Exploratory Drilling
Geo Costa Rica conducts exploratory drilling with core recovery to directly observe subsurface conditions, document the sequence of geological materials and obtain high-quality, minimally disturbed samples for geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations.
Find out which materials actually lie beneath the surface
Exploratory drilling makes it possible to investigate the subsurface directly by recovering cores, providing information that cannot always be determined from surface observations or indirect methods alone.
Which materials occur at depth, and what condition are they in?
Core recovery allows direct observation of lithology, contacts, degree of weathering, fractures and other characteristics of the drilled material.
Depending on site conditions, the method used and the quality of recovery achieved, drilling can provide high-quality samples for description, interpretation and, where appropriate, supplementary testing.
Recover subsurface material for direct observation
The strength of this type of drilling lies in recovering cores that represent materials encountered at depth and allow their characteristics to be documented directly.
Recovered core allows us to see the subsurface, not merely infer its characteristics
The extracted material can be used to describe the sequence of units present and identify significant changes along the borehole.
At Geo Costa Rica, our approach is not to sell a standard drilling depth, but to develop an investigation tailored to the project's technical needs and the information that must actually be obtained.
Drill, recover, describe and interpret
Exploratory drilling combines specialized equipment, material recovery, technical logging and geological or geotechnical analysis to turn drilling observations into useful project information.
A process designed to recover and document subsurface materials
Depending on the method and the materials penetrated, the drilling system advances to depth and recovers cores, which are then described and organized for analysis.
Drilling may be supplemented by observations of groundwater, depths of lithological changes, core recovery and other data that enrich the technical interpretation.
Drill
Exploration equipment advances through subsurface units.
Recover core
Representative material is extracted for direct observation and analysis.
Describe
Lithology, alteration, fractures, contacts and other characteristics are documented.
Interpret
The information is integrated into a subsurface model relevant to the project.
From recovered core to the subsurface log
Exploratory drilling does not end when the core is extracted. Its real value emerges when the information collected at depth is organized, described and interpreted.
Direct, documented information about subsurface conditions
Depending on the objectives, drilling can provide valuable information to characterize the site and support geological, geotechnical or hydrogeological decisions.
A borehole shows one location; interpretation places it in the wider site context
Information obtained from a borehole must be interpreted in the context of the site and the project's objectives and, where available, alongside other evidence such as mapping, field observations, geophysical data or previous studies.
When can exploratory drilling be useful?
This type of investigation is particularly valuable when subsurface conditions need to be verified directly rather than inferred solely from surface information.
Exploratory drilling can be integrated with other investigation methods
Depending on the project, drilling can complement geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological studies and geophysical methods to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the subsurface.
Common questions about exploratory drilling
Are exploratory drilling and water well drilling the same?
No. Exploratory drilling seeks direct subsurface information through material recovery. Water well drilling aims to construct a well for water abstraction.
Is a continuous, intact core always recovered?
Recovery depends on the method used and the conditions of the materials penetrated. The goal is to obtain high-quality samples or cores, but recovery can vary with ground conditions.
How deep should an exploratory borehole be?
There is no universal drilling depth. The scope must be determined by the technical question, the type of project, site conditions and the information required.
How much does exploratory drilling cost?
The cost depends on site access, the number of boreholes, estimated depth, recovery method, material type and technical objectives of the investigation.
Investigate subsurface conditions directly
Geo Costa Rica conducts exploratory drilling with core recovery to support geological, geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations in Costa Rica.