ASTM D6286-98
(Guide)Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling Methods for Environmental Site Characterization
Standard Guide for Selection of Drilling Methods for Environmental Site Characterization
SCOPE
1.1 This guide provides descriptions of various drilling methods for environmental site characterization along with advantages and disadvantages associated with each method discussed. A comprehensive description of these drilling methods can be found in individual ASTM standards, see Section 2. This guide is intended to aid in the selection of drilling method(s) for environmental soil and rock borings and the installation of monitoring wells and other water-quality monitoring devices.
1.2 This guide does not address methods of well construction, well development, or well completion. These topics are covered in other ASTM documents, see Section 2.
1.3 This guide cannot address all possible subsurface conditions that may occur such as, geologic, topographic,climatic, or anthropogenic. Site evaluation for engineering, design, and construction purposes is addressed in Guide D 420.
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. Because dimensions of materials used in the drilling industry are given in inch-pound units by convention, inch-pound units also are used in this guide.
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.6 This guide does not specifically address methods of lithologic sample collection, such as coring, that may require the use of a specific drilling method. Other ASTM guides should be consulted for sampling methods (see Guide D 6169) and equipment necessary for specific projects.
1.7 This guide offers an organized collection of information or a series of options and does not recommend a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education and experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgement. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor should this document be applied without consideration of a project's many unique aspects. The word "Standard' in the title of this document means only that the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus process.
1.8 This guide does not purport to comprehensively address all of the methods and the issues associated with drilling for environmental purposes. Users should seek qualified professionals for decisions as to the proper equipment and methods that would be most successful for their site investigation. Other methods may be available for drilling and qualified professionals should have flexibility to exercise judgment as to possible alternatives not covered in this guide. The guide is current at the time of issue, but new alternative methods may become available prior to revisions; therefore, users should consult with manufacturers or producers prior to specifying program requirements.
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Designation:D6286–98
Standard Guide for
Selection of Drilling Methods for Environmental Site
Characterization
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 6286; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope adequacy of a given professional service must be judged, nor
should this document be applied without consideration of a
1.1 This guide provides descriptions of various drilling
project’s many unique aspects. The word “Standard” in the
methods for environmental site characterization along with
title of this document means only that the document has been
advantages and disadvantages associated with each method
approved through the ASTM consensus process.
discussed.Acomprehensive description of these drilling meth-
1.8 This guide does not purport to comprehensively address
ods can be found in individualASTM standards, see Section 2.
all of the methods and the issues associated with drilling for
This guide is intended to aid in the selection of drilling
environmental purposes. Users should seek qualified profes-
method(s) for environmental soil and rock borings and the
sionals for decisions as to the proper equipment and methods
installation of monitoring wells and other water-quality moni-
thatwouldbemostsuccessfulfortheirsiteinvestigation.Other
toring devices.
methods may be available for drilling and qualified profession-
1.2 This guide does not address methods of well construc-
als should have flexibility to exercise judgment as to possible
tion, well development, or well completion. These topics are
alternatives not covered in this guide. The guide is current at
covered in other ASTM documents, see Section 2.
the time of issue, but new alternative methods may become
1.3 This guide cannot address all possible subsurface con-
available prior to revisions; therefore, users should consult
ditions that may occur such as, geologic, topographic, climatic,
with manufacturers or producers prior to specifying program
or anthropogenic. Site evaluation for engineering, design, and
requirements.
construction purposes is addressed in Guide D 420.
1.9 Pertinent guides addressing specific drilling methods,
1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the
equipment and procedures are listed in 2.1. A comprehensive
standard. Because dimensions of materials used in the drilling
list of guides, methods, practices, and terminology for drilling
industry are given in inch-pound units by convention, inch-
is contained in Guide D 5730. Other documents covering
pound units also are used in this guide.
procedures for environmental site investigations with specific
1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the
objectives or in particular geographic settings may be available
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
from federal, state, and other agencies or organizations. The
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
appropriate agency or organization should be contacted to
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
determine the availability and most current edition of such
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
documents.
1.6 This guide does not specifically address methods of
lithologic sample collection, such as coring, that may require
2. Referenced Documents
the use of a specific drilling method. Other ASTM guides
2.1 ASTM Standards:
should be consulted for sampling methods (see Guide D 6169)
C 294 Descriptive Nomenclature of Constituents of Natural
and equipment necessary for specific projects.
