GA Site Investigation Ltd

Types of Rigs at GA Site Investigation Ltd

A professional and independent site investigation, tailored to your specific requirements

state-of-the-art equipment

Rotary Drilling Rigs

Our rotary drilling rigs are versatile and ideal for penetrating various soil and rock formations. These rigs are equipped with powerful rotary heads, making them suitable for:

Window Sampling Rigs

Our window sampling rigs are designed for shallow investigations and are highly portable, making them ideal for sites with limited access. These rigs are used for:
Types of Rigs
Massenza Mi2 Rotary Dynamic Rig
Archways Dart Dynamic Drilling Rig
Dando Terrier Dynamic and Rotary Drilling Rigs
Premier 110RP Dynamic and Rotary Drilling Rig
Diamond Coring

CAPABILITIES AND ACCESS REQUIREMENTS FOR Mi2 ROTARY DYNAMIC RIG

ACCESS:
Preferred minimum straight-line width = >1.2m

Absolute minimum straight-line width 0.85m (subject to turning; slope angle and direction (up-down/cross-slope); uneven ground, etc.

Straight-line is based on being able to travers a 2.6T tracked drilling rig unit of 4.5m length x >0.85m width to test locations. The rig requires sufficient ‘turning-clearance/circle’ to manoeuvre safely around bends, obstruction.

The rig can traverse up/down gradient slopes up to c.20° subject to surface conditions, etc. The rig cannot track ‘cross slope’ c15° without additional enabling works.

DRILLING TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE USING Mi2 RIG:
1. DYNAMIC WINDOWLESS SAMPLING
2. DYNAMIC PROBING
3. COMBINED DYNAMIC WITH ROTARY FOLLOW-ON CASED DRILLING (DRFO)
4. DIAMOND CORING OF SURFACE MATERIALS
5. S-GEOBORE WIRELINE WATER FLUSH ROTARY CASED ROCK CORING
6. CONVENTIONAL (ROD) WATER FLUSH ROTARY CORE DRILLING (T2-101/T2-86)
7. CONTINUOUS FLIGHT AUGURING
8. HOLLOW STEM FLIGHT AUGURING
9. AIR-FLUSH DOWN THE HOLE HAMMER (DTH) DRILLING AND ODEX CASED DTH DRILLING
10. WATER FLUSH ROTARY OPEN HOLE DRILLING

Drilling Methods:
Dynamic Windowless Drilling – Geotechnical substrata sampling and in-situ testing
• Achieved maximum borehole depth of 20m
• Direct-to-liner standard sample diameters of 101mm to 50mm. 116mm samples are also available
• Cased or uncased borehole excavation: Standard casing diameter 128mm
• Direct standard penetration tests (SPT)
• Cone penetration tests (CPT)
• Super Heavy Dynamic Penetration tests (DPSH) max achieved depth 30m (available rods)
• UT100(mm) and U100(mm) diameter undisturbed sampling
• UT100mm diameter Shelby tube sampling
• Direct to liner soil sampling in cohesive superficial strata and in ‘extremely weak to very weak’ weathered or ‘soft’ rock, with intact orientated core sample recovery
• Undisturbed ‘intact’ cohesive core sampling from liner tubes
• Disturbed sampling
• Groundwater sampling
• Contamination soil and water sampling
• Groundwater and ground gas monitoring point installation

Dynamic Rotary Follow-On Drilling: Geotechnical and Rock.
Dynamic drilling as above
• Diamond coring of hard surface materials (50-150mm diameter)
• Water Flush S-Geobore Wireline simultaneous fully cased rotary drilling with 146mm diameter hole and 102mm diameter ‘core recovery’. Achieved maximum depth coring 30m governed presently by in-house S-Geobore casing stock and wireline rope length. Potential coring depth 60m (manufacturers data)
• Rotary continuous flight auguring either through dynamic sampling casing or open hole (no casing). Achieved maximum depth 20m, limited to current flight augur stock
• Hollow Stem auguring
• Air-flush rotary down the hole hammering either cased (Odex) or open hole. Achieved maximum depth 30m limited to current drill rod and Odex casing stock
• Conventional water flush rock coring using T2-101 and T2-86 core barrels. This method has now generally been superseded by S-Geobore drilling as preferred coring method
• Water and air-flush ‘drag bit’ drilling

Types of Rigs

Description title

Track-mounted Unit
Dimensions (mm) with mast retracted: 2515 L x 600 W* x 1340 H
Dimensions (mm) with mast elevated: 2700 L x 600 W* x 2300 H
Gross weight: 670kg

*Width is 1160 mm with tool carriers fitted

Standalone Unit:
Rig dimensions (mm): 750 L x 600 W x 2300 H (3.0m headroom required for internal drilling)
Rig weight: 240 kg
Track unit dimensions (mm): 1180 L x 670 W x 640 H
Track unit weight: 430 kg

