Beginning in the harbour city of Sydney on 17–18 May, the seminar then travelled south to Melbourne on the 24–25 May, before finishing up in beachside Brisbane on 26–27.

The seminar offered advanced technical training for experienced members of the industry. Speakers included Baroid Senior Account Representative Frank Canon, Vermeer Global Trenchless Support Manager Rene Albert, and Prime Horizontal Company President John Teer.

These three have a wealth of experience in the HDD and drilling industry, and were keen to share their expertise with younger engineers.

Rene stressed the importance of providing advanced training on HDD. “Sixty per cent of the project is preparation, and that can only come if you are properly trained. That’s what we try to provide.

“We focus this week specifically with the engineering requirements – what do you need to consider when installing large pipes by means of HDD? And that ranges from machine selection, to pipes stresses, to drilling principles, hole sizes, and hydraulics.”

Day 1 began with Rene testing participants on the basic requirements of HDD pipe installation, and providing a general outline on HDD principles. Next, Frank assumed the podium, and offered several in-depth sessions on drilling fluids. The afternoon was capped off with a session on product stresses delivered by Rene, before John shared his expertise on MWD navigation.

Day 2 offered another full and stimulating schedule of sessions. The morning kicked off with Rene leading sessions on rig capabilities and estimated pullback force, then Frank and Rene joined forces to talk on the general principles of recycling. Rene then discussed large rig jobsite, before John led a session on intersect drilling. The day finished with a case presentation of an actual project, delivered by a different local contractor in each city.

However, time wasn’t only spent in the classroom, and there were plenty on breaks throughout each day, and a dinner after Day 1, for participants to socialise and network.

This was the first time the seminars had been conducted in Australia, and Rene confessed that he was a little apprehensive about speaking to local audiences.

“When I got into this business, the first book I ever read on drilling was the Australian Drillers Guide, so I was very nervous coming here. Because I read the book, and thought these guys must know a lot about HDD, we were all very well prepared and ready to answer any questions that might be here.”

Fortunately, his high expectations of Australian drilling expertise were not disappointed.

“The first day in most cases is silent, but then on the second day they open up and ask a lot of good, detailed questions. So it has been fun to date.”

Rene also cited Australia as one of the most dynamic regions in the trenchless industry and a possible market for future maxi rig sales.

“We were successful this year in selling a few rigs in China, a few rigs in the US, and based on what we see here we think we will probably sell one or two in this area as well.”

However, he emphasised that the seminar event was about education rather than advertising.

“The target of this course is not to talk about the equipment, so we really refrain from making any promotion for the Vermeer line of maxi rigs. But, what I can tell you is we build maxi rig equipment between 150 and 600 metric tonnes, capable of drilling holes up to 1.8 m in diameter, and 2.5 km long.”

Rene was also quietly optimistic about the future of the industry, foreseeing that conditions will remain constant, with growth in some areas.

“The market for machines will go steady, with slight growth in maxi rigs because of the natural gas and all the gasification projects going on around the world. There is a trend to geothermal and a trend to coal seam gas, so we move in that direction.”