The UK's Wheeler Site Investigation has acquired a new radio-controlled low ground pressure drilling rig to meet increased market interest for site investigations work in Scotland.

The Comacchio Geo 305 compact high-performance crawler-mounted drill rig adds to the company's growing fleet of rotary, cable percussive and dynamic sampling rigs and support plant.

Positioned between compact, lightweight investigation rigs and larger drilling machines, the GEO 305 is versatile platform capable of carrying out a broad range of drilling techniques. These include wireline coring, hollow stem augering, rotary drilling, DTH hammer drilling, SPT testing, dynamic sampling, and monitoring well installation.

Despite its compact size and ease of transport, the GEO 305 delivers performance comparable to higher-class rigs, allowing for deeper drilling and improved efficiency in more challenging ground conditions.

Mitch Yeo, operations manager at the Essex-based firm said the company  has invested in a new drill rig year-on-year since 2022. The company now has five rigs and trains all crews in-house.

A surge in interest in the company's capabilities follows Wheeler Site Investigation becoming the first drilling company to achieve 100% BDA Audit compliance, and managing director Jack Wheeler being presented with the  BDA's Contractor of the Year Award in 2025.

Mr Wheeler told GDI all CP and rotary rigs are actively deployed on projects that include a large reservoir project in Lincolnshire, the massive Black Cat Link project to turn the A428 between Bedfordshire and Cambridgeshire into a dual carriageway, and Lower Thames Crossing. The company has just renewed a contract for the latter, drilling 40m CP holes.