History of Research Drilling Program

By Research Drilling Program

The USGS has drilled for scientific data since 1896, when Congress funded studies of underground water and artesian wells in the West. Regional drilling capabilities in the Central, Western, and Eastern United States developed separately over the following century, merging into a single national Research Drilling Program between 2013 and 2016.

Image shows USGS scientists standing beside a drill rig in protective gear. — USGS scientists drilling a research core near Waco, Texas. This core was drilled by USGS during field work for an oil and gas assessment for the Eagle Ford of the Gulf Coast Basins. Cores like these provide information on the various rock layers, such as their make-up, their age, etc.

Early Origins and Regional Expansion (1896–1955)

1896: Congress funded USGS studies of underground water flow and artesian wells in the Western United States.

1948–1956: The USGS Central Region began systematic lithologic and radiologic drilling and borehole logging.

1950: Drilling expanded into the Central Rockies and Denver Basin for oil and gas resource assessment.

1955: The USGS installed its first borehole extensometer, in California's San Joaquin Valley, for subsurface monitoring.

Program Launches and Regional Growth (1978–1998)

1978: The Regional Aquifer System Analysis (RASA) Program launched, increasing drilling and coring for major aquifer research.

1985: Western Region Drilling was formally established, adding research drilling capability within the Water Resources Mission Area.

1995: The Central Mineral Team formed, adding drilling oversight, core analysis, and geologic research capacity.

1998: Western Region Drilling shifted toward broader subsurface exploration across the Western United States.

Consolidation and National Integration (2001–2016)

2001: Western Region Research Drilling relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada.

2013: The Central and Western Region drilling programs merged into a single Research Drilling Program.

2016: The Eastern Region joined RDP, completing national integration.

National Capability (2019–Present)

2019: Core collection and drilling services expanded to support geology, groundwater, hazards, and environmental investigations.

2020s: RDP operates as a national scientific drilling capability, having grown from a single small crew.