Pozos para Todos

In January of 2013 when we came back to Honduras for the second time, after having been here for two months the previous year studying Spanish at the Spanish Institute of Honduras which we now own, one of the things I planned on doing, actually the only thing I planned on doing, was drilling wells. And we did drill several, but the rig we were using, although well-built was not made for deep drilling or drilling through rock which is what is needed here.

Our first well, Barrio Oriente 2013

This past April, the boys and I had started drilling another well here in town and ran into so many problems with the little rig that we finally gave up and packed up. It was at that point that I told Ben and Thomas that if we were going to drill wells, we were going to have to get a rig that would do the job. Both Ben and Thomas want to stay here in Honduras, but as they told me, they need work. So having reached an agreement with them, that if I were to make the investment in time and money to start a well drilling business that they would stay at least four years and work it with me, Pozos para Todos operating under our umbrella company Inversiones Wolfe Honduras, SA de CV was born.

The first thing I needed to find was the capital with which to fund this new enterprise. Because of my personal view that "free money" and business should not be mixed, therefore prohibiting me from pursuing an outright donation, but being unable to walk into Franklin Savings Bank or Banco Atlantida and borrow the capital needed, I was somewhat stymied on how to move forward. Long story short, thanks to a very generous family, the capital was eventually provided through a loan from the Camino Foundation in Dallas, Texas.

Next came the search for a suitable drill rig that would fit our budget. After a lot of research, I reached the conclusion that rotary rigs, although far faster and far more efficient, were out of our price range. I then began to look at what is now seen as old technology, the cable tool rig. Operating on a principle that was first used in China 4000 years ago, the cable tool rigs, especially the Bucyrus Erie 22W, became the drilling rig of choice from around 1950 until the late '70's when the rotary rig was introduced. Now, in the USA, these rigs are rarely used and many of them have been shipped to third world countries where often there is more time than money, which pretty much describes us. This is not to say that the investment has been minimal. On the contrary, a small fortune has been spent on this project. Purchase of the rig, a truck and trailer to mount it on, new cable, land and ocean shipping, import taxes and demurrage has turned this project into a sizable investment.

After much searching, I finally found a BE 22W that looked interesting. Located in Bent Mountain, VA and mounted on an old Ford truck too old to import to Honduras, I flew up to the States for a look to make sure it was what I hoped it would be. After spending several days with the owner, I decided to purchase the rig and remove it from the truck. I flew back to Honduras, arranged for the ocean shipping through Crowley and then a month later flew back to Virginia to help load the container. All I can say about that day is that it was interesting, but we got the job done. Thanks Glenn and Harvey!

My Bucyrus Erie 22W mounted on A Ford truck

Dismounted and weighing over 10,000# waiting to be loaded

After an incredible amount of hassle by the Honduran customs (which I will write about), the rig finally arrived in Siguatepeque last week. Unloading it was easier than loading, but still very challenging.

Preparing to unload the rig. (Thomas, Ben and Luis)

After getting it out of the container with a rollback, we then had to set it on the trailer with crane.

We still have a lot of work to do in order to start drilling...like learning how to use the rig, but we have it mounted, a "cajon" purchased to store all the drill bits, extra stem and supplies in, and hopefully by mid November we will be ready to finish the well that got us started with all this in the first place.

As with all our businesses here, we take the "business as missions" approach. That means that as we support ourselves through legitimate, profit producing business, we look for ways to also do charitable or missions work. And that goes doubly for Pozos para Todos (Wells for Everyone). One very great need here is water. Many communities have little or no water. Part of our plan for the future is to partner with NGOs like Hope Coffee or the Rotary Club. I am also working towards an agreement with the Ministry of Education to drill wells for public schools...which is where my heart is and where we already do a lot of missions work.

My business partners