Mineral Aggregates
1.7 This guide offers an organized collection of information
D 420 Guide to Site Characterization for Engineering De-
or a series of options and does not recommend a specific
sign and Construction Purposes
course of action. This document cannot replace education and
D 653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
experience and should be used in conjunction with professional
Fluids
judgement. Not all aspects of this guide may be applicable in
D 1452 Practice for Soil Investigation and Sampling by
all circumstances. This ASTM standard is not intended to
Auger Borings
represent or replace the standard of care by which the
D 1586 Test Method for Penetration Test and Split-Barrel
Sampling of Soils
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on GroundWater and
Vadose Zone Investigations.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.02.
Current edition approved Aug. 10, 1998. Published November 1998.
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
D6286–98
D 1587 Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Geotechnical Sam- D 5875 Guide for Use of Cable-Tool Drilling and Sampling
pling of Soils Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Instal-
D 2113 Practice for Diamond Core Drilling for Site Inves- lation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
tigation D 5876 Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Wireline Casing
D 2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils Advancement Drilling Methods for Geoenvironmental
(Visual-Manual Procedure) Exploration and Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality
D 3282 Classification of Soils and Soil-Aggregate Mixtures Monitoring Devices
for Highway Construction Purposes D 6001 Guide for Direct-Push Soil Sampling for Geoenvi-
3 5
D 3550 Practice for Ring-Lined Barrel Sampling of Soils ronmental Investigations
D 3584 Practice for Indexing Papers and Reports on Soil D 6151 Practice for Hollow-Stem Auger Drilling and Sam-
4 5
and Rock for Engineering Purposes pling of Soil for Geotechnical Purposes
D 4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone D 6169 Guide for Selection of Soil and Rock Sampling
D 5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment Devices Used with Drill Rigs for Environmental Investi-
3 5
Used at Nonradioactive Waste Sites gations
D 5092 Practice for Design and Installation of Ground- E 177 Practice for Use of the Terms Precision and Bias in
3 6
Water Monitoring Wells in Aquifers ASTM Test Methods
D 5254 Practice for Minimum Set of Data Elements to PS 78 Guide for Selecting Surface Geophysical Methods
Identify a Ground-Water Site
3. Terminology
D 5299 Guide for Decommissioning of Ground Water
Wells, Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes, and 3.1 Definitions—Terminology used within this guide, ex-
Other Devices for Environmental Activities cept where noted, is in accordance with Terminology D 653.
D 5408 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a 3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Ground-Water Site; Part One—Additional Identification 3.2.1 borehole wall, n—refers to the naturally-occurring
Descriptors soil(s)/rock(s) surrounding the borehole.
D 5409 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a 3.2.2 kelly bar, n—a formed or machined section of hollow
Ground-Water Site; Part Two—Physical Descriptors drill steel used in rotary drilling, which is joined directly to the
D 5410 Guide for Set of Data Elements to Describe a swivel at the top and to the drill pipe below.The flats or splines
Ground-Water Site; Part Three—Usage Descriptors of the kelly engage the rotary table so that the rotation of the
D 5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explora- rotary table turns the kelly, which in turn, rotates the drill pipe
tions of Soil and Rock and the rotary bit.
D 5521 Guide for Development of Ground-Water Monitor- 3.2.3 mud rings, n—soil or rock cuttings that form a ring or
ing Wells in Granular Aquifers rings on the drill rod(s) during a rotary-drilling method, and as
D 5608 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment such,preventdrillcuttingsfrombeingcarriedupandoutofthe
Used at Low Level Radioactive Waste Sites borehole. These rings can cause drill rods to become stuck in
D 5730 Guide for Site Characterization for Environmental theboreholeifsufficientdrillingfluidisnotinjectedorpumped
Purposes with Emphasis on Soil, Rock, the Vadose Zone downhole to keep the cuttings fluid so that the ring(s) cannot
and Ground Water form on the drill rods and block the cuttings return as drilling
D 5753 Guide for Planning and Conducting Borehole Geo- progresses.
physical Logging 3.2.4 orange-peel bucket or boulder catcher, n—a bucket-
D 5781 Guide for Use of Dual-Wall Reverse Circulation type device, somewhat elliptical in shape resembling an orange
Drilling for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Instal- peel, that is lowered down the borehole and used to remove
lation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices boulders from the bottom of a borehole.
D 5782 Guide for Use of Direct Air-Rotary Drilling for
4. Significance and Use
Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of
Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices 4.1 The selection of particular method(s) for drilling moni-
D 5783 Guide for the Use of Direct Rotary Drilling with toring wells (see Table 1) requires that specific characteristics
Water-Based Drilling Fluid for Geoenvironmental Explo- ofeachsitebeconsidered.Thesecharacteristicswouldinclude,
ration and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality but are not limited to, the ambient hydrogeologic parameters
Monitoring Devices and conditions existing at the site. This guide is intended to
D 5784 Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for Geoen- make the user aware of some of the various drilling methods
vironmental Exploration and the Installation of Subsurface available and the applications, advantages and disadvantages
Water-Quality Monitoring Devices of each with respect to determing ground-water chemistry and
D 5872 Guide for Use of Casing Advancement Drilling other hydrogeologic properties data.