Hydraulics:
Cylinder pullback: 7 tonne

Hammer Mechanism:
Drop weight (free fall): 50 or 63.5 kg interchangeable
Drop height: 500 or 760 mm interchangeable
Max. sampling diameter¨150 mm
Max. sampling depth: 15 to 20 metres (dependent on ground conditions)

Types of Rigs

CAPABILITIES AND ACCESS REQUIREMENTS FOR Dando Terrier Dynamic and Rotary Drilling Rigs

ACCESS:
Preferred minimum straight-line width = >1.0m

Absolute minimum width without carrying baskets = 800mm subject to turning; slope angle and
direction (up-down/cross slope); uneven ground, etc.
Straight-line is based on being able to travers a 1.17T tracked drilling rig unit of 2.8m length x 0.8m width to test locations. The rig requires sufficient ‘turning-clearance/circle’ to manoeuvre safely
around bends, obstructions, etc.

The rig can traverse up/down gradient slopes up to c.30° subject to surface conditions.

The rig cannot track ‘cross slope’ >20° without additional enabling works.

DRILLING TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE USING DART DYNAMIC DRILLING RIG:
1. DYNAMIC WINDOWLESS SAMPLING
2. DYNAMIC PROBING

Drilling Methods:
Dynamic Windowless Drilling – Geotechnical substrata sampling and in-situ testing
• Achieved maximum borehole depth of 20m
• Direct-to-liner standard sample diameters of 101mm to 50mm. 116mm also available
• Cased or uncased borehole excavation: Standard casing diameter 128mm
• Direct standard penetration tests (SPT)
• Cone penetration tests (CPT)
• Super Heavy Dynamic Penetration tests (DPSH) max achieved depth 30m (available rods)
• UT100(mm) and U100(mm) diameter undisturbed sampling
• UT100mm diameter Shelby tube sampling
• Direct to liner soil sampling with cohesive superficial strata and very weak/weak soft rock
core recovery
• Undisturbed ‘intact’ cohesive core sampling from liner tubes
• Disturbed sampling
• Groundwater sampling
• Contamination soil and water sampling
• Groundwater and ground gas monitoring point installation

Rotary Drilling Using Dando Terrier

ACCESS:
Preferred minimum straight-line width = >1.0m
Absolute minimum width without carrying baskets = 800mm subject to turning; slope angle and direction (up-down/cross slope); uneven ground, etc.

Straight-line is based on being able to travers a 1.24T tracked drilling rig unit of 2.9m length x 0.8m width to test locations. The rig requires sufficient ‘turning-clearance/circle’ to manoeuvre safely around bends, obstructions, and headroom clearance of 5.0m for rotary drilling.

The rig can traverse up/down gradient slopes up to c.25° subject to surface conditions.

The rig cannot track ‘cross slope’ >20° without additional enabling works.

DRILLING TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE USING DANDO ROTARY DRILLING RIG:
1. DIAMOND CORING OF HARD SURFACE MATERIALS
2. CONVENTIONAL (ROD) WATER FLUSH ROTARY CORE DRILLING (T2-101/T2-86)
3. CONTINUOUS FLIGHT AUGURING
4. HOLLOW STEM FLIGHT AUGURING
5. AIR-FLUSH DOWN THE HOLE HAMMER (DTH) DRILLING AND ODEX CASED DTH DRILLING
6. WATER FLUSH ROTARY OPEN HOLE DRILLING

Drilling Methods:
• Diamond coring of hard surface materials (50-150mm diameter)
• Rotary continuous flight auguring either through dynamic sampling casing or open hole (no casing). Achieved maximum depth 20m, limited to current flight augur stock
• Hollow Stem auguring
• Air-flush open-hole (no casing) rotary down the hole hammering (DTH). Achieved maximum depth 20m
• Conventional water flush open-hole rock coring using T2-101 and T2-86 core barrels.
• Water flush open-hole ‘drag bit’ drilling – maximum depth achieved 25m

Types of Rigs
Types of Rigs
Types of Rigs

CAPABILITIES AND ACCESS REQUIREMENTS PREMIER 110 RP DYNAMIC RIG

ACCESS:

Preferred minimum straight-line width = >1.2m

Absolute minimum straight-line width 1.0m (subject to turning; slope angle and direction (updown/
cross-slope); uneven ground, etc.

Straight-line is based on being able to travers a 1.26T tracked drilling rig unit of 2.45m length x 1.0m width to test locations.

The rig requires sufficient ‘turning-clearance/circle’ to manoeuvre safely around bends, obstructions, etc.

The rig can traverse up/down gradient slopes up to c.30° subject to surface conditions.

The rig cannot track ‘cross slope’ >20° without additional enabling works.

