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Rotary
Drilling

Deep borehole drilling for geotechnical investigations, geothermal projects and rock core recovery. GeoPrime Solutions have drilled to 160m and beyond — deployed anywhere in the UK.

160m+ Depth
Rock Coring
Geothermal
Deep Investigations
UK-Wide
160m+
Depth Achieved
Rock Core
Sample Type
All Rock Types
Ground Conditions
UK-Wide
Coverage
About This Service

When You Need to Go
Deeper Than Cable Can

Rotary drilling uses a rotating drill string to penetrate soil and rock formations, making it the method of choice for deep borehole programmes, geothermal investigations and projects where continuous rock core recovery is required.

While cable percussive drilling is the most common UK site investigation method and typically reaches depths of up to 80m, rotary drilling has no such practical depth limitation. GeoPrime Solutions have drilled to depths of 160m and beyond on geothermal projects, and rotary methods can go considerably deeper where the programme demands it.

Rotary drilling is capable of penetrating all rock types — from soft mudstone and chalk through to hard granite and sandstone — and can recover continuous core samples that provide a direct visual and geotechnical record of conditions at depth. Core recovery rates are maximised using the correct core barrel type for the ground conditions encountered.

The two methods are frequently used in combination on the same investigation programme — cable percussive drilling through the superficial deposits, with rotary drilling taking over at depth or on encountering rock. GeoPrime Solutions can advise on the most appropriate method combination for your specific project.

Suitable For
  • Deep geotechnical investigations
  • Geothermal borehole construction
  • Rock core recovery & logging
  • Hard rock penetration
  • Combined cable/rotary programmes
  • Infrastructure & civil engineering
  • Renewable energy investigations
  • Deep groundwater monitoring wells
ROTARY
The Process

How Rotary Drilling Works

01
Rig Setup
The rotary rig is positioned and levelled over the borehole location. The drill string, core barrel and bit are selected based on the ground conditions and target depth.
02
Rotary Advance
The drill string rotates under controlled weight and speed, advancing through soil and rock. Flush (water, air or drilling mud) is circulated to cool the bit and remove cuttings from the borehole.
03
Core Recovery
Where core recovery is required, a triple tube core barrel is used to maximise sample quality. Core is recovered, logged and boxed at regular intervals throughout the borehole.
04
Completion
On reaching target depth, the borehole is completed as required — backfilled, cased as a monitoring well, or completed as a geothermal heat exchanger depending on project requirements.
Applications

Where Rotary Drilling
is Used

Geothermal
Deep borehole construction for ground source heat pump systems, geothermal energy and district heating schemes requiring depths well beyond cable percussive capability.
Rock Investigation
Continuous rock core recovery for geotechnical and geological logging where the full rock mass character needs to be assessed at depth.
Infrastructure
Deep investigations for major infrastructure projects including tunnels, bridges, retaining structures and transport corridors.
Renewables
Ground investigation for wind turbine foundations, solar farm piling and energy storage facilities requiring rock data at depth.
Water Resources
Deep groundwater investigation and monitoring well construction in aquifer systems below the practical range of cable percussive methods.
Major Developments
Deep site investigations for large commercial, industrial and mixed-use developments where foundation design requires data at significant depth.
GeoPrime Solutions

160m.
And Beyond.

When cable percussive reaches its limit, rotary drilling takes over. No depth is out of reach.

Why Choose Us

Why GeoPrime for Rotary Drilling

Proven Deep Capability
We have drilled to 160m and beyond on geothermal projects. That depth of experience — literally — means we understand the challenges of deep drilling and how to manage them on site.
Combined Programmes
We regularly combine cable percussive and rotary methods on the same programme. One contractor, one point of contact, seamlessly sequenced — no coordination headaches between multiple drillers.
UK-Wide Deployment
Rotary drilling teams deployed anywhere in the UK. Competitive pricing regardless of location — no inflated mobilisation costs wherever your site is.
Other Services

Related Services

Cable Percussive Drilling
Geothermal Drilling
Cut Down Cable Percussive
Coring
Window Sampling & Dynamic Probing
UXO Borehole Clearance
Common Questions

Frequently Asked
Questions

Rotary drilling uses a rotating drill string to penetrate soil and rock. It is capable of reaching significantly greater depths than cable percussive methods and is widely used for deep geotechnical investigations, geothermal drilling and rock coring.
GeoPrime Solutions have drilled to 160m and beyond on geothermal projects. Rotary methods can go considerably deeper where the programme demands it — there is no practical depth limitation in the way there is with cable percussive methods.
Cable percussive uses a repeated drop action and typically reaches up to 80m. Rotary drilling uses a rotating drill string, can penetrate hard rock and reach much greater depths. The two methods are often combined on the same investigation.
Yes — rotary drilling is the primary method for continuous rock core recovery. Core is logged, boxed and available for laboratory testing. Triple tube core barrels are used to maximise sample quality and recovery rates.
Rotary drilling is needed where depths exceed cable percussive capability, where rock core is required, in very hard ground conditions, or for geothermal borehole construction. We can advise on the right method for your project.
ROTARY

Need Deep Rotary Drilling
on Your Site?

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07541 553837
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