The Geoprobe® 8040DT arrives with exciting new possibilities, increased power, more versatility, and the push you need to stay ahead of the game!

As with all direct push machines, the hammer is critical to how well the machine performs in the field. The GH80 Hammer on the 8040DT is capable of driving 2.25- and 3.25-in. tooling to greater depths in tougher formations. Or if a larger volume soil sample or 2-in. well is needed, the

GH80 direct drives the new 4.5-in. tooling completing projects that were previously unthinkable. Designed into the 8040DT is a long list of features. The machine incorporates a two-speed hydraulic top head for classic auger/drilling methods for lithologies not conducive to direct push techniques. According to Ryan Kejr, Machine Design Engineer, “the head handles the full 80,000 lb. of pullback required for a direct push machine of this magnitude. The 8040DT head also has an integrated hydraulic clamp to safely and quickly pull rods while maintaining an open ID.” All three functions are mounted on a sideshift carriage allowing the operator to work the ID of the rod without moving the foot.

“Having such a durable rotary head,” said Mark Schock, Owner of Glacier Drilling in Durham, CT, and first 8040DT owner, “gives you a feeling of comfort knowing the damaging percussion of a downhole hammer won’t destroy the rotary head or probe hammer. The potential and possibilities for rotary drilling, such as auger, roller cone, mud, or even [competent rock] core, are available here like no other probe machine.”

Glacier’s clients have seen the value of installing 2-in. monitoring wells using direct push.

“Being able to grout off a 2-in. prepacked well screen as well as generating zero soil cuttings for disposal is a money saver,” Mark said.

Think about it ... for a borehole of this size, you’ll have no cuttings. At a test site in Tennessee, the 8040DT pushed 4.5 in. tooling through hard clays and dense sands to approximately 42 ft., with no cuttings.

Joe Wilkinson, Vice President of M&W Drilling in Knoxville, TN, was on site with the Geoprobe® R&D Engineers during well installation where the field team punched as many as 18 holes (nearly 756 ft.) per day. “We were completing as many holes as a sonic-type machine that was there,” Joe stated.

“The sonic-type rig was generating close to a drum of IDW (investigation derived waste) per hole because they had to core the material from 20 ft. to approximately 42 ft. We were able to drive the 4.5-in. solid points to depth without generating any IDW at all. The client was impressed.”

The 8040DT was also tested at Otis Air National Guard Base in Massachusetts. According to Andrew Tingley, Field Services Manager for CH2M HILL, a contractor at the base, their field team liked what they saw. “This rig had the power, maneuverability, and geometry to install prepacked screens up to 200 ft. bgs in a short period of time. We liked what we saw. At one point in my career, I believed that direct push technology would never reach the depths that we can achieve today. That’s a credit to the research and testing done by the Geoprobe® staff.”

Other machine features include an 84-in. stroke, sideshift that allows centerline access of the toolstring, an integrated electronic diagnostic system, a swing-arm adjustable control panel, a rear stabilizing blade compatible with the Geoprobe® drop-rack system, four hydraulic auxiliary circuits, and a scalable control architecture that allows the customer to quickly reconfigure the unit to match project needs.

And for those of you who want more, the 8040DT has an optional 140 lb. automatic drop hammer, a high-speed hydraulic coring head, a power washer module (which can be added or removed from the machine in 10 minutes), a hydraulic foot clamp for holding rods; a hydraulic winch for handling augers and tripping sampling tools, and a progressive cavity pump (hydraulic and electronic controls are already in place).

“I’ve predominantly been a rotary drilling contractor for over 20 years,” Mark with Glacier Drilling added. “So when I agreed with Vic Rotonda’s (Geoprobe® Mid-Atlantic Region) suggestion to go to Kansas to see a “new project”, I quickly saw why Vic and the other Geoprobe® engineers were excited. The rotary torque, increased hammer capacity, and pullback capabilities of this new machine were all impressive. Although purchasing the first machine in a new series line can sometimes be risky, the personal relationship I had established with the Geoprobe® team over the past few years never made me doubt the inevitable ... I was going to be a happy customer if I purchased the 8040DT. It was trust that sold me on my investment.”

“Durability and power sum up the whole 8040DT experience for me, from the design to the performance and everything in between,” Mark continued.

“We’re really excited about the new capacity this 8040DT machine brings to our industry,” said Tom Omli, Geoprobe® Customer Service. “Although the 8040DT isn’t for everyone, we’re convinced that this new product will impact many of our customers positively, creating numerous economic benefits. This machine is one of those things you just need to see in operation. A spec sheet with diagrams and numbers just doesn’t adequately convey the value engineered into this offering. It’s simply a machine like no other.”

If you have questions about the 8040DT machine, call Tom Omli at Geoprobe Systems® at 1-800-436-7762. Also, check the 2008 Field Days schedule to see when the 8040DT will be in your area.