About
Founder Don Manns began a career in the 1970s on a range of equipment. After two and a half decades of drilling projects completed, Don created the Wombat drilling rig. Wombat drilling rigs have completed projects around Australia, Canada, USA, Venezuela, New Guinea, Columbia, and Mexico.
Since 2001, Wombat drilling rigs have been designed & tailored specifically for geoexchange loop installation and have completed many commercial and residential projects.
45+ Years of Experience
1976 - 1985
Don's drilling career followed on from completion of a water well drilling apprenticeship in the mid 1970's. With a diverse range of drilling projects for companies in the oil, gas, mining and construction sectors over a decade throughout central eastern Australia.
1986 - 1987
His drilling experience brought him to Canada in 1985 initially working with the Pikani and Kainai band administrations and providing water wells in southern Alberta.
Settling in Lethbridge, Don worked on a wide range of drilling equipment and projects throughout Alberta, BC, and NWT.
Settling in Lethbridge, Don worked on a wide range of drilling equipment and projects throughout Alberta, BC, and NWT.
1987 - 1988
In 1987 Don Ventured into drilling rig design and construction, purpose - building a drilling rig and successfully using it to complete a two year, 400 well @ 700 Ft depth project around the deserts of Jordan.
1988-1989
On completion of his work in the middle east, Don helped set up drilling rigs and train personnel to drill and install numerous commercial geoexchange systems in the City of Toronto and around southern Ontario.
1990 - 1992
With a passion for adventure and work-travel, Don took on crew training and drilling project management in Burma, Thailand, Columbia, and back in Australia.
Completed multiple institutional and commercial earth loop installations, including Micheal MacGiveny Catholic School and Toronto Dominion Bank.
1992
Don and brother Jim ( also a career driller ) founded Wombat Drills in 1992 in Canada, designing and manufacturing compact track - mobile multi purpose drilling rigs.
1992 - 2000
Don completed projects with Wombat rigs in Mexico, Venezuela, Australia, and to this day in Canada.
Location: Canada and Australia
Work: Design and manufacture compact, mobile track drilling machines for a diverse range of drilling operations. Sales of Wombat machinery and drilling work in Australia, Canada, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Myanmar, and Thailand; drilling performed by Don Manns with custom Wombat machinery.
Machinery: Custom Wombat machinery.
Location: Canada and Australia
Work: Design and manufacture compact, mobile track drilling machines for a diverse range of drilling operations. Sales of Wombat machinery and drilling work in Australia, Canada, Columbia, Venezuela, Mexico, Myanmar, and Thailand; drilling performed by Don Manns with custom Wombat machinery.
Machinery: Custom Wombat machinery.
2001 - 2008
Location:
Canada
Work: Drilling and installation of complete residential geothermal systems. Drilling of large commercial geothermal earth loops including projects in Toronto, Southern Ontario, Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan. Projects include Flemming College in Lindsay, Ontario and the Elm Business Park in Edmonton, Alberta.
Machinery: Wombat machinery
Work: Drilling and installation of complete residential geothermal systems. Drilling of large commercial geothermal earth loops including projects in Toronto, Southern Ontario, Alberta, B.C., and Saskatchewan. Projects include Flemming College in Lindsay, Ontario and the Elm Business Park in Edmonton, Alberta.
Machinery: Wombat machinery
2009 - Present
Don completed geothermal drilling and installation on multiple modern large-scale multi-tenant building projects, including Niche One, Belgravia Square, and 100 Block West Morinville.
Location: Canada and Australia
Work: Commercial geothermal earth loop installations in Australia, including the Swan Hill Police Headquarters, Australia Botanical Gardens in Victoria, and the RAAF Amberly Flight Simulator building in Queensland. Complete residential geothermal heating and cooling systems installation. Commercial geothermal earth loop installations in Alberta.
Machinery: Wombat machinery
Location: Canada and Australia
Work: Commercial geothermal earth loop installations in Australia, including the Swan Hill Police Headquarters, Australia Botanical Gardens in Victoria, and the RAAF Amberly Flight Simulator building in Queensland. Complete residential geothermal heating and cooling systems installation. Commercial geothermal earth loop installations in Alberta.
Machinery: Wombat machinery