Download the PDF version of this resource, here

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See for yourself in our video all about our experience with railways…

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The setup and operation is more time consuming than conventional Beaver drilling, but we are going to depths we have never achieved using augers.  We are also adopted these methods to some of our other small drills.

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To help us recommend the best option, here are some key questions that can clarify the site constraints:

What is the size of the property?
Is it a large space like a warehouse? A small property like a house? Or something in between, like a factory or office? The size helps us estimate head clearance.

Is the work on the main floor or in a basement?

What is the purpose of the project?
Is it geotechnical or environmental?

What are the target depths?               

Let’s take a closer look at how the above factors influence our drilling strategy.

Property Size

For larger, open sites (like a warehouse) with bay doors and good head clearance, we’re likely to consider our small rubber track machines. Smaller sites may require a more compact drill, such as the GeoTool, 420, or Big Beaver.

Head Clearance

Head clearance is one of the first factors we consider, as different drills have varying height limitations. While an estimate like “10 to 15 feet of head clearance” is helpful, we need a more precise measurement. Our drills have minimum head clearance ranging from 6.5 to 13 feet, and some models offer multiple configurations to fit specific clearances. Additional obstacles such as drop ceiling tiles, pipes, and lights must also be factored in. Our goal is to choose the most powerful and versatile drill that fits the available clearance.

Head clearance narrows down the best possible drill for your site.

Head clearance can have a big impact on our approach.

The Beaver is efficient to get down stairs, making it a prime candidate for jobs in basements.

Basements

Basements present unique challenges. After 30 years in the field, we’ve encountered a wide variety of basement layouts. Small rubber track machines are typically not suitable for basement work unless there’s a ramp, walkout, or large freight elevator. When drilling in a basement, factors like borehole depth and SPTs come into play. While our electric PEP may be able to easily fit into any basement, it wouldn’t work for 30ft depth and SPTs. On the other hand, a larger drill like the Beaver may be unnecessary for a job that only requires shallow environmental sampling. Additionally, we need information about the basement stairs—are they wide and sturdy or narrow and rickety? These details help us determine the best approach.

Depth and Purpose                                                                                                               

The target depth and purpose of your project are critical when selecting the right drill. If you’re drilling shallow 4-foot holes, we’ll use a different drill than if you’re drilling 40-foot holes. It’s also useful to know whether the target depths are solid or loose. Some clients prefer a simple, cost-effective method with a “let’s see how far we can go” approach, while others have precise depth requirements based on prior tests or project goals. Additionally, certain drills are capable of performing geotechnical SPTs, while others may not.

This table summarizes drilling methods with the different machines.  

More factors to consider when planning your project…

Occupancy: Are there people or businesses in the building? Will noise and machinery disrupt their activities? If so, we may need to drill after hours or on weekends to minimize impact.

Mess Tolerance: Is the location messy or relatively clean? If it’s a clean space, we’ll take extra precautions and may use floor protection, drop sheets, and tarps, which could impact the duration of the job.

Flooring: Concrete floors are straightforward to core through. However, if the floor is carpeted, tiled, or made of wood, we may need to take additional steps to avoid damage.

Wells: If you’re installing wells, is a 2-inch well necessary, or would a 1-inch well suffice? We discuss well considerations in more detail in our article on wells—check it out here.

Doors: What kind of doors are at the site? Are there bay doors, man doors, or any unusual-sized doors that we’ll need to navigate? Knowing this will help us plan the best approach.

Distances from Doors: For certain drills, we may need to place a power unit outside or provide ventilation with fans and hoses. The distance from the borehole to the nearest door may affect how we approach the job.

Lateral Space and Clutter: Even if the space has high ceilings, clutter can make access difficult. If a warehouse is filled with equipment, products, or other obstacles, we’ll need to consider this when selecting the right drill and approach.

The more detailed information you can provide, the better equipped we are to meet your objectives and ensure a smooth drilling process. We also have a video that walks through how we select the right drill—check it out here!

