Underground Infrastructure - September 2023 - 20

Directional Drilling
ing creating a rod loader to simplify the
process of handling drill rods and developing
a new standard in drill rods with
the
single-piece
forged-steel Vermeer
Firestick® drill rod, which helped increase
the successful bore completion rate of
horizontal directional drilling.
Mary understood that the Vermeer
team was helping to create more than
just a new utility installation machine.
They were helping to develop a brand
new market, and to do that, they needed
to educate and train Vermeer dealers and
contractors throughout the world. Mary
prioritized local in-the-field training,
which helped prove that HDD was a viable
installation method in a wide range
of ground conditions. Operator manuals
and new safety features, such as remote
lockout, were also introduced on Vermeer
drills during this time period.
At the turn of the decade, the HDD
market was significantly impacted by a
downturn in the Internet technology sector.
But Mary continued to emphasize the
importance of continuing to develop new
product innovation and forge partnerships
with other companies to help grow
the market as a whole. Through Mary's
diligent efforts and dedication to the
HDD market and other industry pioneers,
the industry continues to excel today.
Curtis Howard Allen (deceased)
Curtis Howard Allen was
born March 3, 1942, in
Laurel, Miss., and grew
up in Heidelberg, Miss.
He spent most of his
childhood
and
teenage
years working at his family-owned business,
Waukaway Springs, a renowned
fresh water playground in Mississippi.
After high school Curtis attended Mississippi
State University where he played
football (full-back) and earned an engineering
degree. Curtis worked primarily
in the oilfield until the early 1990s when
he, along with Frank Cannon, served as
key contributors to the application of
drilling mud for the HDD industry. Curtis
was a regional sales manager for Baroid
(Halliburton) and traveled the world
(often joined by his wife Eva Ann) doing
mud schools and drilling fluids training.
He was active in the Distribution
Contractors Association and the Directional
Crossing Contractors Association.
He was a member of Immaculate Conception
Catholic Church and an active
member in the Knights of Columbus.
Jim Agnew
Like many of the early
horizontal directional
drillers, Jim Agnew started
his work career in the
West Texas oilfields. In
the summers at his childhood
home of Crane, Texas, he worked
as a roustabout saving money for college.
He graduated from Angelo State
University in 1969. While in college, Jim
continued to work in oilfield services to
pay for his college.
After
Field tested and proven for over 34+ years.
Wherever extensive corrosion conditions exist, the
SewerGard® 210 System
can offer long term asset protection.
college, Jim spent 10 years
coaching athletics in West Texas before
he returned to oilfields to make a better
living and support his growing family. After
four years selling oil field chemicals,
Jim switched companies to begin downhole
tooling sells for directional drilling
for Wilson Down Hole. After 10 years, he
again was hired at Smith International's
directional drilling division and worked
in well planning for four years.
His life changed dramatically when in
info@sauereisen.com | sauereisen.com
20 SEPTEMBER 2023 | UndergroundInfrastructure.com
1993, Jim transferred to Houston and,
along with Frank McKenney and Brent
Lane, formed a new drilling division for
Smith International that, among other
things, was instrumental in bringing larger
directional drilling mud motors from
the oilfield. The trio left Smith to join a
business venture with Sharewell. Shortly
after, the started their own company, INROCK
Directional Drilling. Jim spent 30
years vice president of operations, teaching
contractors how to use mud motors
and hole openers. The company is still going
strong today. UI
http://www.sauereisen.com http://www.UndergroundInfrastructure.com
Underground Infrastructure - September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Infrastructure - September 2023
