News
Read the latest from our team on the ground along with geotechnical and geophysical news here.
A big thanks to our clients across Manawatū who came along to our Palmerston North get-together. It was great to catch up properly, share a few stories, and recognise the partnerships that keep our work moving.
It’s been a challenging year for many, but there was a real sense of momentum in the room – projects picking up, pipelines filling, and a bit more confidence about what’s ahead.
And thank you to Beaver and Bear for hosting us so well.
#Manawatu #ClientEvent #GeotechnicalEngineering #Partnerships #RDCL
2 days ago
/ Congrats Priya!
Congratulations to Priya Harrison (from our Hawke’s Bay office), who has recently achieved her Chartered Professional Engineer (CPEng, CMEngNZ) accreditation.
Chartered status is one of the highest benchmarks for engineers in New Zealand, confirming the ability to take responsibility for complex projects and deliver solutions that meet the highest standards of safety, quality, and performance.
For our clients, it strengthens our geotechnical and geophysical offering – enhancing the quality of oversight, design insight, and engineering leadership across every project.
Priya joined RDCL in 2022 and is a key member of our geotechnical design team, specialising in hazard assessment, land development and foundation and retaining design. Her practical, straightforward approach and depth of experience continue to lift the capability of our team.
Well done, Priya – a great achievement and a reflection of the expertise that continues to lift within RDCL.
#cpeng #geotechnicalengineering #engineeringexcellence #teamrdcl #ProfessionalDevelopment
3 days ago
/ Merch is ready for the 71st ANMSEC in Baguio City!
Looking forward to connecting with everyone at this year’s 71st Annual National Mine Safety and Environment Conference.
Come and see Eriko, Georgie, Kaye, Patrick and our PH team at Booth 165 – with Derek and Benjamin from our New Zealand team also there and available for a chat.
We’ve got RDCL goodie bags ready, and plenty of reasons to show how partnering with our geotechnical specialists can deliver strong value for your clients.
#71stANMSEC #PMEA #RDCL #ProudSponsor #Geophysics #Geotech #Mining #EngineeringPhilippines Pusong Minero
2 weeks ago
We recently wrapped up an inspiring few days at the NZGS2025 Conference, and it was refreshing to attend a geotechnical event that focused beyond cyclic loading and liquefaction. With recent disasters being so landslide-driven, the theme of resilience really resonated – especially through the many case studies and council-led presentations.
A standout takeaway was the reminder that while some geotechnical design processes can be standardised, you can’t remove the engineering geologist from the equation. A robust ground model remains essential.
Another thought-provoking session tackled how we manage uncertainty in our geotechnical data – highlighting that even “precise” lab test results carry bias depending on how samples are taken. It reinforced how geological context and on-site understanding are crucial for interpreting data and managing uncertainty effectively.
Overall, a great mix of practical insights and forward-thinking discussion for our profession.
2 weeks ago
NZGS – Young Geotechnical Professionals
Unlocking new water sources and offering insights.
Ollie from our Wellington team and Auckland graduate Kate recently completed wireline logging of two closely spaced, 400+ m deep water wells in New Zealand.
The goal was to identify and correlate fracture zones to allow the wells to be redeveloped more efficiently.
Together, these tools provided a high-resolution understanding of the subsurface conditions:
/ Optical Televiewer – Provided orientated imagery of the open hole sections of the hole. This allowed the wireline engineers to assess fracture orientation of potential aquifers and assess lithological changes.
/ Mechanical Calliper – this provided data on the size of the borehole and gave vital information on whether the fractures were open or not.
/ Fluid temperature and conductivity – this provided information on potential inflow of water into the well from source aquifers. Different bodies of water may have different temperatures and conductivities (linked to salinity).
/ Natural Gamma – clay rich rocks typically have a higher natural gamma signature than other lithologies. This data can help to distinguish between different geology types and allow the hydrogeologist to make high level assessments about the porosity of the rocks.
Despite challenges with site access and working at the limits of the onsite cable length, both wells were logged within two days. One bore reached 421 metres, making it the deepest borehole RDCL has logged using this method in the North Island to date.
These projects highlight the value of combining the right tools, experience, and teamwork – turning complex subsurface conditions into decision-ready data for hydrogeological assessments.
We’re proud of our team for continuing to rise to the challenge of delivering critical insights for our project partners, and the future of our land and water.
#waterinfrastructure #groundwater #WirelineLogging #RDCL #geophysics #hydrogeology
4 weeks ago
Stress testing, 545m deep.
RDCL is currently delivering hydraulic fracturing testing at 545 metres in Rizal Province, supporting the development of one of the Philippines’ largest pump storage energy facilities.
This is specialist work – technically demanding, logistically complex, and critical to long-term performance. Hydrofrac testing allows engineers to assess in-situ stress conditions at depth, providing essential inputs for the design of underground excavations, tunnels, and long-life infrastructure.
Our Philippines team pioneered this capability locally. Today, RDCL remains the only firm delivering this method in-country; a reflection of our investment in people, training and tools, and in delivering knowledge that supports safe development in difficult ground.
The work is underpinned by the IPI STX-60 system, a second-generation wireline hydraulic packer that enables multiple test stages in a single borehole run. Combined with optical and acoustic televiewer logging, this approach delivers a high-resolution picture of stress, structure, and rock behaviour, from surface to depth.
RDCL’s experience in hydrofrac testing is built over years of technical delivery across the Philippines and Aotearoa. For planners operating in challenging terrain, where legacy risk and stakeholder confidence must be managed in parallel, this level of insight becomes indispensable.
We bring more than data – we bring clarity, confidence, and locally grounded decision support.
Learn more about RDCL’s stress testing, televiewer logging, and advanced investigation tools at rdcl.co.nz.
#GeotechnicalEngineering #Hydrofrac #StressTesting #MinePlanning #PumpStorage #RDCLPhilippines #SubsurfaceData #GeotechAsiaPacific
4 weeks ago
