Land drilling in and for geotechnics

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First Steps works with colleagues in industry to provide opportunities for those who wish to obtain practical experience in land drilling and for those who see it as a very useful component for the first stages of a career in consulting in geotechnical engineering.

Land drilling for geotechnics

For many geotechnical jobs, it is necessary to investigate the ground by drilling into it. Many design decisions are taken based on the quality of the samples recovered by drillersand field tests undertaken by them. The work of drillers has thus a key role to play in every geotechnical project. An NVQ for drilling is now available; see the button on the left,( British Drilling Association) for further details. The NVQ familiarizes those doing this work with the different techniques used for drilling and much more.

Land based drilling involves:

controlling the operation of your equipment so that it responds sensitively to the ground conditions being penetrated,
working withanother man to manhandle the drilling rods,
assembling drilling tools and connecting sections of the drill rod and casing,
operating the machinery that raises and lowers the drill string and bit
maintaining the speed of rotation for rotary drills, the weight on the bit and the circulation of drilling fluid in the hole and through the drilling rods,
keeping records of the drilling and its progress,
making sure that health and safety obligations are observed and obeyed at all times, and
maintaining an acceptable environment around the drill.

Conditions

You would be working outdoors most of the time in conditions that can be cold, wet, noisy and dangerous.
You will need to be fit and may also need normal colour vision
There are risks from accidents, especially when working at heights and with heavy equipment.
You could often be working away from home.
You would wear protective clothing and safety equipment such as gloves, boots and a helmet.

Getting In

You do not normally need formal qualifications for entry, but it can be useful to have some Standard grades.
You must be prepared to be trained on the job and could be forwarded for the relevant NVQ (or SVQ in Scotland) in Land based Drilling.
You will need a driving licence.
You must be at least 18 years of age.

What Does It Take?

You need to be:

willing to work outdoors in all weathers
alert to health and safety issues at all times
prepared to work as a member of a team.

You need to have:

good practical hand skills,
stamina, agility and the ability to work at heights,
a strong sense of responsibility, and
a sense of humour.

What do I do next?

Please contact us (, tel: 0207 736 6889), send us your CV and ensure we have a means of contacting you so that we can discuss your interests.