Geotechnical Drilling Atlanta How Do You Evaluate the Climate With Geotechnical Drilling?

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Geotechnical drilling companies in Atlanta most often perform drilling projects as part of a construction project or as part of a project used to evaluate a site for possible sinkholes, underground wells or even underground gas or oil deposits.

But in some regions, geotechnical drilling is used for a very different purpose – to gather information about the climate and other conditions on earth in the recent and distant past. So how is this achieved and how does geotechnical drilling play a role?

Atlanta geotechnical drilling clients very rarely see freezing temperatures, so needless to say, Georgia is not a prime location for retrieving the ice cores that are so commonly used to evaluate climate change.

Ice cores are large vertical columns of ice that are extracted in a large tube of sorts using a portable drilling rig. These drilling operations do require specialized techniques and equipment as the drilling process can produce a fair amount of heat (which obviously, is problematic if you’re seeking to extract a column of ice.)

These ice cores are usually extracted from the ice caps in Greenland, Antarctica, Siberia and even from ice sheets on mountain glaciers.

Ice cores provide an accurate record because these regions have been frozen for thousands of years, so without a thaw, layer upon layer of ice formed, locking small bubbles of air, particulate matter and ice in place. There have even been discoveries of volcanic ash and smoke particles from forest fires captured in ice cores. These frozen time capsules offer a wealth of information to scientists who know how to interpret the data.

These ice core records can be used by scientists to determine the climate and even what geological events occurred in past millenniums. Some of the events that can be dated using ice cores include:

• Temperatures and climate fluctuations
• Precipitation levels
• Ocean levels and ocean volumes
• Volcanic eruptions
• Forest fires
• Atmospheric pollution levels
• Weather patterns and climate shifts

This information can be valuable from a scientific perspective, particularly as scientists try to determine the human impact on the environment and the true risk of global warming.

Also, by evaluating how the earth’s climate has evolved and changed in the past, it gives us a better idea of how the climate may change and evolve in the years to come, in Atlanta. Geotechnical drilling in Atlanta plays a vital role in this scientific discipline.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Winter Park Why is My House Sinking and Cracking and What Can I Learn with Geotechnical Drilling?

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Winter Park geotechnical drilling firms occasionally receive calls from property owners who have noticed that their home has recently started sinking, sloping and cracking, both in the walls and . It’s also common to receive reports of “sticking” or even jammed doors.

There are a few different issues that can result in this type of damage and it’s common to call in a firm to perform geotechnical drilling. Winter Park residents can gain significant insight into the cause of the problem and how it can be remedied.

How Can I Benefit from Geotechnical Drilling?

Winter Park geotechnical drilling technicians will work with an engineer to determine the ideal drilling sites, which can be used to extract sub-surface samples using various methods. This can reveal greater insight into your situation.

One possibility is a poorly-constructed (or a very old and deteriorating) foundation, which is crumbling and failing in a manner that causes shifting in the structure. This situation can often be identified by an experienced engineer and subsequently repaired without the need to perform geotechnical drilling.

Another potential cause involves poor quality earth, with relatively loose and moist sub-surface layers. This instability most often results in areas with sandy soil and poor water drainage over a broad area. As a result, the entire home – foundation and all – may begin sink. If the sinking occurs unevenly, cracking can arise in the home’s walls and foundation.

Geotechnical drilling technicians can identify this problem by analyzing soil samples and geotechnical test results. The remedy will vary depending upon the exact nature of the situation. In some cases, modifying the drainage in the area can help prevent further degradation. In other cases, it may be necessary to modify the home to maintain structural stability.

It’s also possible that a homeowner could see cracked walls, cracks in the foundation and other signs of movement and shifting, such as “sticky” doors, resulting from sinking and shifting that’s connected to an underground void. In Florida, the limestone bedrock is prone to dissolution when exposed to mild acids that are commonly found in the sub-surface layers. This can result in an underground cavity that can be identified through geotechnical drilling operations.

In some cases, a small cavity has collapsed, resulting in the structure’s shifts. In other cases, a small amount of shifting may foreshadow a major, catastrophic collapse that would result in a sinkhole. In this case, it’s possible to drill down into the bedrock, placing stabilization rods in the stone and connecting those rods to the structure’s foundation for support, even if the ground falls away.

