I’m looking forward to the upcoming 2014 “Grass Roots” South Atlantic Well Drillers Jubilee from July 26-28 in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
In 2013, I had my doubts about the Jubilee after many friends told me they preferred Myrtle Beach to Virginia Beach. I suspect those drilling friends will welcome the return to Myrtle Beach.
Many times, I’ve been contracted by companies to critique their business, crews and equipment. I spend time in the office, I travel with the field crews for a few days and then I provide an evaluation to the company.
In 2002, I was contracted by a religious organization in Virginia to teach cable tool well drilling to the Navajo people in northeastern Arizona. They commissioned me to locate a 22-W Buckeye drill and tools, purchase it and have it shipped to Tonalea, Ariz.
In the '50s, we were drilling oil wells in southeastern Kansas. It was a convoy when we moved equipment to another drill site. The drill usually took the lead, then the next most likely to have a problem followed. The pickups tailed behind to assist with any problems.
About 15 years ago, I was contracted to be the qualifier for a prospective Colorado well drilling company. Once licensed, I would have been acting president of the drilling company until the owners could qualify to get their own license.
I was contracted to fly to California as an expert witness for an attorney who was suing a well contractor because the well casing had been damaged due to an attempt to drive a dropped pump in the well.
If you are a currently licensed well driller in any state, I recommend that you keep it current and active even if you retire. You may be able to contract as the licensed driller for a company or unlicensed driller until he/she/they can get licensed. I am a licensed well drilling contractor in Arizona, North Carolina and Virginia, even though I haven’t physically operated a drill in several years.
