Subtle Changes in 8150LS Create Big Benefits

Family-run McMillan Drilling began in 1947, focused on providing irrigation water supply in Canterbury, New Zealand. They’ve experienced strategic and organic growth into other markets –including geotechnical, environmental, water supply, and ground heat loops – now completing drilling across New Zealand and the Pacific Islands. With 85 employees working out of offices in Auckland and Christchurch, they have a diverse fleet of 55 machines.

“We have a rig to fit almost any circumstance,” Iain Haycock, CEO, said. “Being multi-disciplinary means we can offer job security when markets fluctuate.”

They’d been watching rotary sonic drilling technology for probably 20 years. Then, on a visit to the Geoprobe^® headquarters in Salina, Kansas, he distinctly remembers walking through the original facility at Broadway with Greg Johnson, former international sale representative, and seeing a very different machine than the typical probes.

“It was a sonic rig in R&D,” Haycock said. “That was probably 10 years before we invested in sonic.”

During 2010 they bought their first rotary sonic drilling rig. They now own three — all Geoprobe^®, with the 8150LS added during 2023.

“The main reason we invested in Geoprobe^® sonic was because I had seen a lot of different types of sonic in the market, but what felt right to me was knowing Geoprobe^® had been doing R&D for a long time,” Haycock said. “I consider Geoprobe^® to be conservative by nature and knew they wouldn’t put something in the market if it wasn’t a solid offering.

To Haycock the consideration put into the sonic drilling equipment design shines through the features, including:

• Flexible Positioning of Drill Mast: “The kinematics in the mast are useful to what we do.”
• Adjustable Swing-Arm Control Panel: “Retaining operator features between versions means the operator can easily transition between rigs.”

“We invested in an 8150LS to have a full-size sonic for the added depths and diameters and capability to take it onto sites we hadn’t been before,” Haycock said.

Before finalizing the purchase of their 8150LS, he visited Geoprobe^® for his sixth or seventh time. He affirms the commitment to simplifying fieldwork comes through each version of the rotary sonic drilling rig.

“There’s been nice innovation between versions. Not huge differences, but subtle changes that make a huge difference,” Haycock said.