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

Geotechnical Drilling White Kitchen What is Geotechnical Exploration?

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Geotechnical exploration is one form of geotechnical drilling. White Kitchen, Louisiana area oil companies, natural gas companies and mining companies may turn to a geotechnical drilling firm for help with geotechnical exploration in a particular area.

How Are Gas, Oil and Mineral Deposits Identified With Geotechnical Drilling?

White Kitchen natives may be wondering, “What is geotechnical exploration and why is it performed?”

Well, generally speaking, the geotechnical drilling crews will transport portable drilling rigs to the site in question and they will drill down into the earth, extracting samples that provide insight into what lies beneath the surface. When performing geotechnical drilling, White Kitchen clients can expect that a number of different procedures may be performed, including rock coring, sampling, in-situ testing and beyond. Experienced engineers and core sample analysts can evaluate the samples to gain lots of insight about the site.

Multiple drilling sites are typically selected to provide information on the size and location of the gas, oil or mineral deposit. Additional tests, such as ground penetrating radar or test wells may be utilized to explore the site further. The initial site investigation typically begins with an exploration with geotechnical drilling.

White Kitchen natives may also use geotechnical exploration to learn more about the site’s geology and history. This can be important for scientific studies, which are sometimes commissioned as part of an energy company’s efforts to identify oil or gas deposits. It may also be possible to evaluate the deposits, determining the quality and composition. This information is important when determining if a site is suitable for a more permanent drilling rig, well or mine. Extracting minerals, oil or natural gas can be a costly and technically complex project, so companies work hard to ensure that a particular site is worth their investment in terms of money, time and effort.

It’s also fairly common for a geotechnical drilling firm to perform a similar site investigation for an area that is being considered for a new structure. This helps to ensure both the structure’s safety and integrity.

Notably, the Gulf Coast area is among the most challenging areas of the nation for geotechnical exploration and geotechnical drilling. This is due to the fact that areas of Florida, Louisiana, Alabama and even Texas are often the site of soft bedrock and soft, sandy soil which is prone to shifting, settling and movement.

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

Geotechnical Drilling West Monroe Municipal Projects and Geotechnical Drilling

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West Monroe, Louisiana geotechnical drilling firms routinely perform drilling work for state and local municipalities that are seeking to repair an existing structure, such as a roadway or bridge, or build an entirely new one.

But why do you need geotechnical drilling? West Monroe natives frequently wonder about this question, so that’s precisely what we’ll explore in today’s article.

Why Do You Need Geotechnical Drilling?

West Monroe geotechnical drilling projects are an important part of the engineering and planning process for municipal projects, particularly those involving roadways, bridges, culverts and beyond.

The properties of the earth underlying a structure can have a tremendous impact on structural integrity because the ground may settle, sink or even collapse under the weight of the structure, resulting in catastrophic failure that holds the potential to cause injuries and even deaths.

The nature of the underlying soil and bedrock will have a significant impact on the design of many roadways, bridge structures, culverts, retaining structures and actual buildings.

For example, if a site is found to have soft soil with a high moisture content, the engineers may need to take measures to improve drainage in the area, in addition to erecting lots of extra supports to ensure that the structure remains stable. This is frequently the case for structures such as bridges, roadways and other similar structures because often, you have limited options for precisely where to build, whereas with a typical building, it’s usually possible to select a different building site if a particular area just isn’t suitable.

Notably, West Monroe geotechnical drilling operations are among the most complex in the nation. In fact, the entire gulf coast is rather challenging due to its geology, which includes soft bedrock in many areas, combined with loose, sandy soil, which often has a high water content.

The geotechnical engineers may call for a number of different tests, including cone permeability tests whereby a large cone-shaped object is pressed into the ground to determine the degree of compaction and permeability. It may also be necessary to perform borings to extract soil and rock samples. Core samples – comprised of a vertical column of undisturbed earth – are also extracted in some cases, along with samples that are extracted for analysis using hand-driven augers, Shelby tube samplers and split spoon samplers, among other sampling techniques.

Samples and in-site testing is performed to glean data that engineers can use to create a safe, stable structure that will serve the community for many years to come.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Shreveport What Are the Types of Geotechnical Tests and Geotechnical Drilling?

