Latest News
October 2012 - First Recipient of the BDA Derek Oakes Trophy
At the BDA Dinner Dance held in Harrogate on 13th October, Antonio Vieira of Costain Environmental was presented with the Derek Oakes Trophy for his outstanding dedication and hard work as a apprentice on the BDA's Land Drilling Apprenticeship Scheme. Antonio, a dynamic sampling operative, had completed the 2-year scheme earlier in the year with the award of NVQ Land Drilling, Lead Driller. The newly introduced Trophy was in honour of Derek Oakes (1925-1998) who was a major figure in the UK's drilling equipment manufacturing sector; had contributed much to the BDA from its foundation, and was committed to helping and encouraging younger people in the industry. Antonio is pictured on left receiving the Trophy from BDA's Chairman John Grainger.
March 2012 - Coal Authority issues new Guidance on Hazardous Gases
On 30th March 2012 The Coal Authority published new good practice guidance on managing hazardous gases when drilling or piling in and around coal seams, former mine workings and unworked coal. The extensive guidance, primarily prepared by a working group comprising Coal Authority, Health & Safety Executive and the BDA, is essential reading for clients, consultants and contractors engaged in ground investigation, ground stabilisation, waterwell, geothermal drilling, piling and other activities where coal or its workings lie underground.
Guidance on Managing the Risk of Hazardous Gases when Drilling or Piling near Coal
Coal Authority Press Release 27th March 2012
January 2012 - BDA to lead Section 2 and 3 revision of BS 5930
BSI Committee B526/3 has invited BDA to lead the revision of major sections of BS 5930:1999 + A2:2010 Code of practice for Site Investigations. BDA will be looking after this process for Section 2 Ground Investigations and Section 3 Field Investigations. A BDA Working Party, reporting to B526/3, will be examining the current text; identifying necessary changes and additions, and seeking contributions from others who have volunteered their services. More information on BS 5930 is available here.
October 2011 - BDA awarded its biggest ever grant from CITB ConstructionSkills
BDA has been awarded a substantial grant by the Sector Skills Council, CITB ConstructionSkills, for a 19-month project termed 'Land Drilling - Geothermal Drilling, Qualifications, Training and Skills Development'. This is to support the UK land drilling industry in meeting the challenge of engaging in the emerging geothermal drilling market. Full details are available here.
September 2011 - BDA holding six regional Seminars
During September through December 2011 the BDA is holding 6 seminars on Ground Source Heat Installations in London, Solihull, Manchester, Glasgow, Bristol and Newcastle. These are free for attendees and further details are on our BDA Meetings page.
June 2011 - HSE releases its official drill rig "entanglement" policy
The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) has released on its website its official guidance to HSE Inspectors as to what it expects of the UK drilling industry regarding protecting personnel from entanglement in rotating parts (drill string rotation). The information overrides any previous guidance issued by BDA (but is consistent with BDA - HSE understandings and BDA publication) and any interpretation / guidance issued elsewhere. BDA has been pressing for some time, since the issue was raised in 1999, that HSE fully defines its position. There should be no doubt as to where HSE now sits. Read HSE's policy here.
June 2011 - BDA exhibited at GEODRILLING 2011
The Geodrilling Show & Conference was held at East of England Showground, Peterborough, on 7th & 8th June 2011. BDA, which was a sponsor, enjoyed meeting its members and many others from the industry both UK based and from overseas. Much interest was shown in the benefits of becoming a member of the BDA, the UK's trade association for the drilling industry and through which the industry is represented, promoted and national standards are developed.
Conference papers can be downloaded by clicking here
March 2011 - BDA awarded ConstructionSkills grant for Geothermal Drilling
BDA has been awarded a substantial grant from ConstructionSkills, the sector skills training body, to develop a UKAS certification scheme for enterprises that carry out geothermal drilling for ground source heat pump installations. The grant project also includes holding regional briefing seminars towards the end of 2011 to which all those with an interest in geothermal drilling will be invited.
The grant award is a major achievement and will enable the BDA to significantly provide much needed assistance and recognition to professional geothermal drilling companies.
