A well drilling story from the customer's perspective.
Ms.
Mollie McManigal from Ridgecrest, Calif., called me, and asked me to recommend
a good well driller in her area. Being from Virginia Beach, Va., I didn’t know
a driller who I could recommend near her location. However, I did recommend
that she look on the Internet for some drillers in her area, call them, and
then ask some questions about wells. By their answers, she then could determine
the best choice. She followed my instructions; Ms. McManigal was impressed with
Shasta Drilling Inc. (http://shastadrilling.com), Redding, Calif., and its
sales presentation over the telephone.
At my request, the following was written by Ms. McManigal, and sent to me to be
published in National Driller. I think we should share stories about quality
drillers. I hope that one day I will get to meet the McManigals, and visit
Shasta Drilling Inc.
Her Story
Mike Colbert of Shasta Drilling Inc. is the all-in-one conqueror of the well
drilling experience – the one who leads you to victory, not to a box of
Kleenex.
I first spoke to Mike when my husband and I were looking for property to
purchase around the Redding, Calif., area for retirement. We knew we eventually
were going to need a well driller, and figured it was going to take time to
find someone we could fully trust – someone who is capable of overcoming the
obstacles that are frequently encountered in the well-drilling business. (I had
a complete list from off the Internet, and I did telephone everyone I could get
in touch with.)
Mike offered invaluable information as to where to purchase property. Some
areas had little chance of water. Other areas had good water, but knowing how
deep to drill was important because the water could be lost to empty volcanic
caverns below. In some places, drilling too deep would ruin a well with salt
water. His extensive familiarity with the area was freely shared with us.
Yes, he had the experience, but it was his business practices that sold us. He
has a strict requirement that someone is present at the time of the drilling.
If you don’t show, he goes home. It was easy to understand why he is never
nervous with an audience.
Mike works together with his son, Gavin, and they run an impressive operation
with exacting methods – no shortcuts or sloppiness allowed.
Not only do they keep you well informed of their every step with constant and
open communication, but you get a real education at the same time: This is the
drive shoe. This is the steel casing, and it needs to make a solid connection
into the bedrock.
We watched as they pounded a full 60 feet down into the earth. Mike does a
great job when he welds the pieces together, too. (My dad was a welder, and
good beading on the joints was what he always stressed.) Each drill stem is
20-feet long, and they want you to keep track of how deep they drill.
They drilled, and at 180 feet down, we hit water. Mike had done the water
witching himself, and he delivered. It was a great day.
ND