RED HORSE
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The drillers are from the Air Force “809 RED HORSE.” Four Air Force water-drilling crews and have been alternating on six-month tours to Afghanistan, having drilled thirteen wells. There are two RED HORSE drilling crews per rotation in Afghanistan. Seabees and others also are out there poking for water.
The crew lead is Tech Sergeant Nathan Laidlaw. TSgt Laidlaw explained that after RED HORSE crews begin drilling, they work 24/7 without a break; every hour spent on the hole is an hour that something could go wrong, causing wasted effort. The eight-man crew splits into two, and each works a 12-hour shift. Their improvised gym, just next to the rig, includes a steel rod with chains wrapped around each end for weight. Looks like something that Fred Flintstone might use.
This crew’s deepest well in Afghanistan was 1,260 feet at FOB Wolverine. TSgt. Laidlaw said they worked 45 days straight and finally got the water. Laidlaw also said that RC-East (Regional Command East) produces far more water than RC-South (here). In RC-East, according to TSgt Laidlaw, the wells have produced 45-200 gpm (gallons per minute), whereas the first well (of two) on Frontenac was 750 feet deep and trickles at 6gpm. According TSgt Laidlaw, for each soldier on a base like Frontenac, about 20 gallons per day can be needed, though use can vary widely. And so that 6gpm is only enough for maybe 400-500 soldiers, depending on many factors, such as if showers and toilets are used.
This team is stationed at Hurlburt Field, Florida. Laidlaw said that in Florida they can drill a 120’ well in maybe a couple hours, but in Afghanistan that could take many days. Afghan well water is tested for contaminants, said Laidlaw, and so far the RED HORSE wells have been free of manmade pollutants, but contains naturally occurring substances like manganese. No harmful microorganisms have been found and the crew decontaminates the gear to prevent contaminating aquifer. Laidlaw said there are many aquifers but RED HORSE doesn’t take from the shallow water because the Afghans tap shallow. Nevertheless, Afghan wells can be hundreds of feet deep and are hand-dug wells that can look like shafts to Hell.
No geological surveys have been done here since the 70s, he said, and so part of the job is to collect data. I asked Nathan if he ever struck black gold like in the Beverly Hillbillies, and Laidlaw said no, but they did find copper in RC-East. Chinese are already here for the copper.
Interesting sources have told me that the QST (Quetta Shura Taliban) in Pakistan are worried about losing the Arghandab River Valley to “the foreigners,” which of course is us. There have been intercepts, I am told, wherein local leaders complain to the Taliban that we are beginning to provide substance while the Taliban is failing to provide anything more than violence, though in some places the Taliban are known to supply justice quicker and cheaper than can be had from the Afghan government. This battle for Arghandab (really for Kandahar) is far from won, but it appears that despite our own fumbling, we are at least outpacing the enemy. Though this well is for FOB Frontenac, water remains a perpetual concern for Afghans.
The 1-17th Infantry at Frontenac asked RED HORSE if they could leave base to check local wells that had been built over recent years by NGOs. I’ve seen these wells in different provinces. Apparently thousands of small wells costing probably millions of dollars must have been installed by NGOs since the war began. Yet many (or most in some areas) already do not work due to simple parts that have broken.
THE END
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Comments
They are not really drilling deep enough for oil but stranger things have happened. There is almost certainly oil in Afghanistan, but most of it will probably be found deeper than these guys are drilling.
And make sure you tell these guys that if they leave the military and times are tough on the US rigs, there will be jobs for them out in Australia if they want them! We'd be glad to take them.
-Joe
The device you post is like this one.
http://7.share.photo.xuite.net/gary.leynos/173b737/3782440/143552271_l.jpg
I would be curious to know how much arsenic they have found in the waters with mineralization present, such as copper. Also curious as to the amounts of iron and manganese present.
Tell the Red Horse guys that they run a first class drilling operation, and they represent the best of Americans.
GOTTA LUV RED HORSE:-) GO BIG RED!!
I love the fact that some of the drillers are wearing non-uniform Carharts bib overalls. Maybe Carhart could make a donation of bib overalls for the entire team.
