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What is Geotechnical Drilling?

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Geotechnical drilling is drilling which is often related to the construction of a structure such as a building or an oil rig. It can be part of the construction process as well as part of the investigation process conducted on site before the structure is built. This process is usually performed by a firm which specializes in providing geotechnical drilling services, under the supervision of a geotechnical engineer who remains present to make sure that the drilling meets the needs of the project. Such firms may also offer other drilling services, depending on their size and where they are located.

One common reason for geotechnical drilling is site investigation. Site investigation is conducted to determine whether or not a site will be suitable for construction. It includes drilling to remove rock and soil samples, along with drilling to evaluate soil stability and other topics of interest. In the case of an oil rig, the drilling can also include investigation to find out more about the quality of the oil and where it is located.

Geotechnical drilling is often performed before an oil well is installed.
Geotechnical drilling is often performed before an oil well is installed.

Site investigation is critical for large structures. Unsafe soil or rock conditions may lead to structural collapse, or could create a dangerous situation in an earthquake or flood. The law often requires that a site be investigated for safety before permits to build will be issued, and that ongoing safety monitoring occur to detect any changes or signs of developing problems which could pose a threat to the development.

A drill rig is used to drill for oil.
A drill rig is used to drill for oil.

As part of the construction process, geotechnical drilling includes drilling to prepare for foundations, caissons, and various supports. Drilling of this kind is overseen by an engineer who confirms the placement of the drill and makes sure that the drilling is conducted properly. Sinking a hole in the wrong place or drilling improperly can create problems which may lead to delays.

A drilling engineer oversees all aspects of a drilling project.
A drilling engineer oversees all aspects of a drilling project.

Geotechnical exploration in searches for deposits of oil, gas, minerals, and other things of value inside the Earth may also utilize geotechnical drilling. Drilling is used to take core samples and to gather data about the site. It is also used by scientists who want to learn more about the Earth, and to take samples such as ice cores in regions like the poles. Ice cores can be a fascinating record of the Earth's climate history, preserved neatly on ice for the convenience of scientists who are interested in climate topics. In this case, geotechnical drilling may be performed by a company which specializes in scientific drilling applications, rather than drilling for construction.

Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a InfoBloom researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...
Mary McMahon
Mary McMahon

Ever since she began contributing to the site several years ago, Mary has embraced the exciting challenge of being a InfoBloom researcher and writer. Mary has a liberal arts degree from Goddard College and spends her free time reading, cooking, and exploring the great outdoors.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

hamje32

@MrMoody - Core drilling in the arctic regions sounds promising. I think it will offer us better insight into things like climate change. So far the only evidence that I’ve come across about polar ice caps melting has been in the way of satellite images of the sheet ice.

I’d like to see more of the results that come about through dedicated drilling in those regions, so that we have accurate measurements of the current density of the ice in the region and how fast that it’s melting.

MrMoody

I don’t think that it’s possible to overestimate the importance of geotechnical drilling in advance of exploration. I’ve heard that some fracking sites in Pennsylvania have been implicated in water poisoning in nearby wells, forcing homeowners to leave and relocate elsewhere.

I don’t know much about the details but I am pretty certain that proper geotechnical drilling could have prevented this outcome. I know there is a lot of excitement about fracking right now, and perhaps the excitement has overshadowed proper site investigation practices, I don’t know.

But I think that the oil industry should take a deep breath and make sure that the sites they wish to explore have been properly studied and determined to be suitable and safe before going full steam ahead with their drilling machines.

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    • Geotechnical drilling is often performed before an oil well is installed.
      By: Edelweiss
      Geotechnical drilling is often performed before an oil well is installed.
    • A drill rig is used to drill for oil.
      By: lightmoon
      A drill rig is used to drill for oil.
    • A drilling engineer oversees all aspects of a drilling project.
      By: Ded Pixto
      A drilling engineer oversees all aspects of a drilling project.
    • Geotechnical drilling may be used to find oil offshore.
      By: Kovalenko Inna
      Geotechnical drilling may be used to find oil offshore.