies

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 22 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Denver Water last drained Antero Reservoir during a drought in 2002. The reservoir was also emptied in 2015 to allow for dam rehabilitation work. Officials say refilling timelines will depend on future drought conditions.

GDA, HEET Secure MassCEC Grants to Expand Geothermal Workforce Training

Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A pair of state grants is set to give a boost to geothermal workforce training in Massachusetts, with the Geothermal Drillers Association (GDA) and the Home Energy Efficiency Team (HEET) teaming up to expand access to the field.

‘PFAS OUT’ Initiative Aims to Tackle Drinking Water Contamination Early

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:26:22 -0400

PFAS contamination isn’t a future problem—it’s already affecting thousands of water systems. The challenge is that fixing it can take years and significant investment.

Class VI Carbon Storage Well Approved in Kansas

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 02:21:32 -0400

This project is particularly notable because it ties carbon storage to ethanol production—an industry already widespread in the Midwest.

Texas Data Center Developers Play Offense on Water, Claiming Huge Cuts in Usage

Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As Texas confronts decades of water mismanagement and growing demands for electricity from data centers.

DOE Backs $14 Million Geothermal Demonstration in Pennsylvania

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This project also taps into an existing advantage: thousands of oil and gas wells that could potentially be repurposed.

EPA Rolls Out $30 Million Initiative to Support Small and Rural Water Systems

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is opening a new round of funding aimed at one of the most persistent challenges in the country’s water sector:

Crackdown on Microplastics in Drinking Water

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 01:00:00 -0400

The initiative also reflects growing public concern about what’s in drinking water. By elevating microplastics and pharmaceuticals to priority status, federal agencies are responding to calls for more transparency and stronger oversight of emerging contaminants.

EPA Grants Ohio Full Authority Over Hazardous Waste Permitting Under Federal Law

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The shift reflects a broader trend in environmental policy, where states are given more responsibility to implement federal programs—so long as they maintain baseline protections.

Federal Agencies Warn of Iranian-Linked Cyberattacks Targeting U.S. Water Systems

Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The advisory is part of a wider push to strengthen cyber resilience across U.S. infrastructure as threats grow more sophisticated and persistent. For water utilities, the message is clear: the risks are no longer hypothetical, and preparation is essential.

Colorado Faces Severe Water Outlook as Record-Low Snowpack Raises Drought Concerns

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Warmest winter on record and rapidly melting snow leave statewide snowpack at just 38% of average, threatening water supplies, agriculture, and wildfire conditions

Colorado Approves Groundwater Wells for Proposed Buc-ee’s Near Monument Hill

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The permits don’t guarantee the Buc-ee’s project will move forward, but they mark a key step—and ensure that, in a water-conscious region, the conversation around it is likely to continue.

EPA Proposes Delaying ‘Facility Response Plan’ Compliance for Three Years

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The EPA is soliciting comments on the proposed compliance date delay, and specifically, on whether compliance with the current rule may take longer than the two years now allowed by the current date of June 1, 2027

EPA Nears Approval of Colorado Underground Injection Wells Application

josephjsmith749@gmail.com (J.J. Smith) — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The SDWA directs the EPA to establish requirements that states, territories, and authorized tribes must meet to be granted primary enforcement responsibility or “primacy” for a UIC program.

Still Drilling, Still Building

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

NY-GEO still feels like a checkpoint — a place to compare notes, challenge assumptions, and measure progress honestly.

Welcome to NY‑GEO 2026 Brooklyn!

Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The opportunity for action is now. As partners, competitors, collaborators, and advocates, we are united in advancing the superior solution for building heating and cooling.

Geothermal's Future: Drillers Saving Water

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 14:30:00 -0400

Breaking down the opportunities of geothermal from water conservation to a workforce opening new doors to lead the geothermal movement.

Relentless Heat in 2026 Raises Stakes for Drilling Safety

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 18 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

More frequent and intense heatwaves are becoming part of the operating landscape, not an exception to it.

Across the Pond: Thames Water Rescue Plan Gains Momentum With $4.4B Proposal

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Britain’s largest water utility may be inching closer to a financial lifeline.

Next Phase of Groundwater Cleanup in San Fernando Valley

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Efforts like the San Fernando Valley cleanup are about more than addressing legacy contamination—they’re about maintaining access to safe, reliable drinking water for millions of people.

EPA Steps In on Potomac Sampling After Sewer Collapse

Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

The situation is far from over, but the shift in oversight signals a more centralized—and potentially more coordinated—approach to managing the fallout.