The Driller Podcasts

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will have huge implications for geothermal drilling and HVAC, and the contractors installing these systems. On-again, off-again tax incentives for geothermal and other low- or no-carbon options have broadened and now stretch as far as 2034. That offers some amount of dependability that you can get a return on investments in geothermal. To make sense of it all, we spoke to Jeff Hammond, executive director of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA). 

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 will have huge implications for geothermal drilling and HVAC, and the contractors installing these systems. On-again, off-again tax incentives for geothermal and other low- or no-carbon options have broadened and now stretch as far as 2034. That offers some amount of dependability that you can get a return on investments in geothermal. To make sense of it all, we spoke to Jeff Hammond, executive director of the International Ground Source Heat Pump Association (IGSHPA). 

When companies want to improve their safety edge, they call people like Greg Safran of Pennsylvania-based consultant SafT Integration. We met the “chief SafT officer” at the recent 2022 National Drilling Association convention in Pittsburgh. Safran and SafT Integration help companies with hiring, training, reporting and compliance — the whole safety lifecycle. It's Drilling In-Site episode 47.

When companies want to improve their safety edge, they call people like Greg Safran of Pennsylvania-based consultant SafT Integration. We met the “chief SafT officer” at the recent 2022 National Drilling Association convention in Pittsburgh. Safran and SafT Integration help companies with hiring, training, reporting and compliance — the whole safety lifecycle. It's Drilling In-Site episode 47.

The South Atlantic Jubilee returns July 30-Aug. 1, 2022. The water well, groundwater and geotech trade show and training event brings together professionals from the nine member states and, as it grows, well beyond. We spoke with Mike Floyd, president of the South Atlantic Jubilee, to get a preview of the show and some perspective on drilling and groundwater.

This episode continues our conversation with drilling and geothermal consultant Tom Moffitt. The former sales and product line management at Atlas Copco (now Epiroc) has experience spanning water well, mining and geothermal drilling. We touch on the supply chain, what to consider if you customize your own rig and other topics. It's Drilling In-Site episode 45.

Like any technology, drill rigs evolve. Tom Moffitt had a front-row seat to that evolution in his years in sales and product line management at Atlas Copco (now Epiroc). His experience spans water well, mining and geothermal. We brought him on episode 44 of Drilling In-Site to discuss the innovations in drilling rig technology he's seen in his 20-plus years in the industry.

In episode 43 of Drilling In-Site, the hosts talk to Cameron Fox of Fox Custom Home Builders about hiring drilling companies.

In episode 42 of Drilling In-Site, the hosts talk to Dave Schulenberg, the director of partner states for the National Ground Water Association (NGWA). If you've attended a state groundwater event in one of a half dozen states, you've seen his handiwork. Schulenberg juggles the day-to-day operations of groundwater associations in states as diverse as California, Michigan and Kentucky (as well as others). We brought him on to talk about how he brings it all together.

In episode 41 of Drilling In-Site, we speak with Jeff Lawrence of Enertech Global LLC. We brought him on to hear a manufacturer's view on geothermal, talk renewable trends and discuss how tax and policy incentives affect the whole industry.

Will Keyes works as senior superintendent with Griffin Dewatering, which offers dewatering and groundwater control services across the U.S. He's also a Certified Well Driller with the National Ground Water Association (NGWA) and an accomplished sonic driller. We brought him on Drilling In-Site, episode 40, to talk mentoring, site leadership and molding helpers into capable drillers.

Finding, hiring and retaining skilled-trades talent tops the minds of plenty of employers in drilling, from environmental to water to geotech. For Drilling In-Site, episode 39, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy explore some of these issues with Jessica Alexander, director of talent acquisition for Cascade Environmental.

In Drilling In-Site, episode 38, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy discuss what they look forward to in Groundwater Week 2021.

For Drilling In-Site, episode 37, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy speak with Colt McCarthy, president of Venture Drilling Supply. The Austin, Texas-based company supports clients in water well and mining across the U.S. with new and used drilling equipment, as well as service in the field. We brought Colt on the show to talk about the challenges of keeping drillers up and running.

Longtime columnist John Schmitt has served the water supply industry for decades, first and with rig and hoist and later as president of the National Ground Water Association. For Drilling In-Site episode 36, Hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy paid a visit to Schmitt to hear wisdom from his years in the industry.

For Drilling In-Site, episode 35, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy discuss recent droughts with hydrogeologist Thom Hanna of Johnson Screens.

For Drilling In-Site, episode 34, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy talk to Jake Fletcher about higher education in construction.

For Drilling In-Site, episode 33, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy talk old oil & gas wells and leaking methane with Curtis Shuck, chairman and CEO of the Well Done Foundation. 

Jeremy Baldwin, president of Hawk Drilling Company, talks bringing a longstanding drilling business into the future along with his water well and geothermal experience in episode 7 of Boring Conversations.

Mark Ziegenfuss is a third-generation driller and business leader with Ziegenfuss Drilling Inc. in Ringoes, New Jersey. He has more than 50 years of industry experience. In episode 6 of Boring Conversations, he reflects on notable jobsites like the World Trade Center and New York subway.

Rodney Born is co-owner of Born Well Drilling, a third-generation, family-owned business that started in 1914. He has taken an active role in the water well industry, serving as president of the Minnesota Water Well Association in 2020, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Born shares Minnesota Water Well Association objectives and reflects on his career in episode 5 of Boring Conversations.

For Drilling In-Site, episode 32, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy welcome Rob Meyer of Talon/LPE to discuss environmental drilling. Meyer serves as vice president of drilling operations for Texas-based Talon/LPE, where he oversees drilling and in-situ remediation projects. The company offers a range of environmental services deploying mud and air rotary, direct-push and other techniques. We discuss the latest in environmental, recruitment, driller cross-training and other topics.

In episode 4 of Boring Conversations, Dan Rau, president and owner of Colorado Geothermal Drilling, discusses the slow but sustainable growth of Colorado Geothermal Drilling, even in the face of historic challenges.

On Drilling In-Site, episode 31, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy talk about common issues drillers face from the platform, and how to fix them.

On episode 3 of Boring Conversations, Dale Jenkins, owner of Southern Underground LLC, discusses launching the company in 2019, along with training and consulting in horizontal directional drilling.

On Drilling In-Site, episode 30, hosts Jeremy Verdusco and Brock Yordy bring on Kim Barclay, executive director, South Atlantic JUBILEE. The popular event for drillers in water well, geotechnical and other sectors returns this year after the pandemic derailed many in-person events in 2020. We brought Barclay on to discuss how this year's event has shaped up, and what changes attendees and exhibitors might expect.

In episode 2 of Boring Conversations, we talk to Carin and Frank Meyer, owners of Clearwater Wells. The husband-and-wife team discusses drilling in parts of Alaska most people couldn't dream of getting a rig to.

Dale Scheffler is the owner and president of D.J. Scheffler & Nye, based in Pomona, California. We invited Scheffler to reflect on his more than three decades of drilling experience and to elaborate on what he considers his coolest project thus far: the Grand Canyon Skywalk.