Wireline logging in ground investigation (P3299)
Uncertainties in local ground conditions often pose significant risks to construction project schedules and budgets. Unexpected ground conditions, such as the need for expert consultations or design changes, are a key cause of cost overruns. Soil uncertainty can also lead to inefficient designs, increasing material costs and carbon emissions. To mitigate these risks, ground investigations (G.I.) are conducted before construction. These investigations provide crucial data for structural design, utilizing cost-effective techniques like drilling boreholes, which offer geotechnical and geological insights to characterize the subsurface.
Wireline logging involves using specialized tools to measure downhole formation attributes, providing valuable data on lithology, geological discontinuities, and rock stresses. This technique, initially used in oil, gas, and mining, is becoming more common in civil engineering as costs decrease. To ensure effective use of wireline logging in G.I., industry guidance on best practices is essential for reducing both project costs and environmental impact.
CIRIA propose to develop a new good practice guide on the application of wireline logging for civil engineering projects. It will complement the recently published CIRIA “Good practice guide to using geophysics in ground investigation. A client's guide (C812)” which introduced the use of borehole geophysics.
The project will bring together a team (project steering group) of experts from the ground investigation industry, consultants, academics, clients and equipment suppliers to produce guidance on the current techniques available, the results that can be reasonably expected from them, application and timing of the logging, procurement and relative costs. A selection of examples from projects will be given and an insight into the potential future direction for the technologies involved.
Download a copy of the full proposal.
Project status
This project is currently seeking technical and financial support.
Further information
For further information or to get involved with this project please contact Dr Loretta von der Tann at CIRIA.