UXO Borehole Support_
At Brimstone UXO, we specialise in UXO Borehole Support, keeping your borehole drilling operations safe, compliant, and on schedule. This service accounts for over half of our deployments each month, making it one of our most trusted and requested offerings.
What is UXO Borehole Support?
UXO Borehole Support involves the progressive clearance of borehole positions using a down-hole magnetometer probe. This ensures that unexploded ordnance is detected before your drilling equipment encounters anything dangerous below ground.
We support a range of drilling techniques, including cable-percussive, rotary, window, and windowless sampling, and adapt our approach to suit your site conditions. This service is essential for sites where a UXO risk has been identified and is sometimes referred to as a down-hole magnetometer survey.
How UXO Borehole Support Works_
At Brimstone, we use a structured, methodical approach to keep borehole drilling operations safe and efficient:
Prior to the borehole drilling commencing, our UXO engineer will scan a shallow hand-dug pit to provide clearance for the first metre of drilling.
Once the first metre is drilled, we lower a magnetometer probe to the base of the borehole to scan for magnetic anomalies. This process is repeated every metre until the theoretical maximum bomb penetration depth (typically 12m) is reached.
The magnetometer probe which is lowered into the borehole on a cable extension can detect magnetic signatures that could be unexploded ordnance within a 1 metre radius. Our engineer will be looking for these readings each time they probe the bottom of the borehole.
When we’ve reached the maximum required depth, you can proceed with drilling the cleared position. We’ll work closely with your team across all boreholes and provide a clear, detailed report summarising our findings.
Benefits of UXO Borehole Support_
Ensuring safety and efficiency in your borehole drilling operations is critical. Brimstone UXO can ensure UXO risks are identified quickly and safely:
By clearing the borehole positions before drilling takes place, you can protect your team from striking an unexploded device, something that could have catastrophic consequences.
With advanced technology and highly experienced personnel, Brimstone ensures accurate, efficient UXO detection on site.
While no specific legislation outlines UXO clearance requirements, you are legally obliged under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and CDM Regulations 2015 to ensure site safety. Our work aligns with CIRIA C681, the UK’s recognised guide for managing UXO risk during construction.
By working in conjunction with your drilling team and their timelines, we ensure project continuity and keep projects moving along smoothly.
What happens if an anomaly is found_
If our down-hole probe picks up a reading that indicates potential UXO presence, we will abort the borehole drilling. This is for the safety of everyone on site. Our team will then work closely with you to decide the best course of action.
Depending on the site characteristics and your proposed works, we will try to move the borehole to a new position that is close to your original position, but far enough away from where we picked up a reading.
If moving the borehole isn’t possible, we can organise for a Target Investigation to be carried out. This will involve us deploying a team to site to safely excavate and identify the item.
Ready to Book UXO Borehole Support?
Don’t take chances with unexploded ordnance. Our experienced engineers and advanced equipment provide thorough clearance and continuous monitoring to protect your team and the wider public from the dangers of UXO.
Contact us today to discuss your project needs and get booked in.