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Shreveport, Louisiana geotechnical drilling firms work with experienced geotechnical engineers, geologists and other experts to evaluate sites throughout Louisiana, Florida and the Gulf Coast. In fact, the Gulf Coast region is home to some of the continent’s most challenging geotechnical drilling environments due to the prevalence of loose, sandy soil, combined with high ground water content and soft bedrock in many regions.

So what are the different forms of geotechnical testing and geotechnical drilling? Shreveport natives frequently enquire on this point, so our expert team has compiled some additional information on this topic.

What Are the 4 Forms of Geo-Testing and Geotechnical Drilling?

Shreveport geotechnical explorations usually fall into four different categories. Some of these procedures are performed by a geotechnical drilling firm, while others are performed by other geotechnical investigators.

Test Pits – Test pits are dug using an excavator or by hand to provide a more general look at the sub-surface layers and conditions. Since the soil is disturbed during this process, the information that you can glean from this method is somewhat limited (although you can evaluate the “walls” of the pit, which are intact in terms of density, compaction and structure.) This technique is usually performed for fairly shallow depths only. Samples can be extracted using hand-driven augers, Shelby tube samplers, modified California samplers, split spoon samplers and other sampling techniques.

Trenching – Similar to the technique used for test pits, trenching involves the creation of a long trench that is excavated by hand or using an excavator. Trenching provides insight into how the sub-surface conditions change and vary across a larger area of land.

In-Site Testing – In-site testing refers to on-site testing methods, like standard penetration tests (SPTs) and cone penetration tests, which can be used to evaluate the properties of the soil without removing and analyzing samples. This provides a fairly accurate idea of sub-surface conditions, but the testing is somewhat limited in terms of depth. It can be challenging to perform some in-site tests beyond a certain depth.

Borings – Borings are typically small diameter holes that are drilled to extract soil and rock samples. Unfortunately, the boring process tends to disturb the soil, so the samples may not accurately represent the actual sub-surface conditions. But you can still send boring samples for analysis to determine values such as soil type, consistency, gradation, classification, the presence of contamination, moisture density relations, CBR and stratification.

A variation of borings are drilling operations designed to remove a vertical column of earth, called a core sample, which preserves much of the soil structure so the sample is more representative of the conditions that are found below ground.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Oak Ridge What is Bedrock and How Can You learn about it With Geotechnical Drilling?

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Oak Ridge, Louisiana geotechnical drilling technicians can extract samples from a range of different sub-surface layers, including the bedrock. But what is bedrock, why is it important and why would you want to sample it?

These are amongst the most common questions that we receive concerning geotechnical drilling. Oak Ridge natives can read on to learn more about bedrock and why sampling is sometimes necessary.

Why Do You Sample Bedrock With Geotechnical Drilling?

Oak Ridge geotechnical drilling operations sometimes entail drilling down into the bedrock, which is a layer of lithified rock that underlies a number of different layers of earth. These different regolith layers situated atop the bedrock are called “horizons.”

The very top layer is the organic layer, comprised of leaves, sticks, dead plants and other organic matter. This layer, also called “Horizon O” is organic-rich dirt where natural composting takes place. Below the organic layer is “Horizon A,” the surface layer. This layer has a bit less organic matter, although plant roots frequently penetrate down into this layer.

The subsoil layer, also called “Horizon B” is next. Many of the deepest roots penetrate down into this layer, which is comprised primarily of soil, with some rocks. Below this layer is “Horizon C,” the substratum layer, which is a fairly rocky soil layer that sits directly atop the bedrock. The bedrock is considered “Horizon R.”

Bedrock can extend hundreds of feet down below the surface, abutting the earth’s crust in some regions. Bedrock can be comprised of igneous, metamorphic or sedimentary rock. Whatever the rock type, the bedrock components are typically consolidated from the aggregate pressure of the overlaying soil layers.

The bedrock is important because there are many structures that require excavating down into the bedrock. The degree of difficulty for this type of project will vary depending upon the type of stone that comprises the bedrock. In other instances, the engineers may choose to drill down into the bedrock, inserting stabilization rods that connect to the foundation for added stability in regions with questionable stability.

