White Water, Georgia natives most often turn to a geotechnical drilling firm for help with a project like a new construction project or a civil engineering project involving a levee, dam or roadway. And while many geotechnical drilling projects involve locations that are relatively easy to access, there are some projects where Amdrill’s technicians encounter more of a challenge.

So in today’s article on geotechnical drilling, White Water residents will learn about the most challenging drilling sites.

What Are the Most Challenging Locations for Geotechnical Drilling?

White Water geotechnical drilling technicians generally consider any site that’s hard to access as “challenging.” But challenges come in many different forms.

Marine environments are understandably challenging since you have a water barrier between your drilling rig and the ground. There are also added challenges such as water pressure, which can be significant even at relatively shallow depths. You also need to maintain a stationary location above the drilling site to ensure optimal drill function. This makes drifting or wave action a challenge that must be overcome. Plus, many drilling rigs are vehicle-mounted or feature tank-like tracks. So you need a drilling rig that is sufficiently mobile.

Wetlands are also problematic. Wetlands are hard to access as the water is shallow, yet the ground is far too soft for any wheeled vehicle. Flat-bottomed boats, air boats and even hovercrafts can be used to access a wetlands drilling location (which is a fairly commonplace sites for geotechnical drilling projects.)

Some other drilling projects are considered challenging due to limited space. Confined spaces, such as areas inside or between buildings or other structures can prove to be very challenging for drilling crews. Amdrill has even performed drilling inside buildings, including garages, warehouses, commercial structures and even residential homes.

Even something as simple as a fence or immovable wall can pose a challenge, particularly for larger drilling rigs, which may be truck-mounted or just too large to fit through the fence gates. In the case of water, the lack of a boat ramp can also pose a challenge.

There are many strategies that can be utilized to access challenging sites such as these. In some cases, the drilling rig can be lifted into place using a crane, successfully bypassing a fence, wall or other barrier. In cases where space is limited, a slightly different model of drilling rig may be utilized. This is an example of an instance where it’s helpful to work with a larger, more experienced drilling company, as a larger firm with many years of experience is apt to have alternative drilling rigs and the experience required to get the job done properly.

*Disclaimer: The views expressed here are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of Amdrill Inc*