ASME awards engineering landmark designation to Hughes bit
Aug. 11, 2009
The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has designated the Hughes two-cone drill bit a Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark in ceremonies at the Hughes Christensen headquarters and manufacturing facility.
Offshore staff
HOUSTON– The American Society of Mechanical Engineers has designated the Hughes two-cone drill bit a Historical Mechanical Engineering Landmark in ceremonies at the Hughes Christensen headquarters and manufacturing facility. The event yesterday coincided with the 100-year anniversary of the August 1909 patent grant to Howard Hughes Sr.
“We are honored and pleased to accept this award and the plaque will go into the two-cone bit kiosk here at the headquarters,” said Derek Mathieson, president, products and technology, Baker Hughes, in receiving the award. It also was noted that the technology represented in the patent still is being used to drill wells today.
ASME’s History and Heritage program draws attention to the technological heritage of engineering in the US and encourages preservation of the physical remains of historically important works. The commemorative plaque says that the two-cone bit “…became the crucial tool for tapping vast, deep oil fields…”
Among the highlights of the ceremony was a review of the history of roller-cone bits by Bob Cunningham, retired Hughes Tool Co. researcher who was involved with bit development for the company for several decades.
