Ground Investigation
Rotary Drilling
ADP crews are proficient and skilled in the provision of rotary drilling techniques, deploying various methods via modern, multi-purpose rotary rigs to achieve good core recovery and accurate results, in any geological formation.
The fleet
Explore our rotary rigs
Our rotary fleet is built around five multipurpose Comacchio models - from the compact GEO205 through to the flagship GEO601, with open holes from 50m to 300m. Select a model to see its full specification.
Comacchio GEO205
The ultimate geo-environmental site investigation rig
Rig dimensions
Rig capabilities (guide only, subject to geology)
The Comacchio GEO205 rotary drilling rigs are capable of carrying out a range of drilling techniques, whilst still being light weight and compact, thus making them very versatile cost effective rigs. The Comacchio rigs are powered by a silenced diesel engine fitted with a spark arrestor and chalwyn valve.
The GEO205 is transported to site via a specialist plant trailer towed by a 4x4 and backed up by a support vehicle carrying all consumables and ancillary drilling equipment. The rigs have a powerful impact hammer mounted to the side of the main drill head, which is used to advance windowless sample barrels through soft substrata to retrieve high quality samples. Upon encountering harder geology the rigs have several solutions to offer including hollow or solid stem augering, open hole or rotary coring. In compliance with all HSE and client requirements all of our rotary drilling rigs are fully guarded, giving ultimate protection to all drillers and public.
The Comacchio GEO205's primary application is geotechnical and environmental ground investigation.
Comacchio GEO300
A mid-range, multipurpose rig between the GEO205 and GEO305
Rig dimensions
Rig capabilities (guide only, subject to geology)
The Comacchio GEO300 sits between the compact GEO205 and the larger GEO305 - a versatile, multipurpose rotary rig carrying the same range of techniques in a mid-weight, manoeuvrable package. Like the rest of our fleet it is powered by a silenced diesel engine fitted with a spark arrestor and chalwyn valve.
The GEO300 handles dynamic (windowless) sampling, hollow and solid stem augering, rotary open-hole drilling and rotary coring, along with the full range of geotechnical and environmental in-situ testing - a strong all-round choice where the GEO205 runs out of depth but a GEO305 is more rig than the site needs. In compliance with all HSE and client requirements, all of our rotary drilling rigs are fully guarded.
Comacchio GEO305HT
Medium in size, large in power and performance
Rig dimensions
Rig capabilities (guide only, subject to geology)
Medium in size, large in power and performance, the Comacchio GEO305HT is as capable conducting SPTs as it is drilling 50m rotary cored and open boreholes. The Comacchio GEO305HT rig, weighing in at 5.50-6.00t (variant dependent) is transported to site by ADP's own LGV transport truck and supported by an Iveco 7ton van containing all the drilling equipment and site specific materials.
With the ability to hollow stem augur and dynamic sample to 25m, rotary core and open hole to depths of up to 100m, and undertake a wide variety of geotechnical and environmental in-situ tests, the Comacchio GEO305HT is the answer to all your SI problems. The Comacchio "slide-o-matic" head allows the transition between the high torque, high speed rotary head and the high power hydraulic impact hammer in a matter of seconds - meaning borehole progression, sampling and tests in any geology!
The perfect geotechnical borehole rig is complemented by a rig mounted SPT hammer, not only making the process more efficient but also eliminating the requirement to lift the hammer manually - reducing manual handling onsite! The GEO305HT is equipped with a high pressure mist/wash-down pump and a TR200 (150lpm) mud recirculation pump. In compliance with all HSE and client requirements all of our rotary drilling rigs are fully guarded, giving ultimate protection to all drillers and public.
Comacchio GEO405HT
Compact, yet very powerful and hugely capable
Rig dimensions
Rig capabilities (guide only, subject to geology)
The GEO405HT's are compact, yet very powerful and hugely capable rotary rigs, equally as capable of both SI work, Geobor-S wireline coring or open hole drilling to depths in the order of 150m bgl.
With a rotary head capable of low speed, high torque; as well as high speed with less torque, the Comacchio GEO405HT is a formidable force capable of progressing boreholes in any geology to depths in excess of 150m using either DTH hammer, rock roller, drag or PCD bits, or to diameters of 300mm using hollow and solid stem augers.
Making it more specific to the geotechnical industry, ADP's GEO405HT variant is also fitted with a rig mounted SPT hammer, not only making the process more efficient but also eliminating the requirement to lift the hammer manually - reducing manual handling onsite!
Other systems include overburden casing and wireline coring. Flushing mediums include mud/water re-circulation via the on board 200l/min mud pump, or air flush via an auxiliary compressor.
Comacchio GEO601HT
The flagship geotechnical rig in our modern fleet
Rig dimensions
Rig capabilities (guide only, subject to geology)
The GEO601HT is a compact, yet powerful and hugely capable rotary rig capable of forming geotechnical, rotary cored or rotary open boreholes to depths in excess of 250m.
The GEO601 can provide continuous cored sample recovery via dynamic sampling and rotary coring either conventionally with T6-116 or T6-146, or with wire-line in the form of Geobor-S. The latter of which allows boreholes to be cored to greater depths, in very efficient timeframes. It can also efficiently drill rotary open holes with the use of PCD and tri-cone NC bits. All systems are supported by either the on-board clean water mist pump, or the triplex 300L/min mud pump.
The Comacchio GEO601 is the flagship geotechnical rig in our modern fleet and is fitted with a rig mounted SPT hammer, not only making the process more efficient but also eliminating the requirement to lift the hammer manually - reducing manual handling onsite!
