The Driller

🌍 What’s a CO₂ Injection Well — and Why Is Texas Making Headlines? The EPA just issued Texas' first-ever Class VI permit for carbon dioxide injection wells. 💡 So what is a CO₂ injection well? It's part of carbon capture and storage (CCS) — a tech that grabs CO₂ from industrial sites or even the air and stores it deep beneath the Earth in rock formations to keep it out of the atmosphere. This project, tied to Occidental and BlackRock’s Stratos direct air capture venture, is one of over 40 CCS efforts waiting for approval in Texas — now a national hotspot for this tech. ⚠️ But not everyone’s cheering. Critics are raising red flags over: • Seismic risks in injection zones • Environmental oversight gaps • Uncertainty around clean energy tax incentives • The push for state control over permitting As Texas moves full speed into the CCS era, one thing’s clear: the road ahead will require innovation and accountability. #CarbonCapture #CO2Storage #CCS #Energy #ClimateSolutions #EPA #TexasEnergy https://lnkd.in/gf-zde_X

♻️ Drilling Waste Management: It’s Not Glamorous, But It’s Booming The global drilling waste management market is on track to grow from $4.7B in 2023 to $8.2B by 2033, driven by stricter environmental standards and smarter tech. 🌍 Thanks to tech like centrifuges and thermal treatments, we’re getting better at turning yesterday’s mess into tomorrow’s savings. Asia-Pacific is leading the charge, with India proving that strict regulations can actually spark innovation. Meanwhile, big players like SLB, Halliburton, and Baker Hughes are racing to clean up—profitably. Sustainability is serious business. Even if it still smells a little. #OilAndGas #WasteManagement #DrillingTech https://lnkd.in/gdUqSzhG

#FunFactFriday 💧🛠️ Did you know? According to Guinness World Records, the deepest water bore ever drilled reached an astonishing 7,320 feet (2,231 meters) deep. This record was set by the Stensvad Water Well 11-W1, drilled by the Great Northern Drilling Co. Inc. in Rosebud County, Montana, USA, back in 1961. That's over 1.3 miles straight down—deeper than the height of five Empire State Buildings stacked atop one another! 👷♂️💦 #WaterWellDrilling #Groundwater #CleanWater #DrillingIndustry #WellDone #HydroHeroes

🎙 Voices from the Field: Drillers on Tough Jobs, Tech, and What It Takes Drilling is more than metal and mud—it’s a test of grit, teamwork, and experience. In our latest piece, we talk with drillers Michael LeTourneau and Tad Thornton about the toughest jobs they've faced, how technology is changing the game, and their advice for the next generation. From -20°F winters in Colorado to the roaring steam of geothermal wells, these stories give a raw look into one of the toughest jobs out there. 💡 “No amount of tech can replace a roughneck who’s been in the trenches.” – LeTourneau Automation and AI are helping, but it still takes boots-on-the-ground skill to get the job done. And for those considering a career on the rigs? Come ready to work, learn, and commit. 👷♂️ “Hard work pays off.” – Thornton Read the full story to hear firsthand from the people powering the industry. #Drilling #FieldVoices #EnergyWorkforce #TechInTheField #RigLife #SkilledTrades #OilAndGas #Geothermal https://lnkd.in/g4QrxVwr

🚨 U.S. Water Utilities Under Cyber Threat 🚨 Despite recent improvements, most U.S. water and wastewater systems still fall short on cybersecurity, warns WaterISAC’s Jennifer Lyn Walker. 💧 Hackers — including nation-states and cybercriminals — are targeting vulnerabilities in the sector. In 2024 alone, nearly 100 cyber incidents were tracked. 🛑 Physical attacks are also on the rise — from arson and sabotage to drone surveillance and threats to utility workers. Cybersecurity isn’t optional. It’s everyone’s responsibility. Even small utilities are at risk — and there are resources to help. #CyberSecurity #WaterCrisis #InfrastructureAlert #WaterISAC https://lnkd.in/gzswfbju

⚒️ Spring Creek Mine Extended: Energy Win or Climate Setback? The U.S. has approved a 16-year extension for Montana’s Spring Creek Mine, allowing NTEC to extract nearly 40M more tons of coal — supporting 280 jobs and boosting energy independence. 💬 Supporters say it’s a win for U.S. energy and the economy. 🌍 Critics warn it undermines climate goals — coal jobs have dropped from 170K in 1986 to 42K in 2024. Short-term relief or long-term risk? #CoalMining #EnergyPolicy #ClimateDebate #SpringCreekMine #JobsVsEnvironment https://lnkd.in/g_EyFGDG

🚨 A new #ExecutiveOrder fast-tracks U.S. mineral production to strengthen supply chains and national security. 🔧 Industry groups like SME publicly applauded the move as long overdue—but critics warn it could sideline environmental safeguards and local voices. Is it possible to balance speed, sustainability, and safety? ⛏️🌎💬 #Mining #NationalSecurity #Environment #CriticalMinerals #Policy https://lnkd.in/g_MxYEGj

🌍🔥 The Future of Clean Energy Starts Here! 🔥🌍 In the latest episode of The Driller Newscast, host Brock Yordy dives deep with John Ciovacco, president of Aztech Geothermal and co-chair of the 2025 NY-GEO Conference in Saratoga Springs, NY. Get the inside scoop on: 🔹 Earth Day drilling demos with BOCES students 🔹 Keynotes from top regulators in NY & MA 🔹 A must-hear panel on IRA tax credits & geothermal policy Discover how New York is leading the charge in clean heating & cooling—and why this event is a can’t-miss for anyone in the geothermal space. 🌱💡 🎧 Listen now and get inspired: https://lnkd.in/g3jCBH_b #Geothermal #CleanEnergy #NYGEO2025 #Sustainability #TheDrillerNewscast

U.S. Mineral Independence: Urgent Need or Strategic Overreach? This week, Liberty Star Minerals Chairman Pete O’Heeron took to Capitol Hill, urging lawmakers to boost domestic critical mineral production — vital for EVs, clean energy, and defense. 🗣 “We can’t rely on foreign nations for the materials that power our economy and protect our nation,” he said after meetings with top Congressional offices. Liberty Star’s Hay Mountain Project in AZ is part of the solution — but questions remain: ✅ Can we scale fast enough? ❌ What about environmental and community impacts? The debate is heating up — and so is the demand for answers. #CriticalMinerals #USMining #CleanEnergy #NationalSecurity #MineralPolicy #EnergyTransition https://lnkd.in/gycDVagE

⚖️ Tension is rising over new PFAS testing rules in Michigan — and it’s putting a pause on key dredging projects across the state’s harbors. EGLE, Michigan’s environmental agency, now requires testing for PFAS in dredged sediment, citing serious public health risks. But without clear guidelines on what levels are acceptable or how to dispose of contaminated material, dredging has stalled — including in Grand Haven, with 17+ other sites possibly next. Federal officials, local leaders, and lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are worried about the economic fallout: fewer dredging projects, disrupted shipping routes, and rising costs for businesses. Still, others argue this is a necessary step to protect long-term public and environmental health from “forever chemicals.” EGLE says it’s committed to finding a workable path forward with federal partners. https://lnkd.in/g8uKWPYv #PFAS #GreatLakes #MichiganPolicy #Dredging #EnvironmentalRegulations #ShippingImpact