Firm Foundations: Drilling Basics

06/22/21

Whether you’re new to environmental services or are only just beginning to consider it as a career path, there’s a lot to learn in this industry and it can be hard to know where to start. That’s why we’re launching our new blog series, Firm Foundations. Each post will provide you with the resources you need to develop a basic understanding of topics like…

Today’s post is about drilling. We’ve collected our best educational content from drilling experts all over the country, and are sharing it here.

This article is divided into two sections: core learning and additional resources. The core learning section covers the essentials—everything you need to know to have a baseline understanding about drilling. The second section provides helpful information that will fill in gaps, answer common questions, and generally make it easier for you to work with and talk to your drilling contractors.

CORE LEARNING

Drilling 101

This on-demand webinar covers the very basics of drilling, laying out the different methodologies, their pros and cons, and the types of projects they’re often used for.

Drilling 102: An Introduction to Environmental and Geotechnical Drilling Methods

More of a reader? This blog post provides a similar overview of the drilling landscape as the Drilling 101 webinar.

Drilling 103: An Introduction to Air Rotary Casing Hammer (ARCH) Drilling

Many people have never heard of (much less used) air rotary casing hammer (ARCH) technology, but it’s actually a powerful drilling methodology well designed for alluvial formations. This blog post covers how it works and when it should be used.

Drilling 104: An Introduction to Rotary Drilling

This was our most popular live webinar of 2020, but you can watch it whenever you’d like now that it’s available on demand. Rotary is a popular drilling methodology, but there are so many variations that it can get confusing. In this webinar, our rotary drilling experts explain the differences between the most common types and when they should be used.

Drilling 105: An Introduction to Auger Drilling

Auger technology is one of the oldest drilling techniques in the world, but it’s still effective today. Learn how it works and when you should consider using it in this blog post.

Drilling 106: An Introduction to Core Drilling

Core drilling was invented by the ancient Egyptians, but there are still reasons to use it today. This blog post explains how the technology work sand when it should be used.

Drilling 107: An Introduction to Direct Push Technology (DPT)

Direct push technology can be used for drilling, sampling, and remedy implementation—but that doesn’t mean it’s always the tool for the job. This on-demand webinar, taught by one of our DPT experts, will explain how the technology works and how to know if it’s your best option.

Drilling 201: Sonic Methodologies and Best Practices

Sonic technology is considered Swiss knife of the drilling world because it can do nearly anything you’d a drill to do. Although its versatility and capability make it a strong contender for many types of drilling projects, there are times when it may be overkill. This on-demand webinar explains how sonic works, and all the times you should (and shouldn’t!) use it.

Drilling 202: An Introduction to Dual Rotary Drilling

A consultant could go their entire career without using dual rotary—which is a shame, because it’s a robust technology with many uses. In this on-demand webinar, you’ll learn how dual rotary works, the pros and cons of using it, and the lithologies where it really shines.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

5 Common Questions About Portable Rigs

Limited access sites can create a lot of headaches, but many of them can be alleviated when your contractor has a portable rig. Get answers to some of the most common questions about using these rigs in this post.

Difficult Drilling: The Differences Between Restricted and Limited Access Drilling

The terms “restricted access” and “limited access” are often used interchangeably, but they don’t mean the same thing. In this article, you’ll learn what each term refers to so you and your drilling contractor can be on the same page for your next project.

Is Rotary Drilling Right for Your Project?

This blog post covers how to know when rotary drilling may be the best drilling technology option, but also provides real-life examples to illustrate.

Developing Your Drilling Program, From Cost Estimate to Mobilization

Developing a drilling program can be daunting, and missing details along the way can result in cost overruns and logistics nightmares. In this webinar, you’ll learn step-by-step how to put together a thorough drilling program.

Critical Discussions to Have Before You Start Drilling

Safety is the top priority on every project site, but it doesn’t happen by accident. This on-demand webinar brings together safety, fleet and drilling experts for a panel presentation on what consultants needs to discuss with their contractors before mobilization.

How to Know if DPT is Your Best Option

Sure, you already watched the webinar about DPT, but a cheat sheet to jog your memory doesn’t hurt. This blog post provides a list of questions to help you decide if DPT may be right for your project.

IDW 101: What You Need to Know About Managing Investigation Derived Waste

Investigation derived waste (IDW) often gets overlooked during project planning, but doing so can result in unexpected costs and logistics to manage. This on-demand webinar shares what you need to ask, do and know to make sure IDW is handled properly on your next project.