World According to Wayne

Breaking Ground: Customer Communication Techniques for Drillers

Wed, 22 May 2024 00:00:00 -0400

In this edition of Wednesdays with Wayne, we discuss the importance of modifying your tone and verbiage to match different personalities within the drilling field. This is what true successful connections are built upon.

PDC = Pretty Darn Costly: A Drill 'Bit' from Brock

questions@askbrock.com (Brock Yordy) — Wed, 08 May 2024 07:00:00 -0400

This week's 'Wednesday with Wayne' delves into the fundamentals, performance, and evolution of PDC bits, blending historical insights and technical expertise with anecdotes from drilling legend Wayne Nash and Industry Editor Brock Yordy.

Avoid the Stick: Strategies to Prevent and Resolve Pipe Stuck Events in 2024

questions@askbrock.com (Brock Yordy) — Wed, 01 May 2024 11:00:00 -0400

"Every stuck pipe job is a little different, and you are going to have to think “outside the box” to be successful."

How to Handle Lost Circulation on Drilling Jobs

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Wed, 13 May 2020 09:00:00 -0400

Cement is a go-to, but many lost circulation materials available.

From Piling to Dewatering, There's Work Out There

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 24 Feb 2020 09:00:00 -0500

Here are a few ways to keep a traditional rig busy.

Fixing a Perforated Casing with Cement

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Thu, 23 Jan 2020 09:00:00 -0500

If you have perforated casing and the formation no longer produces enough, you must seal the open perforation with cement before you drill down to the next aquifer.

What Drillers Should Know about PDC Bits

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 09:00:00 -0500

Polycrystalline diamond compact (PDC) bits have been around for years. Now, they are just getting popular in the water well industry.

Tactics for Balling on Tricones, Wing Drilling Bits

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 25 Nov 2019 09:00:00 -0500

Reading the signs that the bit sends you becomes crucial to telling what you are drilling in, and how to treat the bit.

Customer Relations Tips for Drilling Contractors

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Thu, 24 Oct 2019 09:00:00 -0400

Effective communication on a customer’s level is critical.

For Drillers, Some Thoughts on Formation Pressure

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 02 Sep 2019 09:00:00 -0400

I am sure everyone has noticed that water wells have vastly different water levels, both while static and pumping. These differences are due to formation pressure.

Pipe Stuck? Common Causes and Solutions for Drillers

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 26 Aug 2019 09:00:00 -0400

If you have drilled for any length of time, sooner or later you are going to stick your drill pipe. Recognizing the different ways drill pipe can get stuck is the first step in prevention — and recovery.

For Drilling Jobs, Consider Inflation when Setting Prices

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Tue, 09 Jul 2019 09:00:00 -0400

In order to stay in business, you have to charge enough to stay in business and make a profit.

Clean, Safe Nuclear Power? Drillers Have a Role

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Wed, 12 Jun 2019 09:00:00 -0400

One of the biggest issues with nuclear power is waste disposal. At present, most nuclear power plants store their waste on site. This is a temporary fix at best.

Installing Water Wells in Sand Aquifers

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Wed, 15 May 2019 09:00:00 -0400

In coastal areas and river bottoms, and most places not in hard rock country, water is often produced from sand.

Tips for Getting from Drilling to Casing

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 09:00:00 -0400

Most of us in the water well industry know our areas well enough to be able to preplan a well and go to the location with the right tools and equipment. But sometimes we run into the unexpected.

What are Good Well Development Strategies?

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:00:00 -0400

The driller has to not only find and identify the producing formations, he also has to minimize damage to the formation.

Tips for Lugging a Bit or Hole Opener

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Thu, 07 Feb 2019 09:00:00 -0500

The other night, I got into a discussion with a group of well drillers that centered around bits or hole openers backing off in broken, rough-running formations. The reasons — and cures — are pretty straightforward, but often overlooked.

The Basics of Casing While Drilling

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Sun, 30 Dec 2018 09:00:00 -0500

Casing while drilling (CWD) has been around in the rotary business for only 20 to 30 years, but cable tool drillers have been using this method since about day one.

For Drilling Contractors, Social Media can be a Resource

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Wed, 05 Dec 2018 09:00:00 -0500

I have a lot of friends on social media in the drilling business. We ask each other questions, give answers to questions and generally interact in ways that help build the industry.

How Does Cement Curing Affect PVC Pipe?

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Wed, 28 Nov 2018 09:00:00 -0500

A friend called the other night to catch up and chew the fat about things in general. I asked him if he was busy, etc., and he told me that he had lost a well that day.

How Do You Price Drilling Jobs?

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 15 Oct 2018 08:30:00 -0400

With costs of materials, labor and fuel going up, it seems that a good look at what we charge might be a smart idea.

Big Cats, Remote Deserts: Adventures in Exploration Drilling

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Sat, 01 Sep 2018 09:00:00 -0400

True exploration drilling is when a driller goes into an area that nobody has drilled before. I have been involved with some true exploration projects over the years, and thought I’d share some of my experiences.

Days Off in the North Dakota Oil Fields

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:00:00 -0400

I usually write about rigs and well-related topics, but this month I’m going to break from the norm a little and tell a story about my friends and I from a few years ago in North Dakota.

Reverse Circulation: Getting Help from Air on Drilling Jobs

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 02 Jul 2018 09:00:00 -0400

Between conventional mud drilling and straight air drilling, there is another method that is well adapted to many parts of the country: reverse circulation drilling.

How Do Drilling Rig Derricks Work?

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 04 Jun 2018 09:00:00 -0400

I got into a discussion the other night about derrick design, the different rigs and the reasons for the designs, so I thought I’d share a little of what I’ve learned over the years.

What if a Water Well Doesn’t Clear During Development?

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Tue, 01 May 2018 08:45:00 -0400

A while back, I wrote about gravel packs and well development, but I have had several calls and emails about wells that wouldn’t clear during development.

Tips to Ready Your Mud Pump for Peak Season

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 00:00:00 -0400

As usual, winter — or the slow season — is the time most drillers take the time to maintain their equipment in order to get ready for the peak season. One of the main parts that usually needs attention is the mud pump.

What Are the Limits of PVC Drilling Pipe?

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Mon, 05 Mar 2018 09:00:00 -0500

PVC casing is inexpensive, reliable, never rusts and, used within limits, will make a lifetime well. However, PVC has one major drawback: It is not as strong as steel pipe.

Frostbite, Hypothermia a Risk on Cold Weather Drilling Jobs

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 09:00:00 -0500

Last month, I talked about cold weather gear to keep everyone warm, safe and productive. This usually works pretty well, but sometimes the weather, or your preparation, doesn’t cooperate.

Tips for Preparing for Cold Weather Drilling Jobs

rockbit8@hotmail.com (Wayne Nash) — Fri, 05 Jan 2018 09:00:00 -0500

This month, I’d like to write about preparing ourselves for winter weather. After all, the rig won’t run itself.