January 2009 to February 2009 - EMG (UK) - Assistant Drilling Supervisor/Geotechnical Engineer

Site investigation project for Emerson Moore Geosciences in Liberia, West Africa, on behalf of Arcelor Mittal. The projects aim was to assess the ground conditions for the scheduled port improvements and iron ore processing facilities at Buchanan.

The project consisted of 24hr drilling operations with 2 Commachio rigs and 4 UK drill crews; with Shelby samples, windowless sampling, SPT's, rotary coring, open hole drilling and trial pitting through tropical residual soils, fluvial and beach deposits and bedrock (Gneiss & Diabase)

My duties mainly consisted of liaising with the client and local labour to locate difficult access positions and facilitate access for all plant and drilling rigs. Locations included the existing quayside, historical tailings ponds and bush/marsh land. Other duties involved trial pitting and working alongside the Site Agent and Drill Supervisor to ensure the safe & effcient delivery of the works.

Picture shows Drilling in Liberia, West Africa

July 2008 to December 2008 - SRK Consulting (South Africa) - Site Engineering Geologist

On site management of (US)$2 million+ project on behalf of Sonils Lda in Angola, West Africa as part of the ongoing port extension in the Bay of Luanda.

The project consisted of nearshore marine CPT and Vibrocore work and Rotary Core drilling from a Jack-Up-Platform.

Contract required on site management of sub-contractors Diabor (South Africa), Gardline/Lankelma (UK), local labour and liaison with CHEC (Chinese contractor) to ensure the works were progressed on programme and to budget.

Picture shows Jack-Up-Platform in Bay of Luanda, Angola

June 2008 to July 2008 - Costain Geotechnical Service - Site Agent

Site investigation in north Lancashire on behalf of United Utilities in an existing waste water treatment works for a scheduled expansion and improvement scheme.

Project consisted of multiple cable percussive rigs drilling in very dense granular river deposits. Repeated damage to equipment caused by the difficult ground conditions necessitated careful planning and execution of the works.

Picture shows cable percussive rigs within treatment works.

April 2008 to May 2008 - Structural Soils

Site investigation on M62 motorway embankments, on behalf of Structural Soils for Highways Agency.

Site works included intrusive ground investigation of motorway embankments in Yorkshire as part of the M62 expansion programme.

Picture shows roadside cable percussive drilling rig and 4x4 site vehicle.

May 2007 to March 2008 - Ian Farmer Associates - Geotechnical Engineer / Site Agent
Supervising various site investigations throughout the UK, including...

Site investigation in river terrace deposits, coal measures and mine workings for a commercial development on behalf of White Young Green for Burnley Council & The North West Development Agency.

Responsibilities included on site management of windowless sampling, trial pitting, concrete coring, cable percussive drilling, open hole rotary drilling, junior staff and subcontractors.

The project comprised three separate sites involving difficult access issues, poor ground conditions and working within confined spaces.

Picture shows tractor mounted rotary rig, open hole drilling adjacent to an historical mine shaft location.

Red site SI for Mouchel Parkman on an historical landfill to assess methane and landfill gas migration to local residential areas, on behalf of Rochdale MBC.

The contract involved multiple drill crews and poor ground conditions which required tracked vehicle site operations.

On site management of windowless sampling, cable percussive drilling and junior staff. Duties included client liaison, management of all site operations, the supervision of gas and groundwater monitoring well installation and the enforcement of red site health and safety guidelines.

Picture shows windowless core samples of made ground over landfill waste.

Various small to medium scale site investigations for Tesco, on behalf of Fairhurst Consulting Structural & Civil Engineers.

Projects were on proposed and existing Tesco's sites in the North West of England. Contracts were typically short term, involving cable percussive drilling, windowless sampling, machine excavated trail pits and hand pitting techniques.

Picture shows a service inspection pit.

Ground investigation in Greater Manchester to identify historical coal mine workings, shaft locations and quarry walls on behalf of Scott Wilson, for Bury MBC.

