Polls

Advancements in technology have led to increased automation in various industries, including mining and mineral exploration. From automated drilling rigs to data collection drones, these innovations promise efficiency but also raise questions about job security and the changing skill sets required. We're curious to hear your thoughts on the future of automation in mining.

In celebration of National Geothermal Month, we're delving into geothermal energy—a sustainable, powerful resource that's gaining traction worldwide. As investments in geothermal energy increase and its role in the green energy transition becomes more prominent, we're curious about your perspective on its potential impact on the drilling industry. What are your thoughts?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco recently wrote that it might not matter anymore whether any one person believes in climate change. What do you think?

The Supreme Court’s recent ruling in the Sackett case could have wide implications for water and groundwater regulation. Have you followed the case?

Contributor Brock Yordy wrote recently about how policy-makers sometimes overlook groundwater. Do you speak up to bring attention to your issues?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco wrote recently about short-term vs. long-term thinking regarding water resources. How do you think about it?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco wrote recently about the idea of a “knowledge base” for small drilling and construction firms. Do you use one?

Our columnist urges business owners to ask “What if?” and sketch out plans for sudden health issues, major equipment failures and other calamities. Do you have back-up plans for important aspects of your business?

Between the Infrastructure and Jobs Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, infrastructure is suddenly getting a lot of attention. Are you investing in equipment in response?

We wanted to check in with readers to hear about their expectations for 2022. How does your company’s business forecast look?

At The Driller, we’ve talked a lot recently about drought in stories, videos and podcasts. Is the area you work in seeing drought conditions this year?

On Ask Brock, episode 124, the host talks stress management on high-stakes drilling projects. What’s your approach?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco wrote recently about tips for working in the summer heat. What’s your approach?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco wrote recently about the value of knowing your business’s long-term financial patterns. How closely do you track financial statements?

Columnist Jake Fletcher wrote recently about the value a shirt for each new hire has in building company culture that keeps crews. What is your company’s policy?

President Biden’s recent American Jobs Plan proposal features plenty of changes to infrastructure in the United States: how it’s funded and what gets emphasized. How do you think it will affect the drilling industry?

Host Brock Yordy on a recent episode of Ask Brock weighs the pros and cons of college for those working in the drilling and water supply industry. Do you have a degree, and has it helped you?

In a recent Drilling In-Site episode, we spoke with MGWA President Buddy Sebastian about the drill rig buying process. How would you describe the process at your company?

In a recent Safety 365 column, Dave Bowers made the case for fall protection for drillers who need it. How good is your jobsite with fall protection?

We thought we’d check in with readers to hear about their expectations for 2021. How does your company’s financial forecast look?

Plugs, muffs and decibels — how good is your jobsite with hearing protection?

On a recent episode of Drilling In-Site, we spoke about the controversy surrounding the use of masks in response to Covid-19. Do you wear a mask on the jobsite?

Recently, columnist Dave Bowers wrote about tips for making the most of toolbox talks with crews. What does your toolbox talk policy look like?

Many drilling contracting companies have lasted for generations, having passed down through hard-working families. Others are just getting started. How many generations can your business claim?

Contributor Brock Yordy recently challenged drillers to six resolutions to expand or improve business this year. Which resolutions did you make?

Recently, editor Jeremy Verdusco wrote about paths for revenue growth for drilling contractors. Which tactics do you use?

Columnist David King wrote recently about close calls, times where safety lapses could have seriously injured or killed him. How many of those have you seen on the job (be honest)?

People are telling us it’s a very busy summer for drilling contractors. Are you seeing a business boom where you are?

In a recent article about safety, Brock Yordy spoke about the long distance for EMS care associated with a lot of drilling jobsites. How far to the nearest hospital is your typical job?

Most big companies track near misses, but it can be spottier at smaller contracting firms. What does your company do?

We thought we’d check in with readers to hear about their expectations for 2019. How does your company’s financial forecast look?

In a recent column, editor Jeremy Verdusco makes the case for folks working tough physical jobs like drilling to take care of themselves. That got us thinking, how many hours do you work?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco argues that, in an employee’s market, star employees should consider striking out on their own. What do you think?

