Joshua's Euro Trip Part 2

After a packed week of training sessions in Denmark, DCI Territory Manager Joshua Spray headed southeast to Romania—where the work, the people, and the HDD challenges were a world apart. What followed was a fast-paced, boots-on-the-ground experience that blended hands-on support, cultural immersion, and a crash course in large-drill jobsite realities.

Romania: A Stark Contrast

“It's certainly different than Denmark,” Joshua shared. And not just in geography. Romania, once under communist rule until the mid-1990s, is a country marked by rapid change and deep history. In rural areas, life is humble, infrastructure is patchy, and jobsite safety protocols are often... a bit optional. In Bucharest, though, growth is booming. But everywhere, the people are direct, resilient, and unfiltered—traits born from decades of political and economic transformation.

During conversations, several locals shared personal memories of the revolution—moments marked by violence and loss. “It was sobering,” Joshua noted. “You realize how recent and raw those experiences are for people here.”

Supporting the ROMNED Dealer Network

DCI’s mission in Romania was clear: support our local dealer ROMNED with training, drill startup, and product education. That included a new D100 rig, a Falcon F5+ locator, and a TeraTrak R1 system. Joshua worked closely with ROMNED owner Ron Van Dam and his son Brian, ensuring they had full command of the latest DCI tech. “Brian knows our gear inside and out—he just needed some field time to put it all together,” Joshua said.

Day One: A Rough Start
The team started up the D100 for PROELTE Construction—a big jump from the smaller D20x22 rigs they were used to. Unfortunately, the crew hadn’t completed any of the prep work laid out in advance, so the day was all about going back to basics: equipment positioning, digging receiving pits, and organizing support gear.

Day Two: Getting to Work
With the setup in place, training could begin. Ron led the mud mixing and equipment walkthroughs, while Joshua focused on bore path planning and getting the TeraTrak R1 configured. He walked the foreman through the TeraTrak’s setback calculator and two-point calibration, then worked with driller Adrian on Scan/Pick/Pair, calibration, and LWD logging.

Despite a language barrier, Adrian—an Classic F2 veteran—picked things up quickly. In fact, proudly showed Joshua photos of his old F2 unit and past shots. “He was excited to be using our gear again. It made the long day worth it.”

Day Three: Drilling with Challenges
Drilling finally began, but not without new headache: the mud hoses started springing leaks every five minutes. With the jobsite over two hours from Bucharest, any parts run would cost precious time. Fortunately, the company owner had a rotating team of drivers making deliveries to and from the city—keeping things moving.

Day Four: A Successful Breakthrough
After a tough few days, the crew hit their target cleanly. Next up: reaming the hole—three passes’ worth—to make way for product installation. Despite the setbacks, the team had successfully launched a large rig with new technology, gaining skills that will carry forward into future jobs.

Takeaway: Flexibility and Field Knowledge Matter

This leg of Joshua’s trip wasn’t about polished presentations or high-tech demos—it was about real fieldwork, relationship building, and helping crews solve problems in real time. From setting up rigs to fixing hoses, it was an all-hands, sleeves-rolled-up kind of week: