Massachusetts Military Reservation Edition
Volume 1      No.10                                www.mmr.org                                      October 2005

The tremendous success of direct push technology at MMR prompted AFCEE to evaluate purchasing the equipment.  Compared to conventional drilling, direct push is quicker, cheaper, more mobile, and has less environmental impact.  Initially, direct push drilling was subcontracted but AFCEE quickly realized it would be more cost effective to purchase a rig and support vehicles outright.  A cost benefit analyses showed the return on investment for purchasing versus subcontracting the rig would be achieved after completing 15 locations.  After evaluating several companies with comparable technologies, AFCEE entered into a “lease with the option to purchase” agreement with GeoprobeŽ.  The rig was used to collect groundwater and soil samples and install piezometers and monitoring wells.  The small footprint of the rig enabled access to difficult areas and helped influence private residents to allow drilling on their properties. It was so successful that AFCEE decided to purchase the rig.  To-date, AFCEE has conducted over 100 direct push borings and reached a maximum depth of 230 ft, a record for this equipment.  The rig has been used to collect data to optimize systems, investigate leading edges of plumes, and evaluate source areas.  AFCEE has already recovered the capital expenditures for the equipment and, combined with the use of the on-site laboratory and Air Force supplied biodiesel fuel, saved over $95,000.  At the current use rate, annual savings are projected at $200,000.