The scope of the project required rotary open hole and rotary core drilling, cable percussive drilling, windowless sampling and dynamic probing, machine excavated trial pits and trenches, in situ CBR testing, various in situ field tests and a detailed topographic survey.

Picture shows mobilisation of Beretta rotary rig and compressor to site.

Second phase red site ground investigation in city centre Manchester to further determine extent of hydrocarbon & gas works contamination in sandstone bedrock and lower groundwater flows, on behalf of ARUPS.

The role as Site Agent ensured the safe delivery of a high quality site investigation under budget and within the required timescale.

Picture shows Beretta rotary rig tracking to borehole location.

March 2007 to May 2007 - Costain Geotechncial Service - Site Agent

Supervising multiple small sites on behalf of Greater Manchester Waste in the North West, working in conjunction with Scott Wilson.

Including red & yellow sites, landfill, waste processing & recycle centres. Various drilling and ground probing techniques utilised.

Picture shows a Uni Mog site vehicle.

January 2007 to March 2007 - Ian Farmer Associates - Site Agent

Red site SI for Fairhurst, on behalf of Tesco with heavy chemical works contamination. Cable percussive and windowless sampling at a proposed Tesco site in Lancashire.

The primary responsibility was to ensure the safe operation of drill crews during drilling operations in heavily contaminated soils. Other duties involved the collection of chemical and geotechnical samples, PID monitoring, down the hole gas and groundwater monitoring, liaising with Tesco management and the public to ensure safe site works.

Picture shows new Tesco site.

November 2006 to December 2006 - WSPE - Geotechnical Engineer

Senior Geotechnical Inspector of motorway carriageways, embankments & associated structures on Section 12A (Yorkshire). Contracting for WSPE in partnership with Carillion for the Highways Agency.

Picture shows highways inspection site.

September 2006 - November 2006 - Emerson Moore Geosciences - Senior Engineering Geologist

Managing 5 separate projects on behalf of Kier CCC for JAMALCO & ALCOA in Jamaica, West Indies.

Responsible for cable percussive, hand drilling, rotary and wireline rotary drilling for proposed railway line and existing line improvements, rock blasting site suitability investigation, reservoir construction, river and road bridge construction, mineral exploration drilling.

Live railway line work, remote & bad access drilling in Karst topography & mountainous areas, tropical residual soils and difficult drilling conditions. Supervision and management of drill crews, junior staff, local labour, plant and rigs.

Picture shows Commachio drilling rig in railway mounted transit.

July 2006 to September 2006 - Ian Farmer Associates - Assistant Site Agent / Senior Geotechnical Engineer

1st Phase red site ground investigation using rotary, cable percussive and trial pitting techniques in city centre Manchester for ARUPS.

Challenging issues included historical gas works, high levels of hydrocarbons, fractured sandstone and significant groundwater. Assisting site agent, managing drillers, labour, junior staff members.

Picture shows rock core samples of sandstone.

May 2006 to July 2006 - Emerson Moore Geosciences - Senior Geologist

Overseeing 3 contracts on behalf of Kier CCC for JAMALCO in Jamaica, WI.

Cable percussive drilling for proposed railway line and existing line improvements. Rotary and wireline rotary drilling for an overhead rope conveyor to transport bauxite over Mount Oliphant to the sea port, construction of loading stations and associated infrastructure & support buildings. Drilling and operating in remote mountainous areas and Karst topography, tropical residual soils and difficult drilling conditions.

Supervision and management of drill crews (local & UK crews), junior staff, local labour, plant & rigs and client liaison.

Picture shows a Boyles drilling rig in excavated working platform.

November 2005 to May 2006 - WSPE - Resident Engineer

Supervising a large bore pilling project in coal measures and workings for bridge works on the M621 motorway.

Full time site supervision of contractors completing CFA piles on behalf of Balfour Beattie. The contract required on site continual analysis of coal measures to ensure competent pile design.

Picture shows a Klemm CFA pilling rig tracking beneath M621 motorway.