ASTM D6914/D6914M-16(2024)
(Practice)Standard Practice for Sonic Drilling for Site Characterization and the Installation of Subsurface Monitoring Devices
Standard Practice for Sonic Drilling for Site Characterization and the Installation of Subsurface Monitoring Devices
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 Sonic drilling is a rapid, primarily dry drilling method (see 5.2), used both in geotechnical applications to avoid hydraulic fracturing, and in environmental site exploration. Geotechnical applications include exploration for tunnels, underground excavations, and installation of instrumentation or structural elements. Sonic drilling methods are used in rocky soils with large diameter casing to obtain continuous samples in materials that are difficult to sample using other methods. It is well suited for projects of a production-orientated nature with a drilling rate faster than most all other drilling methods (Guide D6286/D6286M). Sonic drilling is used for environmental explorations because sonic drilling offers the benefit of significantly reduced drill cuttings, a major cost element, and reduced drill fluid use and production. Sonic drilling offers rapid formation penetration thereby increasing production. It can reduce fieldwork time generating overall project cost reductions. The continuous core sample recovered provides a representative lithological column for review and analysis. Sonic drilling readily lends itself to environmental instrumentation installation and to in-situ testing. The advantage of a clean cased hole without the use of drilling fluids provides for increased efficiency in instrumentation installation. The ability to cause vibration to the casing string eliminates the complication of monitoring well backfill bridging common to other drilling methods and reduces the risk of casing lockup allowing for easy casing withdrawal during grouting. The clean borehole reduces well development time. Pumping tests can be performed as needed prior to well screen placement to allow for proper screen location. The sonic method is readily utilized in multiple cased well applications which are required to prevent aquifer cross contamination. The installation of inclinometers, vibrating wire piezometers, settlement gauges, and the like can be accomplished e...
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers procedures for using sonic drilling methods in the conducting of subsurface exploration for site characterization and in the installation of subsurface monitoring devices.
1.2 The use of the sonic drilling method for exploration and monitoring-device installation may often involve preliminary site research and safety planning, administration, and documentation.
1.3 Soil or Rock samples collected by sonic methods are classed as group A or group B in accordance with Practices D4220/D4220M. Other sampling methods (Guide D6169/D6169M) may be used in conjunction with the sonic method to collect samples classed as group C and Group D. Other drilling methods are summarized in Guide D6286/D6286M.
1.4 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently of the other. Combining values from the two systems may result in non-conformance with the standard. Reporting of test results in units other than in-pound shall not be regarded as nonconformance with this practice.
1.5 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in Practice D6026, unless superseded by this standard.
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing one or more specific operations. It is a description of the present state-of-the-art practice of sonic drilling. It does not recommend this method as a specific course of action. This document cannot replace education or experience and should be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all aspects of this practice 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,...
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Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D6914/D6914M − 16 (Reapproved 2024)
Standard Practice for
Sonic Drilling for Site Characterization and the Installation
of Subsurface Monitoring Devices
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D6914/D6914M; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope aspects of this practice may be applicable in all circumstances.
This ASTM standard is not intended to represent or replace the
1.1 This practice covers procedures for using sonic drilling
standard of care by which the adequacy of a given professional
methods in the conducting of subsurface exploration for site
service must be judged, nor should this document be applied
characterization and in the installation of subsurface monitor-
without consideration of a project’s many unique aspects. The
ing devices.
word “Standard” in the title of this document means only that
1.2 The use of the sonic drilling method for exploration and
the document has been approved through the ASTM consensus
monitoring-device installation may often involve preliminary
process.
site research and safety planning, administration, and docu-
1.6.1 This practice does not purport to comprehensively
mentation.
address all the methods and the issues associated with drilling
1.3 Soil or Rock samples collected by sonic methods are practices. Users should seek qualified professionals for deci-
sions as to the proper equipment and methods that would be
classed as group A or group B in accordance with Practices
D4220/D4220M. Other sampling methods (Guide D6169/ most successful for their site investigation. Other methods may
be available for drilling and sampling of soil, and qualified
D6169M) may be used in conjunction with the sonic method to
collect samples classed as group C and Group D. Other drilling professionals should have the flexibility to exercise judgment
as to possible alternatives not covered in this practice. This
methods are summarized in Guide D6286/D6286M.
practice is current at the time of issue, but new alternative
1.4 Units—The values stated in either inch-pound units or
methods may become available prior to revisions, therefore,
SI units [presented in brackets] are to be regarded separately as
users should consult manufacturers or sonic drilling services
standard. The values stated in each system may not be exact
providers prior to specifying program requirements.
equivalents; therefore, each system shall be used independently
1.7 This practice does not purport to address all the safety
of the other. Combining values from the two systems may
concerns, if any, associated with its use and may involve use of
result in non-conformance with the standard. Reporting of test
hazardous materials, equipment, and operations. It is the
results in units other than in-pound shall not be regarded as
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
nonconformance with this practice.
