DT22 Detent Drive Head Helps Increase RAZEK's Efficiency

Founded in 2004, RAZEK Environmental LLC in Louisburg, Kansas, operates as a Geoprobe® direct push technology subcontractor. Using their 7822DT combo rig, they perform site assessments (soil and groundwater sampling), hollow stem auger drilling to install monitoring wells, and air-rotary rock drilling. Their air-rotary capabilities have carved out a lucrative niche market for the 15-year-old business.

“We have completed many projects where traditional rigs could not access due to rough terrain or space limitations,” Tony Poulter, owner, said. “Our clients appreciate our 7822DT can complete all phases of their projects to achieve successful delineation of soil and groundwater impacts with minimal disruption to their business operations. Adding this capability has set us apart in the local industry.”

RAZEK routinely uses the 7822DT to soil sample (Macro-Core® or dual tube) to refusal, then auger to set 8-inch casing, and use air rotary to drill into bedrock (6 inch diameter) to find groundwater and set monitoring wells.

In Kansas, RAZEK performs projects for the Underground Storage Tank (UST) program, which requires the dual tube soil sampling system. In the past six months they have successfully completed projects in Topeka, Kansas City, Wichita, Overland Park, Seneca, and Greensburg using DT22 and DT37. They have also used the dual tube system in other states on projects where the borehole collapses.

According to Poulter, their clients often need a soil sample of native materials beneath a UST basin that was filled with sand. The dual tube system enables them to quickly case the hole and collect perfect soil samples of the native clay beneath the fill sand.

When Geoprobe® released the new DT22 detent drive head, RAZEK was an early adopter. While the older version worked for many years, Poulter acknowledged the head would dislodge itself from the liner during retraction of the soil sample, causing them to pull the entire rod string and start over. Additionally, with the old-style drive head, RAZEK struggled with distorting the end of the liner when removing the head, making it difficult for the geologist to cut open the liners. To correct this, Poulter said they would cut off the top 3 inches of the distorted liner.

“The new detent drive head has not failed to return a liner since we started using it last year. The detent drive head can be removed with a simple push of the button saving time and frustration for our clients,” Poulter said. “We are all about providing the best samples for our clients as efficiently as possible. The detent drive head increases our sampling efficiency. When we can effectively provide our clients with perfect soil samples (within an unblemished liner), we are successful.”

A 25-year veteran of the industry, Poulter has relied on Geoprobe® to put out the best quality and most innovative tooling to make his business a success. He has worked for firms that use inferior machines and tooling, and for Poulter, there is no comparison.

“I once was given a ‘knock off’ pull cap to use. During an extremely hard pull it broke apart and narrowly missed hitting me in the face,” Poulter said. “I later determined that the ‘knock off’ was not heat treated. Since then my motto has been ‘if it doesn’t say Geoprobe®, it doesn’t work’.”