Large drilling rigs are used to obtain soil samples.
Civil engineers use the mud rotary technique to obtain soil samples, which are used to determine the type of foundation required for proposed building projects. The type of soil present will affect how deep the building's foundation must be.
How it Works
The mud rotary method uses hollow drill rods with a drill bit. The drill bit pulverizes the material in the hole, and the drill rig pumps fluids through the hollow drill rods and the bit. The fluids then carry the sample to the surface through an annulus between the hole and the drill rods.
Advantages
The mud rotary technique is a very fast and efficient means of drilling, as a rig can drill several hundred feet per day. This method reaches depths of several thousand feet at a width of just 48 inches. Engineers employ the mud rotary method in a wide range of geologic conditions.
Disadvantages
Engineers cannot utilize mud rotary drilling when boulders or cavernous conditions are present. Additionally, work sites are generally sloppy, and some methods of sampling for chemical concentrations are not considered valid. Finally, drilling fluids composed of organic compounds may contaminate and interfere with chemical testing of drilling samples.