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FIRST PLACE: 

SECOND PLACE:

THIRD PLACE: 

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Watch Randy as he reacts to some of these throwback moments in our video here. Then, take a moment to browse the gallery yourself and discover the stories behind these memorable snapshots.

Our first major challenge took us to a remote drilling site accessible only by float plane. To get the job done, we relied on split spoon soil sampling and augering…no easy feat in such an isolated location! These early obstacles ultimately led us to Texas and to investing in the Big Beaver.

This might be the smallest space we’ve ever drilled in, way back in our early years. The project required us to work inside a tank vault, with access limited to a tiny 1-foot by 1-foot hatch. Every piece of equipment and every team member had to squeeze through that opening. Now that’s what we call limited access!

In 1999, the Kodiak crew celebrated five years in business. What began with just three of us had grown to a team of five by that milestone year. Fast forward to today and we’re proud to say our team is now 16 strong!

This photo from 1994 features two of Kodiak’s original team members, Randy and Graham, working with our very first Pionjar drill. The site they were on is now covered by Highway 407. While we’ve retired the old Pionjar, we still use the same drilling method today, only now with a much cleaner and more efficient electric machine.

Two of the Kodiak originals using the Big Beaver in it’s early days! This machine is still a popular choice among clients.

This was our very first office where all Kodiak operations were run. Attached to it was a small warehouse, just big enough to fit our trailer and equipment at the time. 

Here, Randy and Graham are jacking out a split spoon sampler driven in with our one and only drill at the time, the trusty Pionjar, which traveled in the small trailer you see in the background. While we developed efficient systems around this method, it came with its fair share of limitations. Fast forward 30 years, and we’ve completely redefined what it means to use small drills in the field.

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Today, that technical foundation still runs deep. Our current management team includes five science degrees and two college diplomas, with two of us registered as Professional Geoscientists (P.Geo) in Ontario.

Our specialty is limited access drilling, which many assume means indoor drilling only. While indoor spaces like basements and utility rooms are certainly part of what we do (and areas where we excel), limited access goes far beyond that.

We’re just as likely to be found drilling outdoors on sites like soccer fields, parks, or boulevards, where traditional drilling rigs can’t reach or could damage the landscape. For us, limited access means any location where space, terrain, or surface conditions call for compact, maneuverable drilling equipment.

“Our vision for Kodiak has remained the same for all these 30 years… boreholes and monitoring wells with small drills. Within the past 30 years, I am most proud of our ability to be innovators and problem solvers to realize that vision.”                                        – Randy Goodwin, Kodiak Drilling Manager

 

An integral part of our 30 years of operations is our commitment to ensuring the highest standard of safety training and protocols. We have grown substantially since our early days with just the Pionjar and pickup truck, but our overall dedication to safety and efficiency has remained constant. 

It’s hard to believe now, but it was common for drillers not to check locates years ago. Kodiak and Geo-Environmental Drilling were pioneers in insisting on complete locates and all Kodiak employees have extensive locate training. We believe in the importance of this training so strongly that we will pay for our client project managers and field technicians to take it. 

We’ve developed what we believe is the most effective tailgate safety process in the industry—recognized by its feature in the Ontario Ground Water Association magazine (You can read the full article on our website here).

At its core, our system is built around two key components that make it both practical and impactful in the field.

1)  Tailgate Safety Checklist: A single-page, checklist-style form completed at every job site. It covers specific safety topics across each component of the site analysis, ensuring nothing is overlooked.                                                                                                                                  

2)  Health and Safety Plan – Field Work: This detailed document outlines the ten components referenced in the checklist. It provides site personnel with the guidance needed to complete thorough, site-specific safety assessments.

With 30 years under our belt, we take pride in our innovation and progress in tackling complex challenges. Thank you to everyone who’s been a part of our journey—we’re excited for what lies ahead!

Learn more about the technology used and our eight kinds of small drills in our article, here. 

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