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
1.5 All observed and calculated values shall conform to the
mine the applicability of regulatory requirements prior to use.
guidelines for significant digits and rounding established in
For good safety practice, consult applicable OSHA regulations
Practice D6026, unless superseded by this standard.
2,3,4
and drilling safety guides.
1.6 This practice offers a set of instructions for performing
1.8 This international standard was developed in accor-
one or more specific operations. It is a description of the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
present state-of-the-art practice of sonic drilling. It does not
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
recommend this method as a specific course of action. This
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
document cannot replace education or experience and should
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
be used in conjunction with professional judgment. Not all
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D18 on Soil and
Rock and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D18.21 on Groundwater and “Drilling Safety Guide,” National Drilling Association.
Vadose Zone Investigations. “Drillers Handbook,” Thomas C. Ruda and Peter Bosscher, National Drilling
Current edition approved March 15, 2024. Published March 2024. Originally Association.
approved in 2004. Last previous edition approved in 2016 as D6914–16. DOI: “Innovative Technology Summary Report,” April 1995, U.S. Department of
10.1520/D6914_D6914M-16R24. Energy.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
D6914/D6914M − 16 (2024)
2. Referenced Documents 2.4 ASTM Standards—Aquifer Testing:
D4044/D4044M Test Method for (Field Procedure) for In-
2.1 ASTM Standards—Soil Classification:
stantaneous Change in Head (Slug) Tests for Determining
D653 Terminology Relating to Soil, Rock, and Contained
Hydraulic Properties of Aquifers (Withdrawn 2024)
Fluids
D4050 Test Method for (Field Procedure) for Withdrawal
D2113 Practice for Rock Core Drilling and Sampling of
6 and Injection Well Testing for Determining Hydraulic
Rock for Site Exploration (Withdrawn 2023)
Properties of Aquifer Systems
D2488 Practice for Description and Identification of Soils
D5092/D5092M Practice for Design and Installation of
(Visual-Manual Procedures)
Groundwater Monitoring Wells
D5434 Guide for Field Logging of Subsurface Explorations
2.5 ASTM Standards—Other:
of Soil and Rock (Withdrawn 2021)
D3740 Practice for Minimum Requirements for Agencies
2.2 ASTM Standards—Drilling Methods and Installation
Engaged in Testing and/or Inspection of Soil and Rock as
Methods:
Used in Engineering Design and Construction
D1452/D1452M Practice for Soil Exploration and Sampling
D6026 Practice for Using Significant Digits and Data Re-
by Auger Borings
cords in Geotechnical Data
D5088 Practice for Decontamination of Field Equipment
Used at Waste Sites
3. Terminology
D5299/D5299M Guide for Decommissioning of Groundwa-
3.1 Definitions:
ter Wells, Vadose Zone Monitoring Devices, Boreholes,
3.1.1 For common definitions of technical terms in this
and Other Devices for Environmental Activities
standard refer to Terminology D653.
D5782 Guide for Use of Direct Air-Rotary Drilling for
Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
Subsurface Water-Quality Monitoring Devices
3.2.1 hydraulic extraction, n—the removal of the sample
D5783 Guide for Use of Direct Rotary Drilling with Water-
specimen from the solid sampling barrel by the application of
Based Drilling Fluid for Geoenvironmental Exploration
fluid.
and the Installation of Subsurface Water-Quality Monitor-
3.2.2 natural frequency, n—the frequency or frequencies at
ing Devices
which an object tends to vibrate when disturbed.
D5784/D5784M Guide for Use of Hollow-Stem Augers for
3.2.3 resonance, n—when one object (sine generator) vi-
Geoenvironmental Exploration and the Installation of
brating at the natural frequency of a second object (drill pipe or
Subsurface Water Quality Monitoring Devices
casing) forces the second object into vibrational motion.
D5791 Guide for Using Probability Sampling Methods in
Studies of Indoor Air Quality in Buildings 3.2.4 sine wave generator, n—a drill head that imparts
D6286/D6286M Guide for Selection of Drilling and Direct forces in wave forms corresponding to single-frequency peri-
Push Methods for Geotechnical and Environmental Sub- odic oscillations to create resonance of the drill rods and
surface Site Characterization casings to advance the drill hole.
3.2.4.1 Discussion—This drill head is referred to as a sonic
2.3 ASTM Standards—Soil Sampling:
D1586/D1586M Test Method for Standard Penetration Test drill head, or resonant sonic drill head throughout this standard.
This drill head is attached to the drill rods and casings and can
(SPT) and Split-Barrel Sampling of Soils
D1587/D1587M Practice for Thin-Walled Tube Sampling of be used to lift rods for sample extrusion.
Fine-Grained Soils for Geotechnical Purposes (Withdrawn
3.2.5 sonic drilling, n—the practice of using high frequency
2024)
vibration as the primary force to advance drill tools through
D3550/D3550M Practice for Thick Wall, Ring-Lined, Split
subsurface formations.
