Engineer's quick reference guide

Geologging

We provide a comprehensive range of high-quality downhole geophysical logging services, packer testing, high-pressure dilatometer testing and core scanning services. Using an experienced and dedicated professional team and a wide range of tools, we are committed to high standards of data acquisition and processing.

Geophysical and Wireline logging

Geophysical and wireline logging is one of many services that Structural Soils offers to a wide spectrum of market sectors, including geotechnical, civil engineering, infrastructure, water, coal and mining. We provide comprehensive, high-quality equipment that measure a range of physical properties and characteristics of the rock and soil for geotechnical, civil engineering and construction applications.

Structural Soils Accreditation logo - ISO

The tools are operated by highly qualified, experienced and dedicated engineers who are committed to high standards of data acquisition and processing. Our tools, procedures and outputs comply with the international standards requirements, including ASTM. In addition, we operate a Quality Management System and are certified to ISO 9001, Environmental Management System and are certified to ISO 14001,  and Occupational Health and Safety Management system and are certified to ISO 45001.

The data are processed by the latest software and presented in PDF, LAS and CSV files. The services we provide include the following.

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High-Resolution Optical and Acoustic Televiewer

The two probes provide continuous imaging of the borehole. Bedding, joints, fractures and fractured zones can be identified, including inclination and orientation. All the discontinuities can be presented on Rose and Wulff diagrams for structural interpretation.

Formation Density

The probe provides bulk density and high-resolution density for the different lithological units within the borehole. It can be used in conjunction with the PS log to establish rock strength.

Natural Gamma, Conductivity and Fluid Temperature

The probe measures the naturally occurring gamma radiation in the rock and soil in addition to conductivity and fluid temperature.

Electrical Resistivity and Focus Resistivity

The two probes measure the resistivity of soil and rock relative to a reference electrode on the surface. Focus resistivity is measured using an advanced probe that can provide a finer vertical resolution and deeper depth of investigation compared with the standard probe.

PS Logger

The tool measures the compressional and the shear velocities and establishes the elasticity modulus, the shear modulus and Poisson’s ratio.

Magnetic Resonance

Hydraulic conductivity, transmissivity and porosity can be established using this tool. It can also provide the volume of water in voids, capillary water and clay bond water. This tool is very valuable in the hydrogeological studies.

Impeller Flowmeter

This tool is ideal to determine the groundwater flow pattern and the water flow direction and casing leak in a borehole. It provides flow rate and flow velocity.

Borehole geometry, including verticality, orientation, inclination and the exact diameter of the borehole can be measured, using 4-arm calliper; and the volume of any section in the borehole can be calculated precisely.

The details of the borehole can be seen in real time by using the high-tech, high-resolution Geo-Eye CCTV camera, which has auto-focus facility and six frontal LED internal lights with adjustable lighting intensity. The camera provides a full 360° unwrapped image of the borehole.

Structural Soils services - packer testing

Packer testing

Packer testing can be conducted with either a double packer assembly, where the test is conducted in sequence on completion of the drilling of a borehole, or with a single packer assembly, where the test is conducted between depth progressions during the drilling of a borehole. We have modified a single packer assembly to facilitate undertaking packer testing in an inclined borehole. The modification allows the packer assembly to be in the centre of the borehole, i.e., along the central line of the borehole. The modification works well with the Geobore S drilling system.

Packer testing information sheet

Structural Soils services - high-pressure dilatometer test

High-pressure dilatometer test

The high-pressure dilatometer test generally provides the shear modulus (G), elastic modulus (Ei) and stiffness of rock, consolidated or over-consolidated clay and cemented sand in the borehole under in situ conditions. The deformation behaviour of the rock is measured by applying cycles of loading and unloading on the borehole wall. The test is carried out in accordance with BS EN ISO 22476-5 (2023) Geotechnical Investigation and testing – Field Testing – Prebored pressuremeter test.

Our CoreScan3 system captures both 360‑degree and planar images of rock cores, producing a single continuous digital record for each run. The camera resolution is over 200 megapixels, which means you get sharp, consistent imaging that’s ideal for reporting, QA, collaboration and long‑term project records.

What you can expect from the service:
-High‑resolution imaging at 40 pixels per millimetre
-360‑degree circumferential and planar views
-Core orientation
-Structural analysis and stereographic projections
-Mechanical parameter logs, including RQD, total core recovery and solid -core recovery
-Identification of alteration zones
-Immediate access to preliminary images after scanning

Scanning can be carried out on‑site, in your office or at your lab, and everything is completed by Structural Soils engineers trained in digital core processing and interpretation.

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Geotechnical
Geoenvironmental
Drilling
Data management
Soil, rock and material testing
Monitoring
In situ testing
Geotechnical equipment hire

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