Is it obvious that a ground-source heat pump system also cools? Or could geothermal benefit by turning down the “heat” in the ways we talk about it?

The editor's note in a recent The Driller talks about the challenges of hiring crews in states where marijuana is legal. What has your experience been?

Building a business is hard, and you know you’ve succeeded when it can operate without you being there all the time. Can your business run without your constant input?

We hear all the time at demos and trade shows that it’s tough to find good talent for drilling crews. What do you say to young people thinking about following a career path in this industry?

April’s cover feature spotlighted a company getting a new life out of a refurbed Ingersoll Rand T-4. Does your company refurb, or only buy new?

We recently interviewed a rig manufacturer about their first Tier-4 Final compliant offering. How has Tier-4 Final affected your purchasing decisions?

With 2018 about to begin, what are your company’s business prospects for the new year?

Starting in mid-December, many truck-mounted rigs will have to comply with the new electronic logging device mandate. Is your company ready?

Editor Jeremy Verdusco recently wrote about the negative reputation drilling has with the public, particularly environmentalists. What can the industry do to improve public perceptions of it being a “dirty” technology?

Recently, readers told us in a poll that it’s tough to find job candidates who even want to work in drilling trades. What’s the most common reason you hear from people who don’t want to work in the drilling trades?

A column in May’s National Driler asks, “Where are the candidates for well drilling jobs?” Does your company have a tough time finding good workers?

The Driller editor Jeremy Verdusco recently delivered an update on President Trump’s plan for a $1 trillion in updates to U.S. infrastructure. Are you looking forward to it passing?

Our February 2017 You Know the Drill spotlights a driller easing into retirement and passing his business on to his kids. Do you have a plan for your business when you retire?

The Driller hears a lot about the greying of the drilling industry. What does your company do to attract and retain millennials?

We recently wrote about an oil & gas trainer and his struggles during the downturn. All drilling is cyclical. How does your company handle the lean times?

We interviewed the owner of a geotechnical drilling startup for our September cover story. Have you thought about starting your own drilling business?

For an equipment magazine like The Driller, it’s important to know what goes on in our readers’ heads. When do you make the plunge and buy a new rig or other important equipment?

Recently, editor Jeremy Verdusco wrote on the The Driller blog about the value of diverse revenue streams for drilling contractors. How many different revenue streams does your drilling company have?

For May’s The Driller cover story, columnist Brock Yordy wrote about the importance of emergency planning. What does your company’s emergency plan look like?

For the You Know the Drill feature in April’s The Driller, we spoke with a woman who turned a short-term job in the drilling industry into a more than 20-year career. How did you get into drilling?

March’s The Driller covered a Texas charity in need of help from the drilling community. Have you given money, expertise or support to drilling-related charities?

January’s The Driller covered the practices of aquifer storage and recovery (ASR). Has your company ever worked on an ASR project?

In a December The Driller column, Wayne Nash wrote about an unfortunate rig fatality. In your view, how has jobsite safety changed over the last 10 years?

For November’s The Driller cover story, we spoke with Chuck Valenta at Terracon all about safety and how to talk to your crews about this important issue. Have you ever suffered an injury on a jobsite?

For September’s The Driller, columnist Brock Yordy profiled Shawver Well Drilling Inc., a company that shifted to an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) to help the owner retire. Do you have retirement plans?

In our July issue, we got insight from a former McEllhiney lecturer about talking to clients about water well design. How do you approach the subject?

Winter doesn’t seem to want to leave. How’s your crew spending it?

In January, The Driller columnist David S. Bardsley talks about on-the-job communication for drilling contractors. What category do your communication skills fall into?

 Columnist John Schmitt wrote in November’s issue about using sieve analysis to pick a correct screen size for water wells. How do you pick your screen size?  

We recently published an open letter from a drilling contractor to President Obama on his energy policy. Matthew Winfield took issue with the president saying “we can’t drill our way out” to energy independence and a healthy climate. What do you think?

June’s The Driller issue featured a story about a water well in Oregon that was a whopping 4,045 feet deep. Click here to read the article from the June issue.