The Driller Podcast

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.

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.