Seek Out Sonic Rigs Backed By Responsive Support and Class-leading Warranties

In an industry where time is money, the ability to monitor and adjust operations in real-time is invaluable. Geoprobe’s remote diagnostics, service support, and class-leading warranties are part of a broader push towards smarter, more connected drilling operations.

“We’re seeing more clients asking for features that allow them to monitor their rigs remotely and make adjustments on the fly,” Doug Koehler, Geoprobe^® sonic expert, said. “This kind of digital integration is going to be increasingly important in the years to come.”

Remote Diagnostics

With a primary focus on environmental drilling, M&W Drilling in Tennessee adapts to market fluctuations by supplementing with other service lines.  When they began in 2005, they would subcontract sonic work. As large projects came up for bid at facilities like Oakridge National Laboratory and Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, they decided to invest in sonic drilling technology.

“Lots of times these scopes specified sonic, which prompted us to purchase,” Joe Mathis, maintenance, said.

Their experience with Geoprobe^® led them to choose the Geoprobe^® sonic system, including rigs and tooling.

“We have a long-standing rapport with Geoprobe^®. They have been extremely good on support — both for service and product,” Mathis said. “They’ve always been a good company to deal with, so we decided to go with Geoprobe^®.”

They keep one 8150LS, two 8140LS, and one 8040DT busy.

“For casing advancement, you can’t beat the 8150LS,” Mathis said. “In unconsolidated soils that won’t stay open, it’s the quickest way to do it. The sonic wave energy liquifies the soil and lets you get through it.”

Mathis appreciates the remote diagnostic system for troubleshooting issues.

“The 8150LS has integrated ability for engineers to log in and watch it run from Kansas,” Mathis said. “There’s so much integration into the computers, if you do have an issue, they can access and change parameters to correct the situation until it can be serviced.”

Geoprobe^®8150LS remote diagnostics allow engineers and technicians to troubleshoot issues from virtually anywhere. This capability is particularly valuable for operators working in remote locations, where access to on-site support may be limited.

“We understand the ability to remain on site to complete the job is critical to customer success,” Koehler explains. “With redundancies built into the machine, remote diagnostics, and live service support for troubleshooting challenges, our rigs can often remain in the field to complete the job.

Mathis values a simple phone call can solve problems.

“They’re good to work with on the phone,” Mathis said. “They’re very adept at helping out on the phone so we’re not having to take the rig to them or for them to come here.”

Service Support

Robert Keyes, president of Associated Environmental Industries in Oklahoma, attributes his business success to “following the technology”. So when Geoprobe^® began developing its sonic line of machines and tools in early 2000, he watched eagerly – knowing he’d have the service support he’d lacked after purchasing another brand’s sonic.

“I evaluated price versus production on the 8150LS and it fell right where we needed it to be. I haven’t regretted it since,” Keyes said. “If you’ve been in the drilling business long enough – a day – you realize how important service is. The service support and remote diagnostics are priceless. If you’re broke down anywhere in the country, a Geoprobe^® service technician can tell you exactly what you need to do.”

Class-Leading Warranty

By following the technology, Keyes recognizes Geoprobe Systems^® has come a long way since its entry into the sonic drilling market in 2009. In 2024, Geoprobe introduced its class-leading 3-year/1,000-hour head warranty on its GV5 50K sonic head. This sonic head is a culmination of years of research, feedback from the field, and relentless innovation.

“The GV5 is designed not just to meet the current needs of our clients but to anticipate future demands in the industry,” Koehler said.

The sonic head delivers an impressive 50,000 pounds of dynamic force at 150 Hz and 4,000 ft-lb of torque at 90 RPM. This combination of power and durability makes it particularly effective in advancing large diameter tooling through challenging subsurface formations, which is a common requirement in many of today’s drilling projects.

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 real-time data integration.