Subsurface Investigation Services

To support Southern Earth Sciences, Inc.’s geotechnical and environmental exploration objectives, we staff experienced crews and equip them with a variety of subsurface investigation equipment. We particularly specialize in equipment like truck, track and barge-mounted drilling rigs, cone penetrometer testing rigs, direct-push and vibra core rigs.

Cone Penetration Testing

The Southern Earth Sciences, Inc. cone penetrometer system is designed to provide high quality geotechnical, and hydrogeological, in-situ soil properties. In other words, our 20-ton capacity truck and track-mounted CPT units have a climate-controlled operations center for maximum production. Futhermore, regardless of weather conditions or time of day, we can still work.

20 Ton Track-Mounted CPT Rig

The 20-ton heavy-weight, track-mounted Penetrometer system is a self-propelled hydraulic remote controlled CPT system. It is designed for rough terrain or areas where low ground pressure is required for vehicle access. It has two double hydraulic cylinders coupled by a platen that pushes and pulls digital cones and other tools. Additionally, it is powered by a 130 Hp diesel engine. In addition, the unit is equipped with hydraulic leveling jacks and a climate-controlled operations center. Finally, the contact pressure is approximately 6 psi.

20 Ton Truck CPT Rig

The 20 ton truck CPT rig is an ideal vehicle to provide quick, cost effective mobile platform for high production in geotechnical and environmental soils investigations. This system is equipped with 5 and 10 ton seismic piezo cones and vision cones. The operations center is climate controlled for maximum production, regardless of weather conditions or time of day.

Support Equipment CPT on Marsh Buggy

Our CPT system has the capability to be mounted on a marsh buggy for access in swampy conditions.

This setup has been extensively used in south Louisiana for exploration work associated with bridges, pipelines, levees, etc. Additionally, we have performed CPTs from marsh buggies to depths over 100 feet with this subsurface investigation piece of equipment.

CME-45 Four-Wheel Drive Truck

The CME-45 is mounted on a four-wheel drive vehicle which is equipped with flight augers, hollow stem augers, and mud rotary equipment

Diedrich D-50 Track-Mounted

The Diedrich D-50 is a very versatile drilling rig especially since it has a very low contact pressure of approximately 3 psi. This particular rig can be configured with augers, mud rotary or NQ wireline.

In addition, a Gardner Denver displacement pump is utilized for advancing large diameter boreholes. It can reach to depths of 200 feet for 4” diameter by 4’ long tube samples. Moreover this is required for the Corps of Engineers (COE) levee projects.

Diedrich D-50 Two-Wheel Drive Truck

This rig is mounted on a two-wheel drive vehicle. Also, it is equipped with flight augers, hollow stem augers, mud rotary equipment, and NQ wireline.

40-Foot Pontoon Barge with Diedrich D-50

Southern Earth Sciences, Inc has a 35 foot by 12 foot barge-mounted drilling equipment. It is utilized for projects requiring subsurface investigations over the water. This Diedrich D-50 mounted on the barge is capable of borings in excess of 200 feet.

Tripod Drilling

The tripod equipment is used in sensitive environmental areas. This is to minimize the impact of drilling operations. In other words, the equipment is manually operated to depths generally less than 100 feet. Standard penetration tests, Shelby tube samples, and vane shear test can be performed using the manual equipment.

Jack-Up Barge

Our drilling and CPT equipment is mounted on a Jack-Up barge. This is used for offshore projects especially where there is excessive wave action. Borings and CPT penetration have exceeded depths of 200 feet in areas where the water depths may be 50 feet.

Geoprobe 6625 Track-Mounted CPT and Macrocore

The Geoprobe 6625 CPT is a self-anchoring multi-purpose push platform. The system has 20 tons of push capacity when anchored. Even though the equipment weighs less than 5 tons, it is capable of collecting CPT data. Additionally, it can also be switched to conventional. This piece of equipment supports both “Geoprobe” mode for MacroCore soil and groundwater sampling.

Vibracore

SESI’s 3-inch Vibracore is barge-mounted and consists of a submersible pneumatic vibrating motor attached to a four-inch steel casing. The casing has an internal clear acrylic sampling tube and is capable of sampling up to 20 feet.