The U.S. Gulf Coast is a geologically unique region, with lots of loose, sandy soil and limestone bedrock in many regions. Geotechnical drilling allows you to extract samples from the bedrock, which provides geologists and geotechnical engineers to learn more about the composition of the bedrock, its integrity and overall quality and even if the area is prone to a sinkhole.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Fruit Cave What is Environmental Geotechnical Drilling?

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Fruit Cave, Louisiana geotechnical drilling projects often involve environmental investigation, which is important for a range of different projects, including contamination investigations and scientific studies by geologists and natural history experts.

Geotechnical drilling can reveal a lot of important information, using methods such as rock coring, soil sample extraction, in-site testing and beyond.

What are the Uses for Environmental Geotechnical Drilling?

Fruit Cave area natives may call upon an environmental drilling team to assist with an investigation into an area that is believed to be contaminated and/or polluted. Contaminants can spread throughout the soil and other underground structures with surprising ease, especially if the area has underground water flows. This has the potential to lead to extensive groundwater contamination.

Geotechnical drilling can be used to identify the precise extent of contamination and pollution, while also providing insight into the degree of environmental damage that has resulted from the contaminants. Additionally, the data gleaned from an environmental drilling venture can also be used to help craft an effective contamination remediation plan, to clean up and/or contain the contaminants (depending upon the precise nature of the contaminants and the ground composition.)

Once the nature and extent of the pollution or contamination is identified, a plan can be developed to correct the problem. In some cases, the contaminated earth may be removed and carted away to a safe disposal location. In other situations, membranes and other dividers can be used to contain the contaminants to a particular location so they do not spread.

Geologists and other scientists who are studying natural history may seek to gain information and insight from an environmental drilling venture. An expert can gather a lot of useful data from rock, mineral, gas, oil and soil samples that can be extracted from the earth.

Environmental drilling can also be used in cold, arctic locations to extract ice core samples. These ice cores can contain a wealth of information about the climate and environment in bygone eras. Scientists can use these ice core samples to learn more about past climate shifts, geological events such as volcano eruptions and even what plants and animals happened to live in a particular region at a specific point in time. This work is usually performed by a firm that specializes in environmental geotechnical drilling. Fruit Cave, of course, is located in a warm, sub-tropical region, so this type of work is not performed locally.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Jacksonville Beach How Can You Fix an Unstable Structure With Geotechnical Drilling?

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Jacksonville Beach, Louisiana geotechnical drilling firms are kept quite busy because the Gulf Coast is one of the most challenging regions of the continent when it comes to geotechnical engineering. This is because regions of Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and Texas (amongst other regions) are plagued by loose, sandy soil, combined with soft bedrock and a higher than average frequency of sinkholes.

When it comes to site investigations that utilize geotechnical drilling, Jacksonville Beach area developers and builders only started utilizing this form of site investigation in recent decades. This means that there are many older structures that are on unstable ground and at risk of catastrophic failure or collapse. But this is an area where geotechnical drilling can be useful, as you can gain the information you need to make modifications that can repair a structure’s instability.

How Do You Repair a Damaged Structure Using Geotechnical Drilling?

Jacksonville Beach area builders, engineers and architects frequently hire a geotechnical drilling firm to perform an investigation at a site where you have a structure that’s ailing. Some of the most common situations include:

  • A building that is showing signs of “sinking” and shifting
  • A building that is atop a known underground void, which could collapse into a sinkhole at any time
  • A structure in a location that was damaged by an earthquake, flood or other natural event
  • A structure that’s showing unexpected or premature structural degradation that cannot be attributed to the architectural design (and is therefore believed to be a result of a change in the underlying earth.)

All of these cases share one thing in common: the underlying earth appears to be lacking integrity and strength, resulting in damage and a serious safety risk in many cases.

With geotechnical drilling, Jacksonville Beach natives can evaluate the ground composition, the stone and bedrock integrity, the moisture content and the overall stability of the earth. In cases where an underground void is present and at risk of collapse, the drilling team can evaluate the void, which may then be pumped full of cement to prevent collapse.

Based on the findings of the drilling operation, engineers and architects can develop a plan to modify the structure, by adding reinforcements, supports and other measures to render the structure safer and more stable. It’s also possible to drive poles down into the bedrock, affixing those poles to the foundation for support.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Harvey How Can You Construct Safer Buildings Using Geotechnical Drilling?

