Before carrying out any geotechnical work, choosing the right rig for the job is a necessity. The drilling rig hire is only the first step, however!
To ensure the project is completed to the highest possible standard, you may need to hire some extras alongside the rig. For many unlucky contractors, this realisation sets in too late, once they’re already on-site.
At Borehole Solutions, we firmly believe that ‘preparation makes perfect’. With this mantra in mind, we would like to share some rig hire extras that are frequently requested. With any luck, this will help at least one person make the right hiring decisions before it’s too late!
Track Mats
As we’re sure you’re well aware, the UK is subject to a fair bit of rain. Whether you like wet weather or not, we assure you that it’s less than ideal for drilling. Not only does a waterlogged site make the work itself difficult; simply accessing the site can be a problem. Even our smaller drilling rigs are incredibly heavy. It’s no surprise that this cumbersome equipment should easily become bogged down in wet, muddy conditions. Or, at least, it’s no surprise if you don’t plan accordingly.
Including track mats in your drilling rig hire offers a simple solution to this; they will provide traction in utterly sodden conditions. Financially speaking, track mats are quite an economical extra. They will save a substantial amount of both time and stress on-site.
Flotation Tyres
As you might expect, flotation tyres are designed to ‘float’ over the surface on which they travel. Borehole Solutions offers low-pressure flotation tyres. These bespoke options ensure minimal ground pressure, specifically for cable percussion drilling.
Flotation tyres help to reduce the impact on the local environment and are particularly important in more environmentally-sensetive areas. Most commonly used in agricultural settings, however, like track mats, flotation tyres can help to prevent rigs from becoming bogged down.
LOLER-Stamped Casing Stillages
The stillages offered by Borehole Solutions are metal cages. These are designed to carry our wide-diameter rig casings. They’re particularly popular as they make moving equipment much quicker, easier, and most importantly, safer.
When transporting any kind of heavy machinery – on-site or note – the safety of those involved is paramount. So much so that, within the drilling industry, it’s critical to comply with LOLER (Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998). With this in mind, ensuring your drilling rig hire is entirely safe from a transport perspective is essential.
Casing Jacks
Casing can sometimes get lodged in a borehole after the drilling is finished. This is where a casing jack comes in. One of their leading benefits is that they can be operated without the help of a rig. Furthermore, despite their size, they have immense pulling power. A stuck casing will prove to be a terrible nuisance without a casing jack to hand. With one, however, it will barely be an issue.
The rig itself is obviously the basis for any geotechnical site investigation. There is, however, so much more additional equipment that can be added to your drilling rig hire. Whilst rarely essential in order to complete the job, certain extras are almost certainly essential in delivering a project as effectively as possible. If you take anything away from this blog, just remember, preparation makes perfect.
If you would like to find out more about the extras Borehole Solutions can provide to make your project easier, quicker, safer, or all of the above, don’t hesitate to get in touch! You can contact us today on 01733 200 501.