Modular drilling apparatus and ground treatment methods

A drilling apparatus comprising a mast assembly, a support structure assembly flexibly coupled with the mast assembly, a plurality of drill assemblies affixed to the support structure assembly, and a frame,

• wherein the mast assembly comprises a top mast beam and a pair of hydraulic cylinders, the hydraulic cylinders being affixed at a first end to the top mast beam and at a second end to the frame such that the mast assembly is raised and lowered relative to the frame through the extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinders;
• wherein the support structure assembly comprises a top support beam and a mid support beam, and wherein the support structure assembly is flexibly coupled with the mast assembly such that the support structure assembly moves vertically with the mast assembly;
• wherein the frame supports the mast assembly and comprises a top horizontal frame beam, a pair of vertical frame beams, and a base beam, wherein each of the top horizontal frame beam and the base beam are affixed to the vertical frame beams, and where the frame further comprises a universal skid steer coupler secured to the rear of the frame;
• wherein each of the plurality of drill assemblies comprises:
• a gearbox secured to a first facing side of the top support beam,
• a hydraulic power take off (PTO) coupled with and secured to the corresponding gearbox such that an output gear of the PTO supplies torque to said gearbox and said gearbox amplifies the supplied torque, and
• a hollow drill rod with a drill bit at one end and secured at the other end to the corresponding gearbox to receive amplified torque and pressurized fluid from the gearbox, wherein each drill rod is vertically supported by aligned apertures in the mid support beam and the base beam, and wherein the drill bit comprises exterior cutting elements and interior fluid diverters;
• the apparatus further comprising a plurality of hosing systems, a first hosing system for supplying pressurized hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic cylinders;
• a second hosing system to provide pressurized hydraulic fluid to each PTO of the drill assemblies;
• and a third hosing system for supplying pressurized water with or without an additive to each of the drill assemblies.