Powerful, Versatile Hydraulic Drill Rig for Geotechnical Exploration

Performing structural and geotechnical engineering, construction material testing, and drilling services for clients across Michigan, Soils & Structures engineering company recently celebrated 50 years in business. Until recently their rig fleet was filled predominantly with mechanically-driven rigs.

“We wanted to try a hydraulic drill rig, and after looking at the options on the market, we decided on the 7822DT for the equipment size and capabilities,” Chris Prell, lead driller, said. “The addition of the Geoprobe^® 7822DT has allowed us to expand our drilling services into the direct push industry.”

Fieldwork Simplified with Hydraulic Drill Rig

Prell has been drilling crew chief with the company for the past eight years. He works on residential and commercial sites performing soil borings for their geotechnical group using conventional rigs and the 7822DT hydraulic drill rig. He praises how the Geoprobe^® 7822DT makes his fieldwork faster, easier, and safer.

“I bounce between a conventional rig and the 7822DT. It’s a lot less tiring at the end of the day running the Geoprobe^®,” Prell said. “The instant auger stop when releasing the controls is a valuable safety feature. The hydraulic extruder option is a game changer for liner removal, significantly improving efficiency and preventing downtime.”

Using the Geoprobe^® line up of geotechnical tooling, including the spring assisted lift cap and patented* 2-inch interlocking split spoon, also contributes to simplifying his fieldwork.

“We were using slip rings, but the Geoprobe^® spring assisted lift caps have made a big difference in safety and production, it’s much easier to spin rods off the tool string with the spring supporting the weight,” Prell said. “The ease of spinning the 2-inch interlocking split spoons on and off translates directly to time saved in the field. I love them. These tools make jobs easier, simpler — less stressful.”

Powerful Performance on Geotechnical Exploration

The power of the Geoprobe^® 7822DT hydraulic drill rig has surprised Prell most.

“The power for such a small rig is unbelievable. We have mechanical driven rigs of similar size, but the 7822DT has been able to do everything we have asked of it,” he said. “The size of the rig allows us to maneuver around obstacles. The combination of power and maneuverability translates to more productivity.”

Recently they had the 7822DT on a gravel geotechnical exploration project to assess available aggregate. They chose direct push to collect continuous liner samples to a depth of 30 to 35 feet.

“The 7822DT has the power to push through and pull back,” Prell said. “In our previous work there we’d spun augers and based our findings on cuttings and split spoon intervals. With the direct push samples, we were able to see what was actually there and feel confident we did not miss any layers.”

Overall, the geotechnical exploration capabilities of the 7822DT hydraulic drill rig have exceeded their production expectations and allowed them to maintain their busy schedule.

“We did not think the power needed was there or the equipment was truly set up for geotechnical drilling. We were wrong,” Prell said. “I think Geoprobe^® has proven its consistency, that’s why we are considering adding another 7822DT to continue to enhance our geotechnical fleet.”

Hydraulic Drill Rig Offers Multifunctional Success

Prell believes the 7822DT's versatility sets them up to succeed on a variety of projects.

“I think the range of options for taking samples really opens some doors for our future with other projects. The Geoprobe^® 7822DT is designed to accommodate a wide array of sampling methods, from traditional soil sampling techniques like SPT to more specialized methods like direct push,” he said. “This adaptability allows us to tackle diverse project requirements with a single machine.”

* Split tube soil sampling system manufactured under U.S. Patent 9,551,188