Protect Team by Investing in Sonic Rig Systems Which Create Safe, Virtually Hands-free Job Sites

As safety regulations become more stringent and the need for increased productivity continues to rise, the ability to automate certain aspects of drilling operations will become a key competitive advantage.

“Our hands-free rod handling systems and indexing racks are just the beginning,” Doug Koehler, Geoprobe^® sonic expert, said. “We’re constantly looking for new ways to reduce the physical demands on operators and improve overall efficiency.”

Another way of reducing physical strain and enhancing efficiency includes the self-propelled SRC30DT rod carrier. When paired with 8150LS and rod handler, drillers can achieve a virtually hands-free sonic rig drilling operation.

Rod Handler

The hands-free tooling, along with the customer service and support they’d always received from Geoprobe^®, were the initial selling points for South Atlantic Environmental Drilling and Construction Company (SAEDACCO) in South Carolina, purchasing an 8140LS and later an 8150LS.

"We like to avoid guys getting their hands near the drill rods whenever possible. The Geoprobe^® rod handler was a game changer in that area,” Pete Byer, president, shared.

Companies who had tried drilling at a site in Guymon, Oklahoma, lost pipe strings in the rough formation. Being successful dry drilling with his Geoprobe^® 8150LS in Oklahoma and Texas, Robert Keyes, president of Associated Environmental Industries, had faith in his rig and his driller, Billy Graham, to get the job done. He convinced the state to let them give it a try, offering “free” services.

“I told them ‘if we fail, you don’t owe us anything’,” Keyes said. “We don’t like the word ‘can’t’. We either make the box bigger or tear its walls down. We keep getting better at what we do.”

Using the 8150LS, rod handler, and 4.5-inch HD sonic rods, Graham successfully completed the four, 200-foot borings and accurately set the monitoring wells. He credits the tooling and machine along with Graham, known for accepting challenges and succeeding.

“When coring at that depth, you may get a 10-foot run, you may only get a two-foot run. That’s a tremendous amount of tripping out,” Keyes said. “With other brand sonic rigs we own, guys are worn out after a 200-foot core without the rod handler.”

The rod handler with elbow and wrist features allow users to operate on uneven terrain and retrieve tooling for angle sonic drilling up to a 45 degree angle. Geoprobe^® also offers the weighted wireline sampling system, which when paired with the rod handler further reduces operator interaction with the tool string.

“Once the weight system is initially put into the tool string, it’s not handled by the operator again until after the last sample has been retrieved from the borehole,” Koehler said.

Self-Propelled Rod Carrier

Responding to the need to minimize manual manipulation of casing, particularly on mining sites, Geoprobe^® introduced the SRC30DT self-propelled rod carrier during 2024. When paired with the 8150LS V3 and rod handler, the SRC30DT creates a nearly hands-free job site.

“The SRC30DT is a direct response to customer requests,” explains Koehler. “It further minimizes operator contact with tool strings, not only reducing physical fatigue, but also enhancing job site safety.”

Capable of carrying a combination of independent rod magazines placed onto the carrier using a forklift, additional rods can be fed from the rear of the carrier. Once positioned on site, the carrier hydraulically tethers to the 8150LS for power during the job.

Looking to the future, Geoprobe^® is committed to continuing this tradition of innovation. The company is exploring new technologies that could further enhance the capabilities of their sonic rigs, including additional advances in hands-free operation.

“We’re always looking ahead,” Koehler says. “Our goal is to develop rigs that are not only capable of meeting today’s challenges but are also ready for whatever the future may bring.”