March 2011 - Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) to increase demand for drilling
On March 10th 2011 UK government announced the long awaited RHI details. The RHI tariff scheme, which is supported by £860m of public funding, will provide payments for 20 years for eligible renewable heat technologies. Government confirmed that ground source heat pumps (GSHP) is one of the supported technologies. Geothermal drilling will benefit as a result. For GSHP installations <100 kWth the figure is 4.4p per kWh. Greater than 100 kWth it is 3.0p per kWh. These figures will be adjusted for inflation year on year.
Once Parliament has passed the necessary legislation in May, RHI will be rolled out in two phases. Phase 1 for the industrial, commercial and public sector (with some limited support of £15m for the domestic sector in the form of installation grants - 'premium payments') is due to start in July 2011. Phase 2 for the domestic sector will coincide with introduction of the 'Green Deal' due in October 2012.
The news is welcomed by the BDA. It removes the uncertainties about RHI. While domestic installers will be disappointed with the RHI delay to October 2012, the focus on Phase 1 in the non-domestic area (which almost invariably utilises boreholes) will provide a boost for geothermal drilling. Read all details of the government announcement here:
January 2011 - New British Standards
In October 2010 the latest amendment to BS 5930 was published - BS 5930:1999 + Amendment 2:2010 Code of practice for site investigations. This replaces all previous editions of this Standard and is Eurocode compliant.
In January 2011 British Standards Institute (BSI) published 2 new Standards (BS 22475-2:2011 Geotechnical investigation and testing – Sampling methods and groundwater measurements – Part 2: Qualification criteria for enterprises and personnel, and BS 22475-3:2011 Geotechnical investigation and testing – Sampling methods and groundwater measurements – Part 3: Conformity assessment of enterprises and personnel by third party). Both these Standards require that UK geotechnical enterprises and their personnel (including drilling operatives) undergo third party audit. Consult the Standards which are available from bsi shop (http://shop.bsigroup.com).
November 6th 2010 - BDA Dinner Dance
Held at the MacDonald Burlington Hotel, Birmingham, this yet again proved that the BDA can party. Some 180 members and guests enjoyed a marvellous evening and raised £4,126.84 for the Midlands based, Acorns Children's Hospice Trust. BDA Chairman, Geoff Prudhoe, spoke about the successes of 2010 and the ongoing progress of the BDA. Despite a fire alarm on which we all had to evacuate during the meal, the evening was a great success and we look forward to next year's event in Gateshead - Newcastle.
October 2010 - EN 791 Drill Rig Safety Standard
From this point the process is one of a public enquiry stage in which each European country has a period to examine the draft, comment on it and give its vote. This enquiry stage ends on 24 May 2011 after which the European Committee will reconvene in July 2011 to examine all comments and work towards a final draft (which has to be ready by 23 January 2012). There then follows a 6-month period to 10 July 2012 for final voting to take place. Should this vote be positive the new Standard will be published in January 2013.
It is fully expected that there will be many comments on the 1st draft. In UK the opportunity to view this draft will occur shortly through the relevant BSI Committee. BDA sits on this committee and will continue to inform and involve BDA members as to what help they can provide.
Also see Standards.
August 2010 - BDA developing Land Drilling Sector Accreditation Scheme
August 2010 - New Guidance / Standards for Ground Source Heating
June 2010 - BDA AGM & Financial Results
The members enjoyed a riverside location, lunch and a very informative AGM about the BDA's activities. David Allan finished his 2 years of being BDA Chairman and welcomed Geoff Prudhoe as the new Chairman. The guest speaker, Keith Banton of Coal Authority, gave a fascinating and descriptive talk about the legacy of coal mining which continues to involve the drilling industry in shaft location and treatment of both shafts & old workings. He emphasised the co-operation of Coal Authority and BDA in developing guidance for hazardous gas situations, whereby drilling could possibly create such gases and/or drive such created or existing mine gases beyond the site to emerge as a hazard to adjacent property and the public.
BDA AGM approved the Association's financial accounts for 2009. A loss of £13,644 was reported on a turnover of £181,149. By good planning in previous years to build up sufficient reserves for difficult times, the Association has weathered this loss. It has thus protected its members from any increased fees in 2009 and 2010, continued its support to members and progressed with an ever increasing activity level. There have been no cutbacks - the opposite is the case for there are more issues today than ever before. BDA will however review its ongoing financial position to ensure that progress is maintained.