Drilling and Sampling of Soil & Rock

Drilling and Sampling of Soil & Rock Course Overview & Training Details

The course on Drilling and Sampling of Soil and Rock covers the methods and equipment used for drilling, sampling, and recovering soil samples and rock cores. It also discusses the visual examination and other techniques used during drilling and sample recovery. The course includes guidelines for various drilling methods and samplers, along with the storage, handling, and selection of specimen samples. It also considers basic soil behavior and factors such as water table in the selection of appropriate drilling and sampling methods.

Course Code: 528
Category: OSHA & Industrial Safety

+ View more
Course overview

Drilling and sampling of soil and rock for analysis and deciding on foundation type, depth, and strength is a standard procedure for any large infrastructure project, may it be road and bridge construction, harbor jetty construction, or very high-rise building design.

The design of building foundations, roadways, excavation, fills, and slopes requires an understanding of soil strength; soil characteristics, and consideration of problem soils and how soil behaves under imposed loads. Drilling and core samples provide the necessary samples for laboratory soil and rock tests and for on-site field testing. It is important to follow the criteria and guidelines so the appropriate drilling methods are selected especially since subsurface exploration is expensive but not nearly as expensive as for a project failure.

The course is designed and conducted as per contents of US Dept of Transportation FHWA Publication No. FHWA NHI-01-031 “Subsurface Investigation-Geotechnical Site Characterization” – Chapters 2 & 3.

What will I learn?

  • 1. Grasp subsurface exploration guidelines for soil and rock drilling and sampling.
  • 2. Know minimum boring depth and frequency requirements for various construction types.
  • 3. Understand how subgrade conditions dictate equipment selection: soil boring or rock drilling.
  • 4. Recognize the appropriate drilling and sampling methods based on construction type.
  • 5. Understand drilling method pros and cons, choosing equipment based on encountered soil and groundwater conditions.
  • 6. Be familiar with drilling fluid use for different soil and groundwater conditions
  • 7. Understand boring and sampling equipment operation and parameters.
  • 8. Recognize undisturbed sample acquisition and when specialized procedures are needed.
  • 9. Acknowledge the importance of visual observations and data recording during drilling, particularly for boring logs.
Requirements
  • Engineers and workers engaged in Drilling and Sampling of Soil and Rock
FAQs
  • 1. What is a Drilling and Sampling of Soil & Rock course?
    It is a professional training course covering drilling methods, soil sampling, rock coring, sample recovery, equipment selection, and subsurface investigation practices.

  • 2. Who should take a Drilling and Sampling of Soil & Rock course?
    The course is suitable for civil engineers, project engineers, geologists, environmental professionals, and workers involved in drilling and soil or rock investigations.

  • 3. What will I learn in soil and rock drilling training?
    You will learn how to select drilling and sampling methods, use appropriate equipment, obtain samples, understand groundwater conditions, and maintain accurate drilling records.

  • 4. What drilling methods are covered in this course?
    The training covers methods such as rotary drilling, auger drilling, direct-push, sonic drilling, percussive techniques, and other borehole advancement methods.

  • 5. What types of soil sampling techniques are taught?
    The course covers disturbed and undisturbed sampling, including split-spoon, thin-wall tube, piston, direct-push, and other commonly used sampling techniques.

  • 6. Does the course cover rock coring and core sampling?
    Yes. It covers rock coring methods, core barrel selection, rock-core recovery, visual examination, logging, and proper protection of recovered samples.

  • 7. Why is soil and rock sampling important in construction projects?
    Reliable subsurface samples help engineers understand ground conditions and make better decisions about foundations, excavation, slopes, roads, bridges, and other infrastructure.

  • 8. How do soil and groundwater conditions affect drilling methods?
    Soil formation, groundwater level, ground strength, and site conditions influence the choice of drilling equipment, drilling technique, fluids, and sampling procedure.

  • 9. Is this course based on international geotechnical guidelines?
    Yes. Elite Offshore states that the course is conducted in accordance with the US Department of Transportation FHWA NHI-01-031, Chapters 2 and 3.

  • 10. How long is the Drilling and Sampling of Soil & Rock course?
    Elite Offshore lists the course as 16 hours, with both online and offline learning options and six months of access.

Curriculum for this course
0 Lessons 16:00:00 Hours
+ View more
Other related courses
IMDG HAZMAT Awareness training course
08:00:00 Hours
Updated Mon, 05-Oct-2026
5 8 ₹10000 ₹8000
Manual Handling Awareness training course
08:00:00 Hours
Updated Sat, 26-Sep-2026
0 0 ₹7000
Face Fit Test training course
01:00:00 Hours
Updated Sat, 26-Sep-2026
0 0 ₹7000
Confined Space Entry training course
07:00:00 Hours
Updated Sat, 26-Sep-2026
5 93 ₹8000
Manual Handling Assessor training course
16:00:00 Hours
Updated Sat, 26-Sep-2026
0 0 ₹10000
₹20000
  • Duration: 16:00:00 Hours
  • Offline, Online
  • Conducted as per US Dept Publication No. FHWA NHI-01-031 Chapter 2 & 3
  • Certificate Validity: 5 Years