Summary
Environmental drilling is the specialised drilling undertaken to investigate soil, groundwater, and subsurface conditions for environmental assessment, contamination delineation, and remediation planning. It enables accurate sampling, monitoring well installation, and geotechnical characterisation to inform regulatory compliance and project decision-making.
Definition
Environmental drilling is the controlled drilling and sampling of subsurface materials—such as soil, rock, and groundwater—to assess environmental conditions, identify contamination, and support site characterisation for construction, planning, and remediation projects. It is typically performed by licensed or highly trained drilling technicians using rigs suitable for varied site conditions.
Why It Matters
Environmental drilling underpins the accuracy and defensibility of environmental assessments across Australia. Sampling and subsurface data acquired through drilling form the foundation of:
- contaminated land investigations
- groundwater monitoring and hydrogeological assessments
- remediation design, including Encapsulation Cell Design & Construction
- development approvals and environmental impact assessments
- construction and infrastructure planning
- risk assessments for human health and the environment
Reliable drilling programs help project teams:
- determine the presence, extent, and nature of contamination
- understand groundwater movement, flow direction, and aquifer interactions
- assess geotechnical risks that may affect construction or remediation
- meet regulatory reporting requirements under EPA frameworks and planning legislation
Drilling quality directly influences sample integrity, risk modelling, remediation strategies, and compliance outcomes.
When It’s Required
Environmental drilling is typically required when deeper subsurface information or reliable sampling is necessary to understand site conditions or satisfy approval requirements. Common triggers include:
Phase 1 and Phase 2 Environmental Site Assessments (ESAs)
Phase 2 investigations rely on drilling to collect soil and groundwater samples for laboratory analysis.
Groundwater Monitoring and Assessment
Monitoring wells installed via drilling enable long-term groundwater sampling, drawdown assessment, dewatering investigations, and contaminant plume delineation.
Contaminated Land Remediation
Environmental drilling informs remediation design, waste classification, excavation boundaries, and validation requirements.
Construction and Infrastructure Projects
Major civil works may require drilling to understand geotechnical properties and environmental constraints.
Regulatory or Planning Approval Conditions
Consent authorities frequently require drilling and sampling to demonstrate compliance with:
- state contaminated land guidelines
- environment protection legislation
- development approval conditions
Unexpected Finds or Trigger Events
Where unexpected contamination or groundwater is encountered, drilling may be required to reassess risks and inform updated management plans.
How We Can Help
Nova Group Pacific delivers specialised environmental drilling services designed to support reliable site characterisation, contamination assessment, and groundwater monitoring across complex Australian projects.
Environmental & Geotechnical Drilling Services
Purpose-built drilling programs for environmental sampling, including soil cores, groundwater bores, vapour wells, slug tests, and drilling in constrained, contaminated, or sensitive environments.
Contaminated Land Assessment, Management & Remediation
Integration of drilling outputs into contamination delineation, hot-spot identification, waste classification, and remediation strategy development.
Groundwater & Surface Water Assessments
Installation of groundwater monitoring wells, nested bore networks, and extraction bores to support plume mapping, hydrogeological modelling, dewatering assessments, and long-term compliance monitoring.
Environmental Management & Compliance
Incorporation of drilling-derived data into EMPs, CEMPs, trigger action response plans, and regulatory reporting where environmental risks depend on subsurface conditions.
Environmental Approvals & Planning
Support with approvals requiring intrusive investigation—providing drilling data for Development Applications, Environmental Impact Assessments, audits, and compliance submissions.
Reliable subsurface data is essential for confident decision-making in contamination assessment, remediation design, and environmental compliance. Nova Group Pacific’s environmental drilling specialists deliver accurate sampling, monitoring well installation, and geotechnical insights tailored to your project needs. Contact our team today to discuss your environmental drilling requirements and ensure your site is characterised with precision and compliance in mind.
Related Terms and Concepts
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