Find the Best Environmental Drilling Near You

Environmental drilling is a process used to investigate subsurface conditions, typically to assess and monitor soil and groundwater quality. This type of drilling helps identify contamination, measure water table depths, and gather data for environmental remediation efforts. The samples collected are used to monitor changes in the environment over time, ensuring that corrective actions, if needed, are effective. Environmental drilling plays a key role in maintaining the safety of land for development and public health.

Environmental drilling is essential for several purposes, including monitoring groundwater for contamination, sampling soil and water, and stabilising boreholes. It helps ensure that any harmful contaminants present in the soil or water are identified and can be remediated. In cases where remediation is required, ongoing drilling helps track the success of cleanup efforts. This process is crucial for both environmental protection and for ensuring that land is safe for future use.

The primary difference between geotechnical and environmental drilling lies in their objectives and sampling methods. Geotechnical drilling focuses on obtaining undisturbed soil samples to analyse ground stability for construction and engineering purposes. Environmental drilling, on the other hand, often collects disturbed soil samples to test for contaminants such as hydrocarbons, heavy metals, or other pollutants. While geotechnical drilling assesses the physical properties of the soil, environmental drilling focuses on detecting and monitoring environmental hazards.

Drilling involves penetrating the ground using specialised equipment to extract rock, soil, or water samples from different depths. The samples collected during drilling are then analysed to determine the subsurface geology or to test for the presence of contaminants. In environmental drilling, techniques such as hollow stem augers or direct push technology (DPT) may be used, depending on the specific needs of the site. The process ensures that accurate data is gathered from various depths for both analysis and remediation purposes.

Drilling offers several advantages, including versatility, speed, and precision. Modern drilling rigs can handle a variety of tasks, from collecting soil samples to monitoring groundwater, making them suitable for many types of environmental investigations. The process is efficient, allowing for quick sample collection, and it can reach depths that would be otherwise inaccessible. Precision drilling ensures accurate data collection, which is essential for environmental monitoring and decision-making.

Environmental drilling is crucial for assessing the health of the subsurface environment, particularly in identifying contamination in soil and groundwater. By extracting and analysing samples, environmental drilling helps track pollution levels and ensures that any contamination is addressed through appropriate remediation measures. This process is vital for ensuring public safety and protecting the environment, especially when it comes to land development or ensuring the long-term health of natural resources like water supplies.

Environmental drilling is used to investigate soil, groundwater, and contamination, with costs typically ranging from $130 to $230 per metre for basic drilling, or $1,800 to $3,700 per monitoring well.

• Hollow stem auger drilling: $164–$230 per metre.
• Direct push technology (DPT): $131–$197 per metre.
• Monitoring well installation (50 mm diameter): $1,800–$3,700 per well.
• Soil sampling: $164–$328 per sample.

Costs depend on factors such as site geology, drilling depth, equipment type, labor, site access, mobilization, and environmental compliance requirements. Additional expenses can include consumables, casing, and laboratory analysis of samples.

Environmental drilling is required whenever detailed information about soil, groundwater, or contamination is needed for environmental assessment, monitoring, or remediation.

Common situations include:

• Site contamination investigations: To assess the presence of pollutants from industrial, commercial, or mining activities.
• Groundwater monitoring: Installing monitoring wells to track water quality, levels, or contaminant plumes.
• Pre-construction or redevelopment surveys: To ensure the land is safe for building and complies with environmental regulations.
• Remediation projects: To plan and monitor soil or groundwater cleanup.
• Regulatory compliance: When authorities require detailed site data for reporting or licensing purposes.

Environmental drilling is often mandated before major developments, after chemical spills, or when soil and water testing is required to protect public health and the environment.

Environmental drilling can detect a wide range of soil and groundwater contaminants, depending on the sampling and testing methods used. Common contaminants include:

1. Hydrocarbons (Oil & Fuel)

• Petrol, diesel, jet fuel, and lubricants
• Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from industrial spills or petroleum leaks

2. Heavy Metals

• Lead, arsenic, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and nickel
• Often associated with industrial sites, mining operations, or old infrastructure

3. Chemicals and Solvents

• Chlorinated solvents (e.g., trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene)
• Pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides

4. Organic Compounds

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
• Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs)

5. Inorganic Substances

• Nitrates, phosphates, and sulfates from agricultural or wastewater runoff
• Salts and other minerals that can affect soil and water quality

6. Pathogens

• In certain groundwater studies, microbial contamination like E. coli can be tested

7. Radioactive Materials

• Naturally occurring radioactive materials (NORM) or contamination from industrial processes

Key Note: The drilling itself doesn’t detect contaminants—samples are taken during or after drilling (soil cores or groundwater) and sent to accredited laboratories for analysis. The choice of tests depends on suspected contamination and regulatory requirements.

After environmental drilling, several steps are taken to analyse the site and plan any necessary remediation or management. The process typically includes the following:

1. Sample Collection

• Soil, groundwater, or gas samples collected during drilling are labelled and stored properly to avoid contamination.
• Multiple depths and locations may be sampled to get a representative picture of the site.

2. Laboratory Testing

• Samples are sent to accredited laboratories for analysis.
• Tests identify contaminants such as heavy metals, hydrocarbons, VOCs, pesticides, or other chemicals.
• Laboratory reports provide concentration levels and compare them with regulatory standards.

3. Data Interpretation

• Environmental scientists or consultants interpret the results to determine the extent, type, and severity of contamination.
• This can include mapping contaminated zones and assessing risks to soil, groundwater, and nearby ecosystems.

4. Reporting

• A detailed report is prepared summarizing:
  • Sampling methodology
  • Laboratory results
  • Risk assessment
  • Recommendations for remediation or further investigation
• These reports are often submitted to regulatory authorities for compliance.

5. Remediation Planning (if required)

• If contaminants exceed acceptable levels, remediation strategies are developed, such as:
  • Soil excavation and disposal
  • Groundwater treatment
  • Containment or capping
  • Bioremediation or chemical treatment

6. Ongoing Monitoring

• Some sites may require long-term monitoring to ensure contaminants are reduced or contained.
• Environmental drilling can be repeated periodically to assess the effectiveness of remediation measures.

Summary: Environmental drilling is the first step in a larger assessment process. Drilling collects samples, lab tests determine contamination levels, and the results inform reporting, remediation, and ongoing monitoring.