Man Killed In Drilling Accident
Miscellaneous
Video: AMS, Inc – Geotechnical sampling equipment to drill rigs
AMS makes samplers ranging from hand augers to sonic drill rigs and direct push rigs for geotechnical and environmental sampling. This video gives an overview of the origins of their company in 1942 and their […]
In Memoriam
Drill Rig Fatality – Removed
This post was removed at the request of the victim’s family. Please see a subsequent apology.
Failures
Drilled shaft rig falls into hole – Iowa
On May 15 a drilled shaft rig operated by Mid America Drilling Corp was nearly swallowed by the 9-ft diameter hole it was drilling for a cell tower foundation near Harlan, Iowa. Fortunately nobody was injured and the truck did not suffer any significant damage.
In Arizona, the standard of practice is to use a temporary surface casing to prevent dangerous failures like that. I once saw pictures of a drilling contractor superindendent almost get sucked into a collapsing shaft, even with the temporary casing. Pretty scary stuff. Source: Harlan Tribune. (Photo by Samantha Bruck)