William “Bill” Rickard
President
billrickard@geothermalresourcegroup.com
Bill Rickard has over 30 years’ experience in drilling engineering and consulting. He specializes in project management, drilling management, rig supervision, troubleshooting, well workovers and problem well diagnosis. He has an established record of reducing costs through innovative engineering, and successfully managing geothermal exploration and drilling programs.
Bill’s experience, working as a drilling engineer in the US and overseas, has given him the ability to communicate well with both management and hands in the field. He has also used his knowledge to develop and teach geothermal drilling technology and other technical courses, and conduct geothermal research and development efforts.
Prior to starting his own company as an independent geothermal consultant, Bill worked almost 15 years for Unocal Geothermal. He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering, and has also completed multiple geothermal reservoir engineering, drilling safety and management training courses. Bill is a registered Professional Engineer (California No. P001722) and holds other professional certifications. He has served on the Geothermal Resources Council Board of Directors, and is a member of the American Association of Drilling Engineers, and Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Abraham "Sam" Samuel
Drilling Engineer
samabraham@geothermalresourcegroup.com
Sam Samuel provides design of geothermal wells and pre-drilling programs. He also acts as a drilling supervisor on-site during drilling and workover operations. Sam maintains well records and analyzes drilling data for efficient drilling practices, and makes recommendations to clients’ management teams regarding drilling and operations.
His experience includes geothermal engineering and well design work in New Zealand, supervision of geothermal mudlogging operations in Indonesia, and work on high pressure and high temperature wells throughout Southeast Asia. He also has experience coordinating and implementing HSE policies during drilling operations, maintaining a RIMBase database, and preparing and analyzing final well reports.
Sam holds a Master of Science degree in Petroleum Technology and a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry as well as a Drilling Supervisor Certificate - Surface BOP Stack. He has also completed Mud Engineering School and a Drilling Practices Course. He is a member of the Geothermal Resources Council, Society of Petroleum Engineers and the American Association of Drilling Engineers.
Wendell "W.T." Howard
Drilling Engineer
wendellhoward@geothermalresourcegroup.com
W.T. Howard has been a contract drilling engineer for many years, working in geothermal resource development. He has experience with designing drilling programs, supervising drilling and completion of geothermal wells, and managing drilling operations, while supervising day-to-day activities on location. W.T. also has extensive well testing experience in geothermal operations, and experience as a geothermal production/reservoir engineer.
W.T. has worked in numerous areas, both in the US and overseas. He has written project specifications, forecast and managed budgets, performed cost analyses, written procedures, trained drilling engineers, and supervised the installation of geothermal turbines. His extensive background in all phases of geothermal projects gives him the ability to manage all aspects of clients’ drilling programs.
W.T. holds an IADC drilling certificate for Drilling Supervisor - Surface Stack and a Bachelor of Science degree in Mining Engineering. He is a member of the Geothermal Resources Council and Society of Petroleum Engineers.
Alan Bailey
Geologist/Coordinating Supervisor
alanbailey@geothermalresourcegroup.com
Alan Bailey is a highly experienced geothermal drilling and exploration professional with more than 20 years of industry experience. Alan has worked as a geologist, drilling operations manager and drilling supervisor. He has proven ability in meeting organizational goals and objectives, is pragmatic and quality-focused, and has excellent project management skills.
Alan has worked on numerous geothermal projects in the United States and Mexico. He has written drilling plans, budgets, planned geophysical surveys, overseen health and safety, road and access development, site remediation and is well-versed in the preparation of permits and other government documents.
Alan has a Bachelor’s Degree in Geology and is currently working toward a Master’s Degree in Petroleum Exploration Management. He holds an IADC WellCap well control certificate for Surface Stack – Supervisor, Drilling, and Workover & Completion. He has completed a Drilling Supervision course and project management coursework. Alan is a member of the Geothermal Resources Council, Society of Petroleum Engineers, the American Institute of Professional Geologists and the American Association of Drilling Engineers.
EXTERNAL CONSULTANTS AVAILABLE TO GEOTHERMAL RESOURCE GROUP:
Richard Holt*
Reservoir Engineer
Richard Holt specializes in using reservoir simulation, wellbore simulation, and detailed analysis to assess geothermal resources, make forecasts, and find optimizations. He has the ability to design, implement, and analyze well tests and reservoir tests to help clients successfully develop geothermal resources. His years of experience have taken him to many different geothermal fields, covering a wide range of complex settings.
Richard develops comprehensive and accurate reservoir simulation models for clients to serve various purposes, including simulating and comparing various operating scenarios, assisting in monitoring well deliverability and finding optimum operating strategies, and for use in power plant design and power purchase negotiations.
Prior to working with GRGI, Richard worked with Unocal, the Mesquite Group, and FPL Energy. He has both Master and Bachelor of Science degrees in Petroleum Engineering.
* Richard is available to the GRGI team through a partnership with his specialized geothermal reservoir engineering consulting firm, Geothermal Science, Inc.
Bill Ehni*
Geologist
Bill Ehni received his Bachelor’s degree in Geology from Humboldt State University in 1975. He has been professionally employed as a geologist since 1975. Bill is the founding president of the AAPG-affiliated Nevada Petroleum Society and has been actively involved in petroleum and geothermal exploration in Nevada since 1985. Bill has more than 30 years of experience in geothermal exploration and development. His specialty is the integration of geology with geophysics for construction of accurate models used in drilling and developing geothermal resources. He has been directly involved with the geology at numerous geothermal power plants. These include the dry steam field at the Geysers, California, high salinity geothermal systems in the Imperial Valley, California, the geothermal system at Casa Diablo power plant near Mammoth Lakes, California, and numerous other geothermal, oil and gas and mineral prospects in California and Nevada.
Bill, with his wife Vicki, operates Ehni Enterprises, Inc., which offers services to the geothermal, petroleum, mining, and geotechnical industries. These services include geological consulting, geophysical surveys (resistivity, magnetic, self-potential), geological well-site supervision and geologic surface mapping. Ehni Enterprises also maintains a large database of maps dealing with the geothermal, oil and mineral potential of Nevada and publishes a periodic newsletter, the Nevada Oil Reporter, which provides information to the petroleum and geothermal industries.
* Bill is available to the GRGI team through a partnership with his specialized geothermal consulting company Ehni Enterprises Inc.
Frederick Lyle Wilson
Drilling Superintendent
Fred Wilson has worked as a drilling supervisor, superintendent and geothermal training coordinator. He has over 40 years’ experience in the drilling industry, and has a wide range of experience in geothermal exploration and development. His background in the industry, working his way up from roughneck, derrick-hand and driller on gas wells to drilling superintendent on international geothermal projects for Unocal, gives him a wealth of knowledge. Fred’s experience as Unocal’s geothermal division training coordinator means he knows how to communicate clearly with all on-site personnel as well as client management teams. He has a record of safely and successfully completing projects within or below budget and time constraints.
Gary Headington
Drilling Superintendent
Gary Headington knows drilling operations from his 25 years of experience in the geothermal industry. He has worked in all aspects of drilling programs, including as a drilling supervisor and assistant to the drilling manager for CalEnergy for 16 years. From developing programs and managing budgets to supervising field operations including equipment and service procurement, troubleshooting, workover operations, Gary has seen it all. He has hands-on knowledge of fishing operations, flow testing, coil tubing operations, plugging and abandonments, cementing, directional drilling techniques, titanium retro-fitting / well re-completions and regulatory compliance. He works with field engineers, service companies, and all wellsite employees and contractors to ensure an efficient and safe work environment.
