M&M Drilling Index Page

Our History

Left to Right: John Mundell, John's wife Thelma, Don Murray, Don's wife; Irene Murray.

M & M Drilling Co. Ltd. is a family owned and operated business that had its early beginnings in the seismic industry. Don Murray, started working in the industry on a Franks rig during the winter of 1949-50 for M & W Drilling which was owned by Hank Webster and John Mundell. In 1952 Don purchased Hank's share and during that same year a new Mayhew rig. In 1956 M & M Drilling was incorporated and in 1958 John Mundell retired and Don purchased his shares.

Rig 1 Mayhew around Wetaskiwin

With Strathmore, Alberta as home base, the rigs were moved all over Alberta, B.C. and Saskatchewan following the seismic work. A few of the locations worked were; Fort Nelson and Fort St. John B.C., Fort McMurray, Grande Prairie, Del Bonita, Sexsmith, Bashaw, Stettler, Wetaskiwin, Big Valley, Crowsnest Pass, Lesser Slave Lake, Milo, Consort, Zama Lake, Rainbow Lake, Bengough, Weyburn Saskatchewan and many more. During these years; M & M has worked for Amerada Petroleum, Weiss Geophysical, Century Geophysical, Beaver Geophysical, Teledyne and Compagnie Generale de Geophysique. As the years passed more and more work was done in the water well drilling industry.

Back Then: Mayhew Rig 1953

Mid 60's Failing Rig & Water Truck

In the mid 60's two new Failing rigs were purchased which were more adaptable to water well drilling. The business expanded to include sales and installation of pumps, pressure systems, and more recently water treatment systems.

Present Day: TH-60 Cyclone Rig

With the acquisition of two new Cyclone rigs, a wider variety of work became possible. Large diameter, high production wells became possible, including work in downtown Calgary for airconditioning wells in office building complexes. A series of large capacity wells at Finnegan, Alberta to de-water river gravel for the construction of the Alberta Power Sheerness power plant water intake. M & M was also involved in exploration drilling in the Rogers Pass before construction of the new CP Rail tunnel. M & M has drilled surface holes for gas and oil well production and cathodic protection drilling for gas plants. The company also did coring for Calgary's Light Rail Transit system (LRT). M & M has been long time members of the Alberta Water Well Drilling Association and also the Canadian Groundwater Association.

Present Day: Rig 5 Tri-Drive

Bill Murray has served on the board of the Alberta association, and Bill served as an alternate for the Alberta rep on the board of the Canadian Association. M & M Drilling also belongs to the Goulds Professional Dealers Association. In 2002 Don Murray passed away after a lengthy fight with an illness. The ownership of the company is carried on by Bill Murray and wife Jeannette. Though Don is no longer with us, his spirit still tempers and inspires all we do.