DRILLING TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE USING 110 RP RIG:
1. DYNAMIC WINDOWLESS SAMPLING
2. DYNAMIC PROBING
3. COMBINED DYNAMIC WITH ROTARY FOLLOW-ON CASED DRILLING (DRFO)
4. DIAMOND CORING OF SURFACE MATERIALS
5. CONVENTIONAL (ROD) WATER FLUSH ROTARY CORE DRILLING (T2-101/T2-86)
6. CONTINUOUS FLIGHT AUGURING
7. AIR-FLUSH DOWN THE HOLE HAMMER (DTH) DRILLING AND ODEX CASED DTH DRILLING
8. WATER FLUSH ROTARY OPEN HOLE DRILLING

Drilling Methods:
Dynamic Windowless Drilling – Geotechnical substrata sampling and in-situ testing
• Achieved maximum borehole depth of 20m
• Direct-to-liner standard sample diameters of 101mm to 50mm. 116mm also available
• Cased or uncased borehole excavation: Standard casing diameter 128mm
• Direct standard penetration tests (SPT)
• Cone penetration tests (CPT)
• Super Heavy Dynamic Penetration tests (DPSH) max achieved depth 30m (available rods)
• UT100(mm) and U100(mm) diameter undisturbed sampling
• UT100mm diameter Shelby tube sampling
• Direct to liner soil sampling with cohesive superficial strata and very weak/weak soft rock core recovery
• Undisturbed ‘intact’ cohesive core sampling from liner tubes
• Disturbed sampling
• Groundwater sampling
• Contamination soil and water sampling
• Groundwater and ground gas monitoring point installation

Dynamic Rotary Follow-On Drilling- Geotechnical and Rock
Dynamic as above

• Diamond coring of hard surface materials (50-140mm diameter)
• Rotary continuous flight auguring either through dynamic sampling casing or open hole (no casing). Achieved maximum depth 20m, limited to current flight augur stock
• Air-flush rotary open hole down the hole hammering. Achieved maximum depth 30m limited to current drill rod and Odex casing stock
• Conventional water flush rock coring using T2-101 and T2-86 core barrels.
• Water flush ‘drag bit’ drilling

Types of Rigs
Types of Rigs

Diamond Coring

 

Diamond rotary coring of concrete slabs, concrete or brick walls or other hard surface materials is undertaking utilising portlable water flush drilling equipment with corehole sizes of 200mm to <50 being available.

Standard core barrel lengths are 450mm, with additional barrel lengths being available on request. The maximum single core barrel length is governed by the ‘travel length’ of the drill head on the drill stand, normally around 500-600mm maximum travel.

Extension rods are used to increase the depths that can be achieved by coring, with the final depth being subject to the number of extension rods added between the core barrel and drill head.

The protable diamond drill unit is used for vertical, horizontal and angled corehole drilling.

Where concrete or hard surfacing is present at boerhole locations, cores can be taken using a detachable core drill head when using the Archways Dart or Premier 110 RP rigs, or the built rotary drill head fitted to the Mi2 or Dando Rotary Head.

Nominal 150mm diameter coreholes are used during dynamic sampling operations as this allows the use of the simultaneous Duplex or Odex casing and sampling equipment.

Types of Rigs
Types of Rigs

state-of-the-art equipment

Dynamic Sampling Rigs

Dynamic windowless sampling is the main type of rig  we use for general soft ground, or superficial soil sampling, and in-situ testing. These rigs are lightweight, highly manoeuvrable, and require limited width access, and can access sites not possible with larger rigs, including inside existing buildings. Using percussive drilling techniques, these rigs provide flexibility and efficiency, and are suitable for: 

  • Superficial soil and weathered shallow rock sampling
  • In-situ soil strength testing
  • Disturbed and undisturbed sampling
  • Installation of groundwater, ground gas, deep datum, and a range of other monitoring points

Dynamic Rotary Follow-on Rigs

These rigs have the same advantages as a standard dynamic drilling rig with regards, access, flexibility, and efficiency, with the additional benefit of ‘rotary follow-on’ through deposits which cannot be penetrated by dynamic sampling alone. Using combined dynamic rotary follow-on (DRFO) techniques, these rigs are suitable for:

  • Superficial soil and weathered shallow rock sampling and in-situ strength testing
  • Rotary coring of rock formations to 30m using Geobore-S fully cased techniques with direct to liner core recovery, and in-situ rock strength testing, detailed logging and laboratory strength analysis of cores
  • Rotary air-flush cased percussive drilling in rock with
  • Rotary air or water flush open hole drilling in rock with in-situ strength testing
  • Rotary continuous flight auguring through stiff cohesive, dense granular or weathered rock formations, with in-situ strength testing

Tracked Rigs

Our tracked rigs are designed to access challenging terrains and remote locations. These rigs are equipped with tracks for enhanced mobility and are used for:

  • Rough or uneven sites
  • Limited access areas
  • Remote environmental and geotechnical investigations

Get in touch

CONTACT THE TEAM TODAY!

For more information about our drilling rigs and how we can assist with your site investigation needs, please get in touch with GA Site Investigation Ltd. Our team of experts is ready to help you select the right equipment and approach for your project, ensuring reliable and accurate results.