M&W Drilling (MWD) uses the Geoprobe® 8150LS sonic rotary rig to complete 300 to 400 6-inch holes, 20 to 30 feet deep, to install 2-inch PVC wells for a dewatering project in Denver.
Rather than continue turning down job requests because they didn’t have a sonic rig, M&W Drilling (MWD) in Knoxville, Tennessee, decided two years ago it was time to get into sonic drilling.
“A lot of business kept floating by and we finally decided we had to go that way,” Firas Mishu, president, said. “The rig stays pretty busy and now we’re thinking of buying another one.”
The rig was kept busy for a quarter of the year on a dewatering job in Denver. The shallow water table at the site required dewatering prior to excavation work. The easy maneuverability of the track 8150LS enabled a lot of production for the client. MWD completed 300 to 400 6-inch holes, 20 to 30 feet deep, installing 2-inch PVC wells.
“The tracks and 10-foot stroke resulted in quick, fast, productive work,” Mishu said. “The rig held up great for three months in the cold Denver weather.”
Before purchasing the Geoprobe® 8150LS, Mishu said they were turning down one sonic drilling job per month. Now that the market is aware they have the 8150LS, they’re flooded with sonic job requests – an average of one per week. So much so they’ve been renting a second machine four to five months of the year.
“The best feature of this rig is that it makes money – which means it’s efficient,” Mishu said. “The second best feature is that it’s made by Geoprobe®. I had heard stories of sonic rigs with so many problems, but I’ve never had a major problem. And if I do have a minor problem, Geoprobe® service is quick to respond. I don’t have a lot of down time with this machine.”
The Geoprobe® 8150LS rotary sonic rig is just one in a fleet of 16 rigs. MWD's sonic, air/mud rotary, hollow stem auger, direct push, and core rigs have served more than 500 environmental engineering, remedial clean-up contractors, and consulting firms. Begun in 2004 as a partnership, Mishu is now sole owner of MWD. For the past three years the company has focused on environmental and geotechnical markets.
“I had five other Geoprobe® rigs before buying the 8150LS and knew the Geoprobe® service was great,” Mishu said. “Even with competitors continually trying to sell me their sonic rigs, if I buy another sonic, it will be a Geoprobe® because the service is great.”
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M&W Drilling (MWD) uses the Geoprobe® 8150LS sonic rotary rig to complete 300 to 400 6-inch holes, 20 to 30 feet deep, to install 2-inch PVC wells for a dewatering project in Denver.
MWD has also used the 8150LS to obtain continuous soil and rock core samples to depths of up to 700 feet.
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