Rock Coring Drill Requires Crane Ride

Impressed after buying their first 3126GT, Tri State Drilling knew if they had an opportunity to buy another rig it would be another 3126GT. They were specifically interested in the 3126GT for its capabilities as a rock coring drill.

“Our first 3126GT was pretty close to one rig to do it all, from geotechnical rock coring, soil sampling, and direct push on a compact platform,” Alex Bittel, operations manager, said. “The set up with the water swivel and the breakout table is nice. We’re rock coring with them nearly everyday.”

When approached to do a project at the Tennessee State Capitol, they knew the 3126GT was the right rock coring drill rig for the job.

“The 3126GT is compact enough to get into tight areas, and we can be set up and running in 10 minutes,” Bittel said.

Vibrating Wire Piezometers Project

The project involved setting vibrating wire piezometers to monitor groundwater prior to construction. Had it been in a flat field, the scope wouldn’t have been much to handle. But this project required a crane ride over retaining walls each night.

“We would drill the hole during the day. Then the crane would come at night to move us,” Bittel said. “While the crane was setting up, all we had to do was pick up the tool rack and drive up to the crane. It would pick up the rig with the tool rack loaded on the blade to relocate us. By the time we were on the ground we were boomed up and drilling in 10 minutes.”

Due to the logistics, the vibrating wire piezometers project to complete two holes took four days.

“I didn’t sleep for like three days it felt like,” Bittel said. “We were on a tight schedule because of all the moving pieces.”

The ability of the rig blade to lift a rod rack meant everything they needed to do the job could be transported on the rig.

“We used the water tank on the super rack and kept it pumped full of water from our support truck,” Bittel said.

The speed at which they were able to get to work after being dropped over the wall kept questions at bay.

“With the client and the number of eyes on us, they didn’t have a lot of questions because we were able to get straight to work,” Bittel said. “Having nice equipment gives you an edge to get opportunities like this.”

Bittel believes Geoprobe^® offers two distinct advantages.

“One is service. There’s always someone there to help us. We always have a heavy backlog of work so we can’t afford to be down,” Bittel said. “Two is innovation. Every year they listen to drillers and better an already good product to make it even more operator-friendly.”