Peter Sweeny, building on Robert Beart's earlier design, made a huge advancement in rotary drill technology, enabling almost continuous drilling. His new design also improved on hole cleaning. .
Charles Burleigh, John W. Brooks, and Stephen F. Gates patented a mechanical drill meant to be used on the Hoosac tunnel: the compressed air Burleigh drill. The tunnel spurred several innovations in drilling technology, including the earlier Couch/Fowle drill.. .
Edward A.L. Roberts was awarded a patent in November 1866 for what would become known as the Roberts Torpedo, a device for increasing. Launched in 1954 and capable of drilling wells in water up to 40 feet in depth, Mr. Charlie was the world’s first mobile offshore drilling platform. It was designated a National Historic Landmark in December 2024. Photo courtesy Murphy Oil.
[pdf] Water well drillers sink wells into the earth to tap natural water supplies. They drill agricultural wells for irrigation, commercial or industrial wells, and wells for homes that are not served by municipal water sy.
[pdf] NOV's two main predecessors, Oilwell Supply and National Supply, were founded in 1862 and 1893, respectively. These two companies manufactured and distributed pumps and derricks. In 1930, acquired Oilwell Supply. In 1958, merged with National Supply. In 1987, National Supply merged with USS Oilwell to become "National Oilwell". Varco was founded as Abegg and Reinhold Company by Walter Abegg and Baldwin Reinhold i.
[pdf]