Chilean miner rescue operation underway
Some amazing technologies being used and it was very cool that the President of Chile -- Sebastian Pinera -- placed an immediate worldwide call for help when the accident happened. Quite a different story from our own President when the Gulf Oil disaster happened.
I have been following the story on
FOX News
An interesting side note regarding the drill rig operator -- from
Reuters:
U.S. drill operator a hero in Chile mine drama
Chileans have found a new hero in American Jeff Hart, the drill operator who has spent weeks drilling down to where 33 miners have been trapped deep underground for more than two months.
Rescuers finished drilling an escape shaft on Saturday for the men, jumping for joy as the drill pushed through the last inches (cm) of a nearly 2,050 foot-long (625-meter) shaft through which the miners will be hoisted to safety.
"There's an emotion there that I can't describe. It's an amazing thing," said Hart, 40, who government officials praised for his central role in the rescue.
A bit more -- this was a very complex operation:
Hart, who has worked as a drill operator for the Chilean-based Geotec Boyles Bros company for 24 years
And what was Hart doing before the disaster:
Hart was helping the U.S. armed forces drill for water in Afghanistan when he was called to help free the trapped Chilean miners stuck far beneath the desert since the mine cave-in 65 days ago.
Riiiiggghhhhht... The guy is an expert driller and has the experience to be the go-to guy when a large diameter hole needs to be accurately steered through 2,050 feet of rock and the US Government has him drilling water wells?
The back story on that would be fun to find out.
Posted by DaveH at October 13, 2010 3:36 PM