Point MacKenzie drilling operation an eye-opener

On Oct. 22, middle and high school students from Glacier View School had the chance to visit an exploratory drilling site near Point McKenzie to coincide with their geology classes.

A company called Linc Energy is making the first exploratory effort in the area to find natural gas. The students got to see the crew of the exploratory drill station in action as well as get a tour of the completely mobile facility with workers telling what they were doing and describing what goes into drilling. The students gained an understanding of the company and drill rig, as well as the importance of receiving a first hand account of such operations.

One point of fascination for students was the concept of mud being engineered. Many wondered what was so special about mud. As they came to find out, engineering mud for a drill rig is actually a rather technical job. This engineered mud plays vital roles in the drilling process of lubricating the bit, suppressing ground pressure within the hole and bringing the chewed up material, or cuttings, to the surface. The mud must be able to maintain all these duties and remain environmentally safe at the same time. As a result, the mud is constantly being measured and adjusted.

The hole was 130 feet deep when the students arrived, and a distance of 40 feet was drilled while the students were on site. This greatly impressed many, especially an eighth-grader whose family runs a water well drilling business. When asked to guess how long the exploratory process would probably take, most students widely overshot the actual figures. The bit touched the ground six months after the drill sight was selected. Twenty-one days of drilling is expected to allow the drill rig to reach its goal of 7,000 feet, where workers expect to hit volcanic rock. Saying the process goes quickly does not mean processes are skipped or overlooked. The company has it together and is serious about what it does.

Linc Energy, although based in Australia, is using and benefiting many local businesses in the operation of its project. For example, the cuttings from the well, which are tested to be sure they are environmentally safe, are taken to the landfill to cover over filled portions, finishing and reclaiming the area. Linc’s No. 1 priority is safety and the employees often go above and beyond the strict regulations they must follow. The company takes its tasks seriously, and observing them in action was both impressive and encouraging. Witnessing the action first-hand overrode preconceived notions that such operations are a dangerous stab in the dark. After being on location, one cannot deny the commitment to safe, monitored progress.

The drill station is purely exploratory. Whether or not gas is found will not be known until the findings of the exploration well have been reported after the drilling process is completely finished. If nothing is found, the area will almost immediately and completely be reclaimed to nature. However, there is a large possibility the local market may be fed if a discovery is made.

The prospect of natural gas being developed in this area greatly excited many of the students from both an economic and an involvement standpoint. Ventures such as this aid our economy and fund our state. Many feel more directly connected to the development of our resource-rich land after being on sight and observing just one example of an effort to safely and responsibly pursue natural resources.

Ben Gerwig is a senior at Glacier View School.