Safety, Simplicity Contribute to Easy Rock Core Learning Curve

As a project engineer with a Ph.D., Aaron Crowley desired to own his own company. So in May 2022 he partnered with Julie Oliphant, owner of Athena Engineering and Environmental, to launch a sister company ATHENA DRILLING to complete a range of geotechnical and environmental drilling for airports, municipalities as well as state and federal jobs.

When they researched their desired position in the Tennessee market, they gravitated to the 7822DT and its ability to perform both environmental and geotechnical drilling to align with the engineering services. They were also attracted to the safety provided by the controls on the 7822DT.

“When you run into an issue, it's your natural instinct to let go. When you take your hands off the levers on the 7822DT, it stops,” Crowley said. “Other machines aren’t designed that way. This feature makes it easier to train new users; in the instance they cannot hear your instructions, they are naturally inclined to let go of the levers and the rig stops.”

Crowley credits the organization of the lever-based controls for an easy learning curve.

“I learned how to drill on this machine and within three to four months had drilled past 100 feet,” Crowley said. “The simplicity of the machine coupled with know-how and understanding has gone a long way.”

The 4-speed head on the compact, light machine eliminates a tractor trailer to haul a rig suited to complete direct push to rock core. Quick removal of a couple of bolts to swap out options facilitates outfitting the rig to meet job demands, including all geotech drilling.

“I was initially skeptical the 7822DT would make rock core production pace, but I believe it rivals anything else in the industry right now,” Crowley said. “We’ve done 101-foot rock core with weight on bit controls. We hit refusal at 3.5 to 5 feet then cored 120-130 feet in a 10 hour day, using the Moyno 3L6 turned up about 1/3 of the way to run 800 rpm. It cut like a dream.”

The 7822DT recently handled an I-65 Tennessee Department of Transportation roadway widening project. They completed 80 borings of varying refusal and termination depths, typically hitting refusal around 10 to 15 feet then coring through fill material to 30 feet before encountering bedrock.

“The 7822DT is exceeding our production expectations. If you take care of it and listen to it, it will tell you what to do,” Crowley said. “The machine will fit your need if you understand how to approach the project. We have used it for many tasks that might be considered risky, but it has completed those tasks successfully. If you operate it with care, the lifetime and longevity will be increased.”

The 7822DT has successfully completed every project for the fledgling engineering firm.

“It has proven to be very precise, like a razor blade. By using it carefully and skillfully, you can accomplish anything,” Crowley said. “However, if you hammer on it, you will dull it. Each project presents its own challenges, and you need to eat the elephant one bite at a time.”

While his goal is to eventually train a replacement and step back to manage day-to-day operations while someone else pulls the levers, for now Crowley contributes sweat equity to the startup company as driller.

“Obtaining my Ph.D. was never a guarantee, given my modest upbringing in a blue-collar family. I just happened to be in the right place at the right time and took the opportunity laid in front of me because of my work ethic. I have let hard work open doors but that cannot replace the valuable experience of someone who has drilled for 20 years,” Crowley said. “I know what it is like on both sides of an engineering project. It takes skill and knowledge to be a driller, and not everyone can be successful.”