Long Lake — Geotechnical Soil Boring Program

Project Overview

IET completed a geotechnical soil boring program at Long Lake in Palestine, Texas for Gerke Excavating. The project required 40 soil borings drilled to 50-foot depth, totaling 1,265 linear feet of soil investigation.

IET deployed a buggy-mounted drilling rig to navigate the site terrain and access boring locations around the lake property. The 11-day field program was managed by Wayne McGinnis (PM) and executed by Brad Eskue's Texas team with a 2-person crew.

This project is representative of IET's geotechnical drilling capabilities across Texas, where IET regularly supports excavating contractors, engineers, and environmental consultants with subsurface investigation services.

Scope of Work

• 40 soil borings drilled to 50 feet depth each (1,265 total linear feet)
• Buggy-mounted drill rig deployed for site access and terrain navigation
• 11-day field program (April 1–15, 2026)
• 2-man crew with per diem for full program duration
• Mobilization from IET Texas operations with full equipment package
• Soil samples collected throughout borings per geotechnical specifications

Equipment & Resources

Technical Approach & High-Production Boring Methodology

High-production geotechnical soil boring programs — like this 40-boring, 1,265-linear-foot investigation at Long Lake — require efficient drilling operations combined with consistent sampling and field logging protocols across all borings. IET deployed a buggy-mounted geotechnical rig for this project, a highly mobile tracked platform that provides the drilling capability of a truck-mounted rig with the terrain access of a track-mounted unit. The buggy rig's low ground pressure enables operation across soft or uneven ground common to lakeside and rural Texas sites.

Each of the 40 borings was advanced to 50 feet below ground surface, with Standard Penetration Testing (SPT) performed at 5-foot intervals using a 140-pound automatic hammer (ASTM D1586). Soil samples were collected using a 2-inch split-spoon sampler for visual classification and laboratory index testing (Atterberg limits, grain size, moisture content, and unit weight). The 50-foot boring depth targets the full depth of concern for shallow to intermediate foundation systems, characterizing both the active zone for soil moisture variation and the primary bearing strata.

The 11-day field program (April 1–15, 2026) for 40 borings represents a production rate of approximately 3.6 borings per day — an efficient pace for 50-foot-deep borings with continuous SPT sampling. The 1,265 total linear feet (average 31.6 feet per boring, slightly less than the 50-foot maximum, suggesting some borings were terminated at refusal or shallower target depths) provided the geotechnical engineer (Gerke Excavating) with comprehensive subsurface data for the Long Lake project design.

Site Geology & Lakeside Investigation Context

Palestine, Texas is located in Anderson County within the East Texas Basin physiographic province. The shallow geology consists of Tertiary-age deposits of the Wilcox Group and Claiborne Group — predominantly interbedded sand, silt, clay, and lignite units deposited in deltaic and fluvial environments. These formations are known for variable lateral continuity, with channel sand deposits interfingering with floodplain clays — creating complex subsurface conditions that require detailed boring programs for accurate foundation design.

The Long Lake site name suggests a lakeside or waterfront location, which introduces additional geotechnical considerations: soft lacustrine (lake-deposited) sediments, high water table conditions, potential slope stability concerns, and organic-rich soils. The 50-foot boring depth is appropriate for characterizing these conditions and identifying competent bearing strata beneath any soft surficial deposits. IET's buggy rig was ideal for this terrain, providing the mobility needed to access all 40 boring locations across potentially soft or uneven lakeside ground without the access limitations of a truck-mounted rig.