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Harvey, Louisiana geotechnical drilling firms can provide an essential service to developers and structural engineers, resulting in safer, stronger and more resilient structures – structures that are apt to last longer and resist catastrophic collapse due to floods, earthquakes or other assaults.

So how can you build safer structures using geotechnical drilling? Harvey area natives can read on to learn more!

How Are Structures Safer from Geotechnical Drilling?

Harvey area builders, developers and engineers frequently turn to geotechnical drilling firms to gain information into the nature and composition of the earth at a particular site. This is frequently done during the initial phases of the project when different sites are being considered for a building or other structure.

In fact, many regions require a comprehensive site investigation be performed before the authorities will issue a building permit for the location. This is more frequently true of large structures, like commercial buildings, industrial structures, multi-unit residential buildings and other structures, such as a bridge or parking garage.

With geotechnical drilling, Harvey site investigations can reveal lots of information, including:

  • The type of rock
  • The density, quality and integrity of the rock
  • The moisture content of the soil
  • The type of soil
  • The compaction and stability of the soil

Geotechnical drilling site investigations may also reveal underground structures, such as voids that could collapse into a sinkhole, along with mineral deposits, underground water flows, oil deposits and gas deposits.

Geotechnical drilling results in safer structures for a few reasons. First and foremost, the site must be sufficiently stable and strong to support the building. The quality of construction matters little if it’s built atop unstable ground or poor quality rock.

The ground composition at a site can also have a major impact on how a structure performs in a natural disaster, such as an earthquake or flood, so by building in an ideal location, you can reduce the amount of damage and the number of injuries or deaths that arise during a disaster.

Additionally, geotechnical drilling site investigations can provide structural engineers and architects with insight into what structural changes may be required, including alterations to the foundation, caissons, supports and even large metal poles that are drilled down into the bedrock to provide greater stability in an area that lacks stability or is prone to sinkholes. This makes for a safer structure that will be far less prone to collapse or failure.

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

Geotechnical Drilling Hammond What is the Difference Between Disturbed and Undisturbed Soil Samples in Geotechnical Drilling?

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Hammond, Louisiana geotechnical drilling companies can provide engineers and site planners with vital information about a site by extracting many different types of samples, including soil samples, rock samples and even ice cores in arctic drilling projects. Two of the most common types of soil samples are disturbed soil samples and undisturbed soil samples.

So what are disturbed and undisturbed soil samples, how are they different and what information can they provide engineers, developers, builders and site planners? Well, that’s precisely what we’ll explore today!

What are Disturbed and Undisturbed Soil Samples in Geotechnical Drilling?

Hammond engineers and developers may seek out disturbed and undisturbed soil samples from a site, as they are critical for determining the site’s engineering properties, while also verifying geophysical properties.

A disturbed soil sample is one that has been disturbed or “rearranged” to some degree through the drilling or excavation process. The sample’s disturbance can result in the loss of some data, such as the degree of compaction, overall ground stability and the moisture content of a certain layer of soil (particularly in cases where multiple layers are intermingled during the drilling, extraction or excavation process.)

But disturbed soil samples tend to be much easier (and faster) to extract and they can provide a lot of important basic information concerning the soil composition, including:

  • Soil type
  • Gradation
  • Consistency
  • Classification
  • Stratification
  • Contamination
  • Moisture density relations
  • CBR

Undisturbed soil sample extraction is more challenging and time-consuming, as you’re essentially tasked with removing an undisturbed chunk of earth exactly as-is.

Undisturbed soil samples provide vital data into the degree of compaction and ground density, the moisture content at various levels and in various layers of the earth. Assuming the sample is extracted without any disruption, then this type of sample is more representative of the actual underground conditions at the site of the geotechnical drilling.

Hammond engineers can derive a wealth of data from undisturbed samples, including:

  • Strength and integrity
  • Permeability
  • Compressibility and settlement
  • Unit weight
  • Natural moisture content
  • Fractures and discontinuities
  • Fissures of sub-surface formations

Special care must be taken when transporting undisturbed samples because otherwise, the properties of the sample could be altered. If the sample is not properly packed for transport or if the transportation process involves lots of jarring, sudden movements, this could alter the sample, rendering it useless for determining specific properties or values.

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