During the COVID19 lockdown, Raeburn Drilling & Geotechnical Ltd have continued to provide essential services to emergency call outs. During these projects it is of paramount importance that the wellbeing of the site staff and public are safeguarded under these unprecedented circumstances.

Recently RDG were asked to provide geotechnical services in response to a collapsed utility in an urban environment. To facilitate the repair/replacement of the utility, it was necessary to investigate the extent of the ground disturbance and the nature of the underlying soil. Early engagement and careful consultation with the principal contractor established which of our drilling rigs would provide the best solution. One of RDG’s terrier window sampler rigs was selected for the works as no two-man lifting operations are required in its operation, allowing social distancing to be maintained. In order to maintain social distancing throughout the works, modifications were made such that the mast controls were detached from the rig allowing the lead driller to stand 4-5m from the rig. This allowed the drilling operative to access all sides of the rig to attach/detach equipment, gather samples, etc. without the need for personnel to continually move to and from the rig. One of RDG’s engineering geologists was on site full-time to supervise the works, log samples, and provide geotechnical input as the investigation progressed. All staff were issues with full face visors as additional protection and a minimum of 2m was maintained between personnel at all times.

Three boreholes were undertaken with continuous sampling and each borehole was installed with a ground gas/water monitoring standpipe. Fifteen super heavyweight dynamic probes were undertaken at strategic locations across the site to establish the variability of soil consistency/density, thereby establishing the extend of ground disturbance due to the utility collapse. All positions were surveyed to using in house high accuracy GNSS systems and provided to the client on a 24hr turnaround.

Raeburn are continuing to undertake trial rig setups and rig modification to offer more and more ground investigation solutions as circumstances develop going forward.