Our Services
Comprehensive Geothermal Drilling Services
From initial site assessment to final commissioning, GDNE provides end-to-end geothermal drilling solutions for residential, commercial, and institutional projects throughout New England.
Standing Column Well Drilling
Open-loop geothermal wells using natural groundwater circulation for efficient heat exchange. Ideal for New England's favorable bedrock geology. Our crew drills deep vertical wells that serve dual-purpose as both heating/cooling and domestic water supply.
Closed Loop Systems
Sealed HDPE piping systems installed in vertical boreholes. The closed loop circulates a water-antifreeze solution, providing reliable heat exchange without groundwater contact — suitable for all soil and geological conditions.
Thermal Conductivity Testing
In-situ thermal conductivity testing determines your site's ground thermal properties. This data is critical for optimizing system design and ensuring maximum efficiency — especially important for commercial and institutional projects.
Grouting Services
Professional bentonite and thermally-enhanced grout installation to maximize heat transfer between the ground loop and surrounding earth, while protecting groundwater quality as required by Massachusetts regulations.
HDPE Fusion & Manifold Installation
Our crew holds current HDPE fusion certifications. We create leak-proof ground loop connections using butt-fusion and socket-fusion techniques, and custom manifold systems for multi-well configurations.
Permitting Assistance
Complete permitting support including well permits, environmental reviews, and municipal coordination. We handle the paperwork so you don't have to — facilitating smooth project approvals across all New England states.
Residential Installations
Complete geothermal systems for homes — from single-family retrofits replacing oil or gas to new construction ground-up installations. Whether your home is 1,500 or 10,000 square feet, we design and drill the right system.
Commercial & Institutional
Large-scale geothermal drilling for offices, schools, hospitals, universities, and municipal buildings. Our portfolio includes Harvard University, Nichols College, and regional medical centers throughout New England.
Geotechnical Investigations
Subsurface evaluation, test borings, and geological assessment to determine optimal well placement, expected drilling conditions, and design parameters before full-scale installation begins.
Water Well Drilling
Domestic and commercial water well drilling with advanced rotary and air hammer techniques. As a division of Ogden Wells, water well drilling has been our core competency for decades.
System Retrofits
Upgrading existing conventional HVAC to geothermal. We install the ground loop side of the system, working with your HVAC contractor to integrate with new heat pump equipment for a seamless conversion.
Engineering & Design Support
We collaborate with mechanical engineers, architects, and HVAC designers to ensure optimal borefield layout, piping configuration, and system integration for projects of any scale.
Project Boundary & Trade Coordination
Scope Clarity: Ground Loop vs. Indoor Mechanicals
Successful geothermal projects rely on a seamless division of responsibility between the ground-source driller and the mechanical HVAC contractor. Here is how GDNE demarcates scopes for commercial GCs, engineers, and homeowners:
Subsurface Ground Loop Infrastructure
GDNE owns the complete exterior and underground scope up to the interior foundation wall penetration:
- Bedrock & SCW Drilling: Rotary air hammer borehole drilling (300–1,500 ft), casing seating, and drive shoe installation.
- Loop Insertion & Grouting: IGSHPA-certified HDPE 4710 U-tube insertion and pressure-pumped thermally-enhanced bentonite grout (1.2–1.6 Btu/hr-ft-°F).
- Certified Fusion & Vaults: Butt-fusion and electrofusion of lateral header trenches, balancing valves, and exterior manifold distribution vaults.
- Building Penetrations: Core drilling foundation walls, installing Link-Seal water-tight sleeves, and delivering stub-outs into mechanical rooms.
- In-Situ TRT Testing: 48-hour automated thermal conductivity pilot tests providing k-values and borehole thermal resistance for MEP engineers.
Interior Mechanical HVAC Systems
GDNE collaborates closely with your preferred mechanical HVAC contractor (or can recommend vetted regional partners):
- Heat Pump Equipment: Supply and commissioning of interior water-to-water and water-to-air heat pumps (WaterFurnace, ClimateMaster, Bosch).
- Air Distribution & Ductwork: Sheet metal fabrication, supply/return duct transitions, zoning dampers, and indoor air quality filters.
- Hydronic Radiant Loops: Radiant floor tubing, fan coil units, domestic hot water buffer tanks, and interior circulator pumping modules.
- Electrical Line Voltage: 208V/230V electrical feeder wiring, disconnect switches, and thermostat control wiring.
- Mass Save® Rebate Processing: We provide our certified driller logs and loopfield test data directly to your HVAC partner for rapid Mass Save rebate approval.
Our Territory
Serving All of New England
GDNE provides premier geothermal design, drilling, and installation across Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont.
Need a Service Not Listed Here?
With over 44 years of borehole technology experience, we can handle most drilling challenges. Get in touch to discuss your project.