20CPT Skid Steer and CPT Equipment Economically Add Numerous Business Advantages

Seeking to expand drilling services to all eight of their offices, Geotechnics Soil & Material Testing in Missouri saw an opportunity to capitalize on new technology by investing in the Geoprobe^® 20CPT Skid Steer and CPT equipment system. 

“We sought a way to expand capabilities and get jobs that require CPT in addition to geotechnical borings. We see it as a useful addition to the geotechnical methods we currently use,” Matthew Sick, operator, said. “The 20CPT Skid Steer was an economical way to fulfill our needs.”

He appreciates the ease and simplicity of using the 20CPT Skid Steer and CPT equipment system.

“If you go do a geotechnical boring it requires a lot of tooling, time, work, and sweat. With CPT it’s so much simpler,” Sick said. “After the first time we pushed the cone everyone was like, ‘that’s it?’”

They're still learning its usefulness and ability to push in their different geologies. However, they're already recognizing that in certain situations they have an advantage being a one-man show pushing CPT.

“You can take out a conventional rig and the 20CPT Skid Steer with three people instead of four, which reduces costs, increases profit, and makes you more competitive,” Sick said.

They tested out their new 20CPT Skid Steer and CPT equipment system on a job requiring hundreds of borings.

“We completed half of the borings with CPT, which cut time and increased profit substantially,” Sick said. “This also provided consistent comparable data so we could get used to interpreting the readings.”

By adding the 20CPT Skid Steer and CPT equipment system they anticipate their business will now:

• Be considered for contracts specifying CPT capabilities, even if not method chosen for the job.
• Better understand client's needs using continuous data all the way down boring versus snapshots at particular intervals provided by standard geotechnical methods.
• Speed up geotechnical investigation process and save money on certain jobs and depths.

“If we’re doing a Mississippi River boring, especially in winter, CPT will enable us to do the job since we won’t have to deal with water freezing while conducting rotary drilling,” Sick said. “For 130-foot borings there’s no comparison to how much less time and effort CPT requires compared to standard boring methods.”

The 20CPT Skid Steer and CPT equipment system is another tool in their tool box which not only increases their drilling capabilities but also enhances the driller’s experience on the job. For Sick, the worst thing about auger drilling is being in the mud all the time — you can’t get away from it. 

“CPT is much more pleasant, which is important if you’re out there day-in and day-out for years. Drilling can be a tough job, which contributes to labor shortage,” Sick said. “Anything we can do to make better work conditions can help retain employees and help them have better attitudes.”

The 20CPT Skid Steer and CPT equipment system also keeps them current.

“It’s a technology-based method which is the direction the world is moving,” Sick said. “If you don’t jump on the bandwagon, you’ll be left behind.”