The route, underlain by middle and lower coal measures, runs alongside a canal, roads, and railways, and through open farmland. Along one part of the route, the canal towpath, there were high concentrations of existing services, which had a major influence on where the exploratory holes could be located. A mineshaft was also understood to be present at the western end of the pipeline route. Entec UK Ltd specified the scope of the investigation on behalf of Ondeo Industrial Solutions Ltd; 21 boreholes were required along the route for geotechnical and geo-environmental measurements. Prior to the sinking of the boreholes, inspection pits were excavated to check for the presence of the services. In addition 53 trial pits were machine excavated along the proposed route. Both disturbed and undisturbed samples were taken from the boreholes, with disturbed samples from the trial pits. In addition, a geophysical survey using ground-probing radar and electro-magnetic techniques was carried out to locate the mineshaft close to the towpath. At the eastern end of the site, FES used a CPT rig to determine ground conditions through an existing railway embankment for a proposed pipejack. FES used a Dando 2000 rig for light percussion boring to sink the 150-mm boreholes to maximum depths of 20m. Disturbed samples were taken at each change in soil type and SPTs were undertaken in the granular soils and weathered bedrock, with open-tube samples taken in cohesive strata. Thirteen piezometers were installed to monitor long-term groundwater levels, and a truck-mounted Punta 600MX rotary rig was used to extend a single borehole to 34m below ground level.