Barge Drilling Investigation — Waco, TX

Project Overview

IET executed a specialized barge drilling investigation at Waco, Texas for HVJ Associates (Proj# DG23-10037.1), managed by PM Preston Mee. The program required full crane and barge mobilization, with three (3) deep borings drilled to 80 feet from the barge platform over 7 operational days.

Barge mobilization and crane/barge setup was completed May 18–19, with barge boring B-5 work executed May 20–22 and May 26–29. The project included comprehensive marine insurance for the full project duration.

This project demonstrates IET's unique capability to deploy fully equipped barge drilling platforms for over-water investigations — a critical service for bridge, dam, waterway, and infrastructure projects across Texas where conventional land-based drilling is not feasible.

Scope of Work

• Three (3) borings to 80 feet depth from barge platform
• Full crane and barge mobilization/setup (May 18–19)
• 7 barge/crew operational days at $9,250/day
• Marine insurance coverage for full project duration
• Boring B-5 completed over multiple operational days (May 20–29)
• Managed by PM Preston Mee | Sales Rep: Brad Eskue

Project Details

Technical Approach & Methodology

Barge drilling is a specialized marine geotechnical investigation method that deploys a drill rig on a floating platform anchored over water or at the water's edge. The technique is essential for bridge pier foundations, dam investigations, waterfront structural assessments, and contaminated sediment characterization where land-based rigs cannot access the target boring locations. IET operates its own barge drilling program — including crane mobilization, marine insurance, and experienced marine crews — without subcontracting.

For this Waco project, IET mobilized a full barge platform with crane support to advance three (3) deep borings to 80 feet below the water/ground surface. The 7-day barge operation required careful coordination of barge positioning, anchoring, and stabilization to maintain vertical tolerances during drilling. Each boring was advanced using rotary methods with casing to maintain borehole stability through the over-water sediment column and into the underlying formation.

The $9,250/day barge rate reflects the specialized equipment, crew, and insurance costs associated with marine drilling operations. Full marine insurance coverage for the project duration — including pollution liability and equipment coverage — is standard on all IET barge programs and was included in this project's scope. PM Preston Mee coordinated the complex logistics of barge mobilization, crane setup (May 18–19), and the multi-day boring B-5 operation (May 20–29).

Site Conditions & Hydrogeological Context

The Waco, Texas area is situated along the Brazos River within the Grand Prairie physiographic province of Central Texas. The shallow geology consists of Quaternary alluvial terrace deposits (sand, gravel, silt, and clay) overlying Cretaceous-age limestone and shale formations of the Edwards Group and Georgetown Formation. Over-water boring locations in this setting require casing through the soft, unconsolidated alluvial sediments before advancing into the more competent underlying bedrock.

The 80-foot boring depth on this project suggests the investigation targeted foundation conditions for a bridge, dam, or waterfront structure requiring deep bearing strata characterization. Barge drilling in riverine environments like the Brazos River requires careful attention to current velocity, water depth, and seasonal flow variations that can affect barge stability and drilling operations. IET's marine drilling experience across Texas waterways — from bridge investigations to contaminated sediment programs — ensures safe and productive field execution under these conditions.