Barrel, Drive Sampling of Soils
3.2.5.1 Discussion—While vibration is the primary force for
D4220/D4220M Practices for Preserving and Transporting
drilling, the drilling process also requires rotation of the drill
Soil Samples (Withdrawn 2023)
rods with applied downforce reaction from the drill
D4700 Guide for Soil Sampling from the Vadose Zone
(Withdrawn 2024) 4. Summary of Practice
D6169/D6169M Guide for Selection of Subsurface Soil and
4.1 Sonic drilling is the utilization of high frequency vibra-
Rock Sampling Devices for Environmental and Geotech-
tion aided by down pressure and rotation to advance drilling
nical Investigations
tools through various subsurface formations. All objects have a
D6640 Practice for Collection and Handling of Soils Ob-
natural frequency or set of frequencies at which they will
tained in Core Barrel Samplers for Environmental Inves-
vibrate when disturbed. The natural frequency is dependent
tigations
upon the properties of the material the object is made of and the
length of the object. The sonic drill head provides the distur-
bance to the drilling tools causing them to vibrate. To achieve
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM
penetration of the formation the strata is fractured, sheared, or
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
displaced. The high frequency vibration can cause the soil in
the ASTM website.
contact with the drill bit and drilling casing string to liquefy
The last approved version of this historical standard is referenced on
www.astm.org. and flow away allowing the casing to pass through with
D6914/D6914M − 16 (2024)
reduced friction. Rotation of the drill string is primarily for clean cased hole without the use of drilling fluids provides for
even distribution of the applied energy, to control bit wear, and increased efficiency in instrumentation installation. The ability
to help maintain borehole alignment. The use of vibratory
to cause vibration to the casing string eliminates the compli-
technology reduces the amount of drill cuttings, provides rapid cation of monitoring well backfill bridging common to other
formation penetration, and the recovery of a continuous core
drilling methods and reduces the risk of casing lockup allowing
sample of formation specimens for field analysis and labora-
for easy casing withdrawal during grouting. The clean borehole
tory testing. Boreholes generated by sonic drilling can be fitted
reduces well development time. Pumping tests can be per-
with various subsurface condition monitoring devices. Numer-
formed as needed prior to well screen placement to allow for
ous sampling techniques can also be used with this system
proper screen location. The sonic method is readily utilized in
including thin walled tubes, split barrel samplers, and in-situ
multiple cased well applications which are required to prevent
groundwater sampling devices. Fig. 1 demonstrates the general
aquifer cross contamination. The installation of inclinometers,
principle of sonic drilling.
vibrating wire piezometers, settlement gauges, and the like can
be accomplished efficiently with the sonic method.
5. Significance and Use
5.2 The cutting action, as the sonic drilling bit passes
5.1 Sonic drilling is a rapid, primarily dry drilling method
through the formation, may cause disturbance to the soil
(see 5.2), used both in geotechnical applications to avoid
structure along the borehole wall. The vibratory action of
hydraulic fracturing, and in environmental site exploration.
directing the sample into the sample barrel and then vibrating
Geotechnical applications include exploration for tunnels,
it back out can cause distortion of the specimen. Core samples
underground excavations, and installation of instrumentation
can be hydraulically extracted from the sample barrel to reduce
or structural elements. Sonic drilling methods are used in rocky
distortion. The use of split barrels, with or without liners, may
soils with large diameter casing to obtain continuous samples
improve the sample condition but may not completely remove
in materials that are difficult to sample using other methods. It
the vibratory effect. When penetrating rock formations, the
is well suited for projects of a production-orientated nature
vibration may create mechanical fractures that can affect
with a drilling rate faster than most all other drilling methods
structural analysis for permeability and thereby not reflect the
(Guide D6286/D6286M). Sonic drilling is used for environ-
true in-situ condition. Sonic drilling in rock will require the use
mental explorations because sonic drilling offers the benefit of
of air or fluid to remove drill cuttings from the face of the bit,
significantly reduced drill cuttings, a major cost element, and
as they generally cannot be forced into the formation. Samples
reduced drill fluid use and production. Sonic drilling offers
collected by the dry sonic coring method from dense, dry,
rapid formation penetration thereby increasing production. It
consolidated or cemented formations may be subjected to
can reduce fieldwork time generating overall project cost
reductions. The continuous core sample recovered provides a drilling induced heat, which could be a concern if core
sampling for volatile organic compounds using Practice
representative lithological column for review and analysis.
Sonic drilling readily lends itself to environmental instrumen- D6640. Heat is generated in these dry formations by the impact
tation installation and to in-situ testing. The advantage of a of the bit on the formation and the friction created when the
FIG. 1 General Principle of Sonic Drilling
D6914/D6914M − 16 (2024)
and rock. As such, it is not totally applicable to agencies performing this
...
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