Register Now for the International Association of Drilling Contractors (IADC) Appalachian Basin Technical Forum – Oct 22, 2026 – Canonsburg, PA

October 22, 2026
Southpointe Golf Club
Canonsburg, Pennsylvania

The IADC Appalachian Basin Technical Forum brings together field personnel, technology innovators, drilling contractors, and operational leaders for a focused day of technical discussion and knowledge sharing. The program examines practical approaches to improving safety, efficiency, well construction, and drilling performance across the Appalachian Basin.

Attendees will hear from basin operators and industry experts on the drilling outlook, safety and training, operational efficiency, equipment, emerging technologies, and strategies for building safer, higher-performing wells.

Featured Basin Operators Panel

Moderated by Jesse Kwasnicia, Precision Drilling, the panel will explore the future of Appalachian drilling, including safety, training, efficiency, performance, and equipment.

• Josh Doak, VP Drilling, Appalachia, Range Resources
• Mark Bly, VP Drilling and Construction, Pennsylvania General Energy Co., LLC
• Ross Schweitzer, Sr. Director of Drilling, Construction & Permitting, Arsenal Resources
• Zach Zimmer, Director of Drilling, PennEnergy Resources

Technical Program

Registration & Networking — 7:30 AM

Introduction & Welcoming Remarks — 8:00 AM
Thad Dunham, VP Government & Industry Affairs Onshore, IADC

Keynote Presentation — 8:05 AM
Chris Menefee, Vice Chair, IADC; Executive VP & Chief Business Officer, Cactus Drilling

The Appalachian STEPS Network — 8:20 AM
Donnie Lindsey, President, Appalachian STEPS Network; Process Safety Manager, CNX

Market Outlook — 8:30 AM
Jeff Bellman, Managing Director, Natural Gas, LNG & Power, Daniel Energy Partners

Regional Rig Moves — 9:00 AM
Moderated by Jose Rodriguez, Lead Investigator, H&P. Panelists will discuss regional rig-move challenges, including safety hazards, environmental and topographical considerations, and journey management.

• Ken Williamson, Account Manager, West Penn Heavy Haul, LLC
• Nicholas Warren, Crane Supervisor, Warren Trucking

Regional MPD Operations: An Overview — 9:40 AM
Martyn Parker, VP MPD Services, Pruitt Tool

This session examines the use of Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) in U.S. land operations, with a focus on moving from reactive applications to proactive integration. The presentation will address wellbore stability, pressure management, non-productive time, operational risk, and practical approaches to incorporating MPD into well design and execution.

Networking Break — 10:00 AM

MPD & Well Construction

Well Construction Efficiency Improvements in Extended-Reach Wells Drilled in the Appalachian Basin
Isabel Poletzky, Jared Lowery, Mitchell Vitovsky, George Davis, Maurizio Arnone, Matthew Kotar

This case-history session explores how Managed Pressure Drilling has supported extended-reach well construction in the Marcellus and Utica, including improvements in rate of penetration, tripping efficiency, hole quality, wellbore stability, and casing operations.

The Haynesville MPD Adoption Curve: Operator Progression from Novelty to Integrated Practice
Martin Duarte, Lead MPD Engineer, Stasis Drilling Solutions

The presentation examines how operators have transitioned MPD from a specialized contingency technology into an integrated drilling practice through proactive planning, workflow changes, organizational competency, and Lean methodologies.

Multi-Target MPD Automation in the Appalachian Basin
Karnvir Gill, Ali Yousefi Sadat, Shawn Cody, Opla Energy Services

Using a recent 47-well Appalachian campaign, including a 31,296-foot lateral, this session examines multi-target swab-mitigation automation and its role in reducing trip time while maintaining well-control margins.

Real-Time Drilling Fluid Density and Rheology Measurements
Michael Brzezinski, Maurizio Arnone, Cesar Peña, Lars Olesen, Aaron Gabe

This presentation explores the integration of real-time drilling fluid density and rheology measurements with MPD hydraulic software to improve annular pressure calculations, pressure-control reliability, operational performance, and safety.

Luncheon & Networking — 11:45 AM

Afternoon Program

Overview of Pennsylvania’s Office of Oil & Gas Management — 1:15 PM
Deputy Secretary Seth Pelepko
The session will provide an overview of Pennsylvania’s Office of Oil & Gas Management, including its role in oil and gas conservation, permitting and inspections, regulatory standards, industry training, and protection of the Commonwealth’s natural resources and environment.

Top Basin Operators — 1:45 PM
Moderated by Jesse Kwasnicia, Precision Drilling
Regional operating representatives will discuss the Appalachian drilling outlook, safety and training, drilling efficiency and performance, and equipment.

• Josh Doak, VP Drilling, Appalachia, Range Resources
• Mark Bly, VP Drilling and Construction, Pennsylvania General Energy Co., LLC
• Ross Schweitzer, Sr. Director of Drilling, Construction & Permitting, Arsenal Resources
• Zach Zimmer, Director of Drilling, PennEnergy Resources

Networking Break — 2:45 PM

Drilling Contractors’ Panel Session — 3:00 PM
Moderated by Jhon Sepulveda, Seneca Resources Company
The panel will examine how drilling contractors are reducing personnel exposure to the red zone through automation, improved processes, and other safety initiatives. Panelists will also share field experience, lessons learned, and challenges associated with implementing new technologies while improving safety and drilling performance.

• Derek Coffey, Field Superintendent Appalachia Division, Precision Drilling
• Lee Fulmer, Drilling Superintendent-Appalachia, Patterson-UTI Drilling
• Ricky Shoalmire, Senior Operations Manager, H&P

New Basin Technologies

Offline Cementing Production Casing in Marcellus: A Solution to Safe Execution — 4:00 PM
Josh Prater, US Unconventionals Drilling Superintendent, Repsol Services Company
This presentation covers Repsol Services Company’s approach to offline production casing cementing in the Marcellus, including equipment, procedures, operational challenges, HSE considerations, and results from field implementation.

Drilling Performance

From Automation to Autonomy: Building Repeatable Drilling Performance Through Remote Operations and Execution Discipline — 4:20 PM
Blair Paul, ROC & Operations Manager; Grace Fosdick; Holden Currie, Nabors
The session examines how remote operations, automation workflows, exception-based intervention, and disciplined execution can support long-lateral drilling performance while improving safety, consistency, contractor accountability, and repeatability across rigs and crews.

Adjournment — 4:40 PM