Ground Investigation Drilling Services

Rotary drilling offers several advantages in ground investigations: 

• Versatility: Rotary drilling can be used in a wide range of soil and rock types, from soft clays to hard rocks. It can also be adapted to various drilling methods, such as open hole drilling, conventional coring, and wireline coring. 
• Depth: Rotary drilling can achieve greater depths compared to other methods, such as dynamic sampling or window sampling. This makes it suitable for investigations requiring information on deep subsurface conditions. 
• Sample quality: Rotary coring techniques, such as Geobor S, provide high-quality, continuous core samples that allow for detailed examination of soil and rock stratigraphy, structure, and properties. 
• Speed: Rotary drilling can achieve faster penetration rates compared to other methods, particularly in hard or dense soils and rocks. This can result in more efficient and cost-effective investigations. 
• Compatibility with in-situ testing: Rotary drilling can accommodate various in-situ testing methods, such as SPTs or pressuremeter tests, providing additional data on soil properties. 

BRE365 soakaway testing is conducted to assess the suitability of a site for the use of soakaways as a drainage solution. Soakaways are designed to collect and disperse surface water or stormwater runoff into the ground, reducing the load on traditional drainage systems and promoting groundwater recharge. 

BRE Digest 365 provides guidance on the design and construction of soakaways, including the methodology for conducting soakaway tests. The testing involves excavating a trial pit, filling it with water, and measuring the rate at which the water level drops over time. This data is used to calculate the infiltration rate of the soil and determine the required size and capacity of the soakaway. 

Conducting BRE365 soakaway testing is important for several reasons: 

• Regulatory compliance: Many local authorities require soakaway testing to be conducted in accordance with BRE365 guidelines as part of the planning and approval process for new developments. 
• Site suitability assessment: Soakaway testing provides data on the permeability and infiltration capacity of the soil, helping to determine whether soakaways are a viable and effective drainage solution for the site. 
• Design optimisation: The results of soakaway testing inform the design of the soakaway system, including the size, depth, and configuration of the soakaway chambers or trenches. 
• Sustainable drainage: Soakaways promote sustainable drainage practises by reducing surface water runoff, mitigating flood risk, and supporting groundwater recharge. 

We employ several measures to ensure the quality and reliability of ground investigation data: 

Experienced and Qualified Personnel

Our drilling team consists of highly skilled and experienced professionals who are trained in industry best practices and adhere to strict quality control procedures. 

State-Of-The-Art Equipment

We invest in modern and well-maintained drilling rigs, sampling tools, and testing equipment to ensure accurate and reliable data collection. 

Quality Control Procedures

We implement rigorous quality control measures, such as calibration of testing equipment, proper handling and storage of samples, and detailed logging and documentation of field activities. 

UKAS-Accredited Laboratory Testing

Samples collected during our ground investigations are tested in UKAS-accredited laboratories, ensuring the accuracy and reliability of the results. 

Technical Review and Oversight

Our ground investigation work is supervised and reviewed by experienced geotechnical engineers and engineering geologists, who provide technical guidance and ensure compliance with project requirements. 

Comprehensive Reporting

We provide detailed factual and interpretive reports that present the ground investigation data clearly and concisely, including borehole logs, test results, and site plans. 

Lucion’s ground investigation drilling services can benefit your project in several ways: 

• Comprehensive understanding of site conditions: Our wide range of drilling techniques allows us to obtain detailed information on soil and rock stratigraphy, properties, and contamination, providing a comprehensive understanding of the subsurface conditions. 
• Informed decision-making: The data obtained from our ground investigations enables informed decision-making on foundation design, excavation methods, remediation strategies, and other aspects of your project, reducing uncertainty and risk. 
• Regulatory compliance: Our services are designed to meet the requirements of various regulatory authorities, ensuring that your project complies with relevant standards and guidelines. 
• Time and cost efficiency: Our experienced team and state-of-the-art equipment allow us to conduct ground investigations efficiently, minimising delays and costs to your project. 
• Tailored solutions: We work closely with our clients to understand their specific project requirements and tailor our ground investigation approach accordingly, ensuring that the data obtained is relevant and valuable. 
• Integration with other services: Our ground investigation drilling services are fully integrated with our other geotechnical and environmental services, such as laboratory testing, monitoring, and consultancy, providing a comprehensive and seamless solution for your project. 

By partnering with Lucion for your ground investigation drilling needs, you can have confidence in the quality and reliability of the data obtained, enabling you to make informed decisions and minimise ground-related risks to your project. 

Several drilling techniques are commonly used in ground investigations, each with its own advantages and applications: 

Dynamic Sampling 

Techniques such as Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) and Dynamic Probe Testing (DPT) involve driving a sampler into the ground using a hammering action. These tests provide data on soil strength and density. 

Rotary Drilling 

This method uses a rotating drill bit to advance the borehole and retrieve samples. Rotary drilling can be conducted with solid or hollow stem augers, open-hole drilling, or conventional coring. Rotary drilling is suitable for a wide range of soil and rock types. 

Wireline Coring 

Techniques such as Geobor S involve the use of a wireline system to retrieve core samples from the borehole. This allows for continuous coring and minimises disturbance to the sample. 

Percussion Drilling 

This method uses a hammering action to advance the borehole and is suitable for drilling through hard or compact soils and weak rocks. 

Window Sampling 

This technique involves driving a sampling tube with a cutting shoe into the ground to obtain continuous, relatively undisturbed soil samples. 

The choice of drilling technique depends on factors such as the purpose of the investigation, the anticipated ground conditions, the required sample quality, and site access constraints. 

Ground investigation drilling is conducted to obtain detailed information about subsurface conditions for geotechnical and environmental assessments. The purpose of these investigations is to: 

• Determine soil and rock stratigraphy, including layer depths and thicknesses 
• Obtain samples for laboratory testing and classification 
• Assess soil and rock properties, such as strength, permeability, and compressibility 
• Identify potential geotechnical hazards, such as soft or compressible soils, cavities, or shallow groundwater 
• Detect and characterise contamination in soil and groundwater 
• Provide data for foundation design, slope stability analysis, and other geotechnical engineering applications 
• Inform the selection of appropriate construction methods and materials