3230DT’s 80,000 lb. of pull back gives Shepler Well Drilling peace of mind

Shepler Well Drilling, Inc., of Manton, MI, was in the market for an auger rig when they set their sights on the 3230DT. 

“When Geoprobe® told me they could give me 8,500 lb. of torque with 80,000 lb of pull back, I knew the 3230DT would be the right machine for us,” President Randy Shepler said.  “The coring and probing capabilities are just a bonus.  When we are doing deep auger jobs, the 80,000 lb. of pull back provides peace of mind knowing you will be getting your augers back out of the hole.”

The 3230DT has also made mobilization easier. 

“We can show up on a job site with one machine and have the capabilities to do everything needed — probing, auger, drill, coring, and rotary with the 3230DT.”

It’s even opened up opportunities for new types of work. 

“With the 3230DT we were able to complete a job that required us to have no soil cuttings to be disposed of,” Shepler said.  “We set the 2 in. wells with the 4.5 in. rods, gravel packed and grouted in place, and didn’t produce any soil cuttings.  Before, we would not have been able to even bid the job.”

The Shepler team enjoys testing the power and performance of the machine with each new project, too. 

On a recent environmental project in Johannesburg, MI, the team drilled with 4.25 in. augers to 185 ft. with split spoon soil sampling every 10 ft., dry sand and gravel to 175 ft., and set a 2 in. well at 185 ft.  At the second site they drilled with 4.25 in. augers, hit water sand at 6 ft., drilled to 195 ft. and set a 2 in. well.

They also completed a geotechnical project in Traverse City, MI, for a new parking deck to be built. 

“This machine makes completing the job so much easier tripping the AW rods in and out of the auger /  3-70 ft. and 6-35 ft. water at 15 ft. with 4.25 in. auger with split spoon sampling every 5 ft.,” Shepler said.