Ray Roussy, P.E., president of Sonic Drill Corp. and Sonic Drilling Ltd., has received the 2012 Technology Award from the National Ground Water Association (NGWA).

The award recognizes an individual’s major contributions to the ground water industry in the development of ideas, tools and/or equipment. It will be presented in December at the NGWA Groundwater Expo and Annual Meeting in Las Vegas.

Roussy has 38 years of experience in the ground water industry, beginning in 1974, with attempts at adapting vibratory machinery for the drilling industry.

In 1974, Roussy joined the British company Hawker Siddeley as a junior engineer working in vibratory drilling machines. During a recession in the 1980s, when Hawker Siddeley dropped his program, Roussy struck out on his own.

Sonic drilling uses vibratory energy to advance the drill string. The energy produced by the drill head liquefies overburden and bedrock, and pushes the material up and away.

Roussy built his first successful sonic drilling rig in his backyard 26 years ago, which still is in operation today. He is the patent holder of sonic drilling technology and geothermal loop installation using sonic drilling. Sonic Drill Corp. is Roussy’s manufacturing company, while Sonic Drilling Ltd. is his drilling company; both are based in British Columbia, Canada.