The GEO601HT rotary drilling rig is mobilised via LGV transport truck, this truck also carries all in-hole equipment as well as auxiliary equipment such as compressors and mud recycling equipment. The rig is supported by an Iveco 7t van and operates many systems, the capabilities of which are outlined below.
At a glance
Compare the fleet
| Specification | GEO205 | GEO300 | GEO305HT | GEO405HT | GEO601HT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary open hole | 50m | 75m | 100m | 150m | 300m |
| Coring depth | 40m | 85m | 100m | 120m | 250m |
| Dynamic sampling | 20m | 25m | 30m | 30m | 30m |
| Weight | 2.70t | 3.5t | 5.20-5.50t | 6.50t | 9.00t |
| Engine power | 40hp | 58hp | 75hp | 95hp | 134hp |
| Width | 1.20m | 1.42m | 1.63m | 1.70m | 1.85m |
Rotary drilling
ADP crews are proficient and skilled in the provision of rotary drilling techniques, and can deploy various methods via modern, multi-purpose rotary rigs to achieve good core recovery and accurate results, in any geological formation.
Boreholes can be drilled with a combination of dynamic sampling and rotary coring; rotary casing or hollow stem augers are used to progress through any geology encountered. At any stage within a borehole, both undisturbed sampling and geotechnical testing can be carried out.
Boreholes can be progressed via dynamic sampling and rotary coring, to depths in the order of 200m. Wireline coring can be used as an alternative to conventional coring, aiding efficiency at greater depths, providing good core recovery in softer formations and class 1 samples.
Both air and water flushing mediums can be utilised to assist borehole progression. ADP crews are experienced in the investigation of potentially contaminated sites, and can implement measures to accommodate both yellow and red category sites.
Dual casing systems can be installed to provide environmental seals in heavily contaminated soils.
Dynamic Sampling
Quality, bulk-disturbed samples
Quality, bulk-disturbed samples of unconsolidated, superficial stratum.
Samples are presented in rigid plastic liners, in sizes ranging from 86mm to 146mm. Samples are taken with a hydraulic-percussive sample hammer, mounted adjacent to the rotary head on ADP's multi-purpose rotary rigs. This percussive hammer in-turn drives a 1.5m sample barrel through the superficial stratum, to collect samples in rigid, plastic liners.
Rotary casing or hollow stem augers are then used to over-drill the dynamic sampling barrel, allowing retrieval to the surface for presentation to the engineer.
Rotary Coring
100% core recovery
100% core recovery in changeable, competent geology.
Conventional rotary coring, utilises a triple barrel coring system (double barrel system, plus a rigid plastic liner) to obtain continuous samples through competent stratum. The driller has a selection of core bits available to him, to allow progression through a complete spectrum of geological formations; the rig has various settings (speed, feed/weight) to ensure recovery is optimum.
Wireline Coring
Speed and quality in one system
100% core recovery in changeable, competent geology, with no time lost tripping drilling rods in and out on every run! Speed and quality, rolled in to one efficient system; Geobor-S.
Like conventional rotary coring, wireline coring utilises a triple barrel coring system (double barrel system, plus a rigid plastic liner) to obtain continuous samples through competent stratum.
The Geobor-S rods are effectively a casing, they hold the coring barrel in a locking mechanism within the lead length, this barrel is then retrieved via an over-shot mechanism, attached to a high-speed wireline winch, mounted alongside the standard rig service winch. The barrel is retrieved to the surface, liner exchanged (core removed), and launched back in to the string, to commence the next run.
Undisturbed Sampling
Class 1 undisturbed samples
Class 1, undisturbed samples can be taken with thin walled sample barrels, samples are then waxed to protect the moisture content, and sent away for the relevant lab-tests.
- U70 - 70mm undisturbed sample barrel system, complete with a retrievable steel liner.
- U100 - 100mm undisturbed sample barrel system, complete with a retrievable steel liner.
- U100T - 100mm undisturbed sample system, thin walled, class 1 sample. Single barrel liner.
Geotechnical Testing
Standard Penetration Testing
SPT - Standard Penetration Testing, weight of 63.5kg is dropped over a calibrated distance of 760mm, the number of blows taken to drive the sampler over a set distance is recorded. All SPT hammers are calibrated annually.
ADP utilise a mixture of rig mounted, and ancillary trip hammers operated by the winch.
In their words
What our clients say
Overall the level of engagement [from your crews] in safety stewardship and safe operations has been consistently excellent, both in their understanding of safety requirements but more importantly in their pro-active approach to safety and continuous improvement of working standards.
Rotary drilling FAQs
Coring, depth and in-situ testing on our rotary fleet.
Can you core rock, and how deep can you drill?
Yes. Our modern, multipurpose rotary fleet handles dynamic sampling, rotary open-hole drilling, conventional and wireline coring (including Geobor-S) and rotary-percussive work. We routinely recover cored boreholes beyond 150m with Geobor-S, drill open boreholes in excess of 300m and in diameters up to 300mm, and take SPTs and undisturbed samples through the profile. If your investigation needs deep or continuously cored holes, we have the rigs and our own transport to deliver them.
Do you carry out SPTs and undisturbed sampling in the field?
Yes - Standard Penetration Tests and undisturbed (U100 / UT) sampling are part of our standard offer, alongside dynamic sampling and rotary coring. Several of our rigs carry rig-mounted SPT hammers, which keeps the test consistent and takes the manual handling out of it. We recover and preserve samples on site, ready for your logging and laboratory scheduling.
Planning a rotary drilling programme?
Send us the scope and access details and we'll recommend the right combination of methods and rigs.
Get a quote