Drilling Methods
Our Drilling Capabilities
We provide multiple drilling methods to support environmental and geotechnical work across varied site conditions. Our crews apply each method with discipline and consistency, focusing on borehole integrity, constructability, and field execution that supports reliable installations, sampling, and instrumentation.
Drilling Methods
Selecting the Right Method
Different subsurface conditions and project needs require different drilling approaches. We apply auger, rotary, hammer, core, and direct push methods based on ground conditions, depth requirements, and your project requirements, selecting each technique to support accurate installations, sampling, and subsurface investigations with controlled field execution.
Auger
Auger drilling advances a hollow, helical flight bit into the ground to remove soil and bring cuttings to the surface. It is efficient in unconsolidated soils and suitable for installing shallow monitoring wells, collecting soil samples, and establishing initial subsurface conditions with minimal disturbance.
Core
Core drilling retrieves continuous, intact cylindrical samples of soil or rock using a core barrel and bit. This method provides high-quality material for detailed engineering, geotechnical, and geological analysis, especially when understanding in situ structure and composition is critical.
Direct Push
Direct push drives sampling and logging tools into the subsurface without rotation or cuttings removal. Using hydraulic force, this method supports rapid soil, groundwater, and vapor sampling, as well as probe installations, with minimal disturbance and quick turnaround in appropriate ground conditions.
Hammer
Hammer drilling combines rotary motion with percussive impact to break through dense soil or rock. It is effective in formations resistant to standard rotary advancement, allowing crews to construct boreholes for wells and instruments where harder materials are encountered.
Rotary
Rotary drilling uses a rotating drill bit with fluid or air circulation to penetrate soil and rock. This versatile method supports deeper wells and complex subsurface conditions, providing dependable boreholes for monitoring, sampling, and instrument installations across environmental and geotechnical projects.
Select Drilling Methods
Different subsurface conditions require different drilling approaches. Drilling methods provide direct access to subsurface materials and conditions, supporting investigation, sampling, and installation with clear documentation for planning and decision-making.