Abstract: The engineering geological investigations for pipeline large/middle river crossing is one of the focal point and difficult point in pipeline engineering. The correct selection of investigative plan will enhance the project progress, ensure quality and save cost. Taking two plans as example, the paper describes how to apply relative investigation standards and regulations as well as choose correctly investigation plan. It is pointed out that the comprehensive understanding and inference should be made for the concrete engineering geological condition by means of collecting the information and ground investigation to work out a investigation plan so as to meet the requirements of engineering design, reduce drillings, save investigation cost and shorten investigative time.