Methods for Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Instal- 4.2 This guide can be used in conjunction with Guide
lation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices D 6169. There are several guides that deal with individual
drillingmethods(seeGuidesD 5781,D 5782,D 5783,D 5784,
Discontinued; see 1996 Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.08.
5 6
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 04.09. Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 14.02.
D6286–98
TABLE 1 Well-Drilling Selection Guide
Typical
Typical
Type of Range of
Drilling Casing Drilling Samples Coring Reference
Drilling Method Material Borehole
B
Fluid Advance Depth, Obtainable Possible Section
Drilled Sizes, in
A
in ft
in.
Power auger none, water, soil, weathered
yes <150 5–22 S, F yes 6.2
(Hollow-stem) mud rock
Power auger soil, weathered
water, mud no <150 2–10 s yes 6.3
(Solid-stem) rock
none, water
soil, weathered
Power bucket auger (below water no <150 18–48 S yes 6.4
rock
table)
<70 (above
Hand auger none no soil 2–6 S yes 6.5
water table only)
Direct fluid rotary water, mud yes soil, rock >1000 2–36 S, R yes 7.3
Direct air rotary air, water, foam yes soil, rock >1500 2–36 S, R, F yes 7.4
DTH hammer air, water, foam yes rock, boulders <2000 4–16 R yes 7.5.1
Wireline air, water, foam yes soil, rock >1000 3–6 S, R, F yes 7.6
Reverse fluid rotary water, mud yes soil, rock <2000 12–36 S, R, F yes 7.8
Reverse air rotary air, water, foam yes soil, rock >1000 12–36 S, R, F yes 7.7
S, R, F (F–below
Cable tool water yes soil, rock <5000 4–24 yes 8
water table)
soil, rock,
Casing-advancer air, water, mud yes <2000 2–16 S, R, F yes 9
boulders
Direct-push technology none yes soil <100 1.5–3 S, F yes 10
none, water, soil, rock,
Sonic (vibratory) yes <500 4–12 S, R, F yes 11
mud, air boulders
Jet percussion water no soil <50 2–4 S no 12
Jetting water yes soil <50 4 S no 12
A
Actual achievable drilled depths will vary depending on the ambient geohydrologic conditions existing at the site and size of drilling equipment used. For example, large,
high-torque rigs can drill to greater depths than their smaller counterparts under favorable site conditions. Boreholes drilled using air/air foam can reach greater depths
more efficiently using two-stage positive-displacement compressors having the capability of developing working pressures of 250 to 350 psi and 500 to 750 cfm, particularly
when submergence requires higher pressures. The smaller rotary-type compressors only are capable of producing a maximum working pressure of 125 psi and produce
500 to 1200 cfm. Likewise, the rig mast must be constructed to safely carry the anticipated working loads expected. To allow for contigencies, it is recommended that the
rated capacity of the mast be at least twice the anticipated weight load or normal pulling load.
B
Soil = S (Cuttings), Rock=R(Cuttings), Fluid=F(some samples might require accessory sampling devices to obtain).
D 5872, D 5875, and D 5876) and how to the complete them of site characterization and specific methods used will be
for water quality monitoring device installation (see Practice determined by study objectives. Study objectives also will
D 5092).
affect the type and complexity of data collected. Sources of
data that may be useful during initial site evaluation include,
5. Program Planning and Drilling Considerations
but are not limited to, topographic maps, aerial photography,
5.1 All factors affecting both surface and subsurface envi-
satellite imagery, information from reconnaissance drilling,
ronment at a specific site requires professional judgment and
borehole geophysical-log data, geologic maps and reports,
mustbeconsideredbythegeologist/hydrologistorexperienced
statewide or county soil surveys, water-resource reports, well
driller before a drilling method is selected. Significant soil and
databases, and mineral-resource surveys covering the proposed
rock masses and ground-water conditions within a given site
project area. Available reports of surface and subsurface
should be described and defined, both vertically and horizon-
investigations of nearby or adjacent projects should be consid-
tally, before drilling. Site planning requires a reconnaissance
ered and the information applicable to the current project
site investigation that considers access to the drilling site and
evaluated and applied if determined reliable and beneficial.
conditionsforsettingupthedrillingequipment(1). Theextent
Site-specific surface geophysical surveys (2-5) and direct-push
methods for soil and ground-water data collection (see PS 78
7 and Guide D 6001) also may be useful for planning drilling
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the lis
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