Our Process

In many cases, we are providing contract drilling services for groundwater, geothermal and geotechnical boreholes. In others, we take ownership of the project at every level, initiating geophysical surveys, calculations, designs, drilling, and system implementation, with post installation testing and maintenance.

We can provide an end-to-end project management service, from initial scoping to drilling and ultimately the delivery of a full Ground Source Heat Pump system or Groundwater Abstraction System. We also partner with companies who can provide funding for the heat network on major schemes such as commercial or residential developments, with costs recovered through usage billing.

It is important to us that things are done correctly, from the beginning, so we will always conduct our own research into any site’s geology, before we make any recommendation. We will ask for a full breakdown of the building’s heating, cooling, and hot water requirements, and, if needed, we will then recommend a full, independent geological survey. Once we are sure of the information, we will be able to offer a quote with fixed pricing. These packages include partnering with specialist consultants, recommendations on heat pumps,

Before any work begins, we will come out to site to initiate our project management and will take the client through a full information pack, specifically for their site.

We provide each client with full drilling logs, and will register their new boreholes with the British Geological Survey as part of our service.

5 Steps to Ground Source Heating

Step 1

Following an initial phone or email enquiry, to contact us, please click here, an assessment of the site size, accessibility and the output requirement of the Ground Source Heat Pump will be made. A preliminary, estimated quote will be provided in writing within a few days.

Step 2

After more detailed investigation, including, if needed for larger projects, a British Geological Survey report and a site visit, the initial quote may be refined or confirmed. The BGS report takes approximately 3 weeks and costs a few hundred pounds. At this stage, if it is preferred by the client, a Method Statement and all Risk Assessment documentation will be supplied. If, at this point, the client wishes to go ahead, a security deposit will be requested. On receipt of this deposit, project start and completion dates will be set.

Step 3

Before work can commence, a map of all underground pipe networks, including water mains, gas, sewerage, and utility systems will be needed from the client. Work will then commence with the arrival of the drill rig, mud cleaning unit, and ancillary equipment. For larger projects, it might be that more than one rig is brought onto site, to speed up the process and avoid any unnecessary delay.

Step 4

Depending on the rig used, the depth required, and the geology of the site, each borehole should take 1-2 days to drill. Loops are mechanically inserted by hydraulic loop reel, then pressure tested. High quality grout, mixed by a specialised unit, is pumped into the borehole from the bottom up.

Step 3

Before work can commence, a map of all underground pipe networks, including water mains, gas, sewerage, and utility systems will be needed from the client. Work will then commence with the arrival of the drill rig, mud cleaning unit, and ancillary equipment. For larger projects, it might be that more than one rig is brought onto site, to speed up the process and avoid any unnecessary delay.

Step 5

After completion of the boreholes, header works, the joining up of boreholes through manifold and header pipes back to GSHP location, will be done. Any further works relating to the GSHP itself can be undertaken either by AWGeothermal, or a third party. We will then leave site, as tidily and with as little inconvenience as possible.

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