Can that be explained further please? A long fan belt might stretch out to several feet, for sure less than two meters. If the well is over several meters deep, why wouldn't a rope be used? Why use a fan belt?
Best regards, Peter Warner.
Can we get hold of those Red Horse hats..? All the old oil field hands would like to collect these. Do you know where they get them....?
Thanks, Bill
Thanks for the awesome reporting from Afghan and thanks to the ladies and gents of the Red Horse for there continued support for the war-fighters. However, lets not forget about the group that one Air Force general referred to as the premiere force multiplier, the United States Navy Seabees.
The Americans got my well working" builds friendships and loyalty. It also weakens our enemies, who have to give the locals hell and wreck the wells to enforce discipline. So the people have a clear sight of who are the the well builders and well wreckers.
I know many a person with serious hard core conservative views who vote for far left politicians because "FDR (a Democrat just like Barney Frank or John Conyers) gave my father a job/brough electricity etc."
Second, the failure of the pumps due to missing parts. It's amazing how little it takes to foul up a machine, isn't it?
Our nation building efforts suffer from not having a bunch of mobile home depots rolling all over the country. Pump connector rods, nails, rope, wire, nuts and bolts, tarpaulins. Roll into the village, ask people what they need, get it out of the truck.
Once again great job. Even in 'Nam clean water was a big thing and believe me the locals appreciate it. In particular in a desert.
The check is in the mail.
Jom Owens
And I don't mean to imply your earlier work wasn't great, it was, you have a natural gift for framing and firing the shutter. But technically you have come quite a ways. Art AND Science.
This is world class photo journalism. You're a treasure for us at home and for the guys (and gals) in the field like these here in Red Horse. I'm hitting the tip jar again. God Bless.
To all our Air Force men and women, and yes, not to forget our U.S. Navy Seabees, out there doing such magnificent things, we are forever grateful for your hard work, long hours and selfless dedication. Thank you all so much. May God be with you and keep you safe. We will continue to keep you in our prayers.
And, hey, yeah, Micheal, I'm 99.999% certain a job offer will be coming my way tomorrow so will be able to 'finally' send some money your way in the not too distant future. I've been riddled with guilt enjoying my 'free ride' since starting to follow you last October. But what a wonderful ride it has been.
The team deserves beers on me when you all return. (there, its in writing)
Be safe and see you soon.
Dad
Love, Christine
Mom & Dad
Another good story. As you mention the "karez" system of underground water canals was common throughout the Middle East. 40 years ago I saw these in operation in Iran where they are called "Qanats". This is far from stone age technology. Moving water underground from water sources to villages is very efficient with almost no water lost to evaporation. Surface canals lose up to 25% of water to evaporation and loose up to half their water if not concrete or stone. The downside to Karez is that they are very labor intensive and need alot of maintenance. But I'm sure there is plenty of labor available in rural Afghanistan. The Iranians used to dig wells by hand too which, while slow, does work.
Drilling deep wells for irrigation in dry areas is a bad practice. A few wells here and there for FOBs probably won't hurt but large scale deep well drill will dry out the aquifer.
Steven, We were so excited to receive Christine's email with the link to this site, and to actually see you makes us miss you more! Through this article, we can better appreciate your dedication, especially in light of your current working environment. We hope you know how very proud we are of you, and of course, cannot wait to see you again. In case you didn't already know it, your wife is awesome; you are fortunate you are to have her by your side! Hello to Nate from Ray and Liz - hope to see you soon as well. To Michael Yon -- Many thanks for the amazing story you tell through your photographs; you are extremely talented.
Keep on rockin' RED HORSE!
Love you cuz,
Sonya
Surprising to see the guys wearing Carhart's in stan, The tracked bobcat again a nice surprise also, probably the best utility tractor ever made.
For you complaining SOB's, go get a life, go to Dallas and camp in GWB's backyard, Vote anyway that you want just give this NEWS site a break......Please
RED HORSE and Prime BEEF units can outbuild anyone on the planet. Runways, wells, defensive positions, tent cities or hard barracks. During Desert Fox we bedded down 2000 troops in a week, with hot water, electricity, hardbacked tents and AC.
Great coverage !!
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