Drilling Industry Top Stories

New Lead Driller? Brock Yordy Says Growth Matters More Than the Title

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Fri, 19 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Brock Yordy shares practical advice for new lead drillers on earning trust, managing ego, trusting instincts, and developing the next generation of drilling professionals.

Geo X: The Generation Bridging the Energy Transition

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 15:00:00 -0400

As deep geothermal grabs headlines and investment dollars, the geothermal exchange community is quietly delivering scalable results today. Drawing parallels to Generation X, one industry veteran makes the case for "Geo X," a movement built on proven technology, pragmatic innovation, and a determination to claim its place in the energy transition.

The silent safety hazard? Neglecting the mental health of our drilling and construction workforce

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 18 Jun 2026 06:36:08 -0400

The idea of leave the drama at home and get back to work is the standard. But how's that working out for today's tradesmen?

The Global Pitch

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Tue, 16 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

As nations race toward decarbonization targets, geothermal developers are turning to advanced drilling, subsurface modeling, and innovative well designs to unlock reliable baseload power at scale.

Parker’s Story: A toast to a dear friend in drilling

Mon, 15 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

One of the toughest guys to ever do it, Bob Parker is a cautionary tale for the rest of us

The Geothermal Machine: Drilling out of our old energy ways

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Thu, 11 Jun 2026 06:01:38 -0400

When it comes to geothermal energy, we are aiming for mass global deployment, but a revolution of this scale requires a starting line.

What’s it like to be in the business of drilling? We ask an unlikely face in a growing industry.

kgabriel@bnpmedia.com (Kerith Gabriel) — Tue, 09 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

He came to drilling with questions, not experience. Two years later, Gerard Sylvain says humility, hard work, and the right team made all the difference.

From power generation to water supply, here’s what the impending El Niño can expose

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Fri, 05 Jun 2026 16:30:00 -0400

El Niño is coming. Brock Yordy explains the impacts on groundwater, drilling job sites, and global water infrastructure.

Fueling the fight over the future of Michigan's water? A $16 billion AI data center

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:41:08 -0400

Can the Great Lakes State afford AI's thirst for water? It's the question Michigan residents and others are asking.

Looking at shallow geothermal from a 'low temperature, high impact' perspective

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 05:00:00 -0400

Two leaders in shallow geothermal react to the recent Hill Day, the industry’s annual fly-in to Washington, D.C.

EPA announces $2.9 billion project to eradicate lead-based piping still used today in drinking water.

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 28 May 2026 06:38:05 -0400

The EPA says it's prepared for the long haul when it comes to providing cleaner water.

Is $39 million enough to clean up PFAS contamination in Pennsylvania? The EPA thinks so.

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 28 May 2026 06:00:00 -0400

This new wave of funding specifically targets drinking water contamination in vulnerable communities.

Three takeaways from May's EPA budget hearing

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Thu, 21 May 2026 06:33:28 -0400

The agency was back at Capitol Hill earlier this month for another high-stakes hearing. Here are the big points and what affects the drilling industry

The science of creating stable boreholes, explained

Thu, 21 May 2026 06:00:43 -0400

Knowing the right way could mean the difference between a clear compact borehole wall and needing to rethink the whole process entirely.

Pennsylvania is trying to solve its orphaned well problem. But it's still trying to figure out just how many there are.

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Wed, 13 May 2026 11:44:37 -0400

The abandoned well crisis in the Keystone State continues to grow as cleanup efforts struggle to keep pace.

Three bits: Revamping preconstruction, geothermal’s revival of orphan wells, and more

Wed, 13 May 2026 11:08:57 -0400

Each week, The Driller looks at three newsworthy items affecting the work you do. Consider it your two-minute news update for the drilling community and the industry at-large.

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.

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.

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.

A Church’s Geothermal Experiment Could Pave the Way for Projects Across New York

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

High costs, crowding and less-than-ideal land conditions make geothermal installations in downstate New York difficult—but not impossible.

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.

Financing Thermal Energy Networks: Capital Flow Determines Whether Rigs Move

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 13:00:00 -0400

The market for thermal energy networks is expanding rapidly, driven by decarbonization mandates, infrastructure investment, and innovative financing models.

The TEN Playbook: Load, Risk, and ROI

Wed, 25 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Drilling costs more upfront than rooftop boilers and chillers. But TENs shift the financial equation from CapEx to long-term OpEx, compliance, and asset value.

Navigating the New Grid: The Thermal Energy Movement

brock@thedriller.com (Brock Yordy) — Tue, 24 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Geothermal uncertainty has gone beyond subsurface dynamics into the deep, dark depths of legislation and policymaking.

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.

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.

$889M Western Water Investment Moves Forward—But Bigger Questions Remain

johnnyoldaniwords@gmail.com (John Oldani) — Tue, 17 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In the West, water has never been just about infrastructure—it’s about priorities, tradeoffs, and how a region plans for an increasingly uncertain future.