Large-Scale Geotechnical Investigation
CR 16 & MM Hereford — Amarillo, Texas
Innovative Environmental Technologies, Inc. (IET) was contracted by UES to perform a comprehensive geotechnical subsurface investigation at CR 16 and MM Hereford in Amarillo, Texas. The project required mobilization of both a truck-mounted drill rig and a buggy rig to access multiple boring locations across the site.
The scope involved multiple soil borings ranging from 15 to 100 feet in depth, totaling over 2,485 linear feet of drilling. The dual-rig approach allowed IET to maximize production across varied terrain conditions typical of the Texas Panhandle region.
The buggy rig — operated over 17 production days — provided access to locations where the truck-mounted rig could not easily maneuver, ensuring complete coverage of the investigation area. The project required extended mobilization logistics due to the remote site location in the Amarillo/Hereford corridor.
- Truck-mounted rig mobilization for deep borings (40'–100')
- Buggy rig mobilization for access-restricted locations
- 1,620 linear feet of borings from 0–40' depth
- 865 linear feet of borings from 40'–100' depth
- 17 buggy rig production days on site
- Dual-rig operations for maximum site coverage
- Extended field crew mobilization and per diem support
The investigation utilized two complementary drilling platforms to address the full range of site conditions. The truck-mounted CME/Schramm rig handled the deeper borings requiring greater crowd force, while the tracked buggy rig provided mobility across soft or uneven ground.
Boring depths reached 100 feet in select locations, requiring the 40'–100' depth rate tier and demonstrating IET's capability for deep geotechnical investigations in challenging West Texas geology, which commonly includes caliche layers, red clay, and variably cemented sands.
Total drilling footage: 2,485 linear feet across all borings.
Location
CR 16 & MM Hereford
Amarillo, Texas
Client
UES
Dallas, TX
Project Number
WV260398
Project Manager
Brad Eskue
Boring Depth Range
15 – 100 feet
Total Footage Drilled
2,485 linear feet
Equipment Used
Truck-Mounted Rig
Tracked Buggy Rig
Date
March 2026
This investigation utilized a dual-rig strategy to address the full range of site and terrain conditions across the CR 16 and MM Hereford corridor. The truck-mounted CME/Schramm rig provided the crowd force and rotary torque needed for the deeper borings (40'–100'), while the tracked buggy rig offered superior mobility across soft ground, uneven terrain, and access-restricted locations where a truck rig could not maneuver.
Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) was conducted at 5-foot intervals using a 140-pound automatic hammer, with soil samples collected via 2-inch split-spoon sampler for visual classification and laboratory index testing. The 100-foot maximum boring depth required extended tooling strings and careful drilling fluid management to maintain borehole stability through the variably cemented caliche and red clay units characteristic of the Texas Panhandle.
The 2,485 linear feet of total drilling footage — split between 1,620 feet in the 0'–40' depth range and 865 feet in the 40'–100' range — reflects the scale of this investigation and the production efficiency achievable with dual-rig operations. The buggy rig's 17 production days ensured complete coverage of access-restricted boring locations without compromising the overall project schedule.
The Amarillo/Hereford corridor is located in the Texas Panhandle within the High Plains (Llano Estacado) physiographic province. The shallow geology consists of Quaternary-age aeolian and alluvial deposits (Blackwater Draw Formation) overlying the Tertiary-age Ogallala Formation — a regionally significant aquifer system. Subsurface conditions commonly include caliche (calcium carbonate-cemented soil), red clay, and variably cemented sand units that increase drilling resistance with depth.
The Ogallala Aquifer beneath this region is one of the world's largest underground aquifer systems, making deep geotechnical investigations in this area particularly sensitive to aquifer protection protocols. IET's drilling operations comply with Texas groundwater protection standards, including proper borehole abandonment and surface casing practices to prevent aquifer cross-contamination.