When most people think about drilling, they picture foundations, bridges, or major infrastructure projects. But there’s another side of drilling that plays a huge role in protecting communities, waterways, and the environment: environmental drilling.
At Challenge Testing, environmental drilling is a key part of how we help clients understand what’s happening underground—across the Gulf Coast and the Southeast.. From industrial sites to coastal environments, the right subsurface data helps protect both people and natural resources.
What Is Environmental Drilling?
Environmental drilling is the process of drilling into the subsurface to collect soil, rock, and groundwater samples for environmental investigation and monitoring.
These drilling programs are designed to answer questions like:
- Is there contamination in the soil or groundwater?
- How far has it moved—and in which direction?
- What does the geology look like at different depths?
- Is the site safe for development, industrial use, or long-term operations?
Unlike some purely geotechnical programs that focus on bearing capacity and settlement, environmental drilling is focused on environmental conditions, risk, and compliance.
Where We Work
Our environmental drilling services support clients across:
- The Gulf Coast – including coastal Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, and Florida
- The broader Southeast – industrial, port, and infrastructure sites
Whether it’s a ship channel in the Gulf or a port facility, our team is used to working in complex, sensitive environments.
Common Uses of Environmental Drilling
Environmental drilling supports a wide range of projects, including:
- Groundwater monitoring wells
Used to track water levels, measure water quality, and monitor changes over time. - Soil and sediment sampling
Helps identify the presence and extent of contaminants such as hydrocarbons, metals, or industrial byproducts. - Site assessments (Phase II ESA and beyond)
Used in property transactions, brownfield redevelopment, industrial expansions, and regulatory compliance. - Remediation support
Provides the data needed to design and verify cleanup efforts.
From coastal refineries and shipyards along the Gulf Coast, environmental drilling helps clients make informed decisions before they move forward.
Tools & Techniques: How We Drill for Environmental Data
At Challenge Testing, we match the drilling method to the site conditions and project goals. Environmental drilling may include:
- Hollow-stem auger drilling for soil sampling and shallow wells
- Direct-push methods for rapid sampling in softer soils
- Rotary methods for deeper borings or more complex geology
- Rock coring and split-spoon sampling when both environmental and geotechnical data are needed
From there, samples are labeled, preserved, and sent to accredited laboratories for testing, providing accurate data on soil and groundwater conditions.
Why Environmental Drilling Matters
Environmental drilling isn’t just about checking a box on a permit. It directly supports:
- Public and environmental health
By identifying and tracking contaminants, we help protect drinking water supplies, ecosystems, and nearby communities. - Regulatory compliance
Many industries are required to monitor groundwater, track potential releases, or evaluate historical site use. Environmental drilling provides the evidence needed to demonstrate compliance. - Risk management
The cost of not knowing what’s beneath a site can be far higher than the cost of drilling. Data from environmental investigations helps clients avoid surprises, delays, and liability. - Smarter design and redevelopment
Redeveloping an industrial site? Expanding operations at a port or plant? Environmental drilling provides the baseline information needed to design responsibly and sustainably.
Our Approach at Challenge Testing
With experience across the Gulf Coast and the Southeast, our team is used to working in challenging terrain and sensitive environmental settings.
We understand that environmental drilling requires:
- Careful planning and site access
- Proper handling, logging, and chain-of-custody for samples
- Coordination with environmental consultants, engineers, and regulators
- Attention to safety—both for our crews and the surrounding environment
From groundwater monitoring wells to combined geotechnical–environmental programs, we’re focused on delivering clean, reliable data that our clients can trust.
Looking Below the Surface
Every project has a story, and environmental drilling helps tell the part you can’t see.
Whether you’re evaluating a new industrial site on the Gulf Coast, monitoring a coastal facility in the Southeast, the right subsurface information is critical.
At Challenge Testing, we’re committed to getting to the bottom of the data so you can move forward with confidence.
Need environmental drilling support? Let’s talk.
