Horizontal Directional Boring
About Our Service
Directional Drilling, also known as Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), is a technology that has been evolving since the 1970s. The directional drilling process occurs in two distinct stages. First, a pilot hole is drilled between the desired start and stop points. The pilot hole determines the placement of the product line. Occasionally, the product line can be installed using just the pilot hole, but often, back reaming is necessary to enlarge the bore’s diameter.
Back reaming, the second stage of directional drilling, may need to be done several times before the required diameter is obtained and the product line can be pulled back through the earth. These stages require a drilling fluid (a mud mixture). Drilling fluid usually consists of bentonite, polymer, or both in combination with lots of water!
Why Directional Drilling
The directional drilling process has many benefits when compared to other conventional methods.
More Operating Control
This technology allows the operator to have more control over the location of the product line. This added control spawns from the ability to maneuver the cutting head via the sonde locating device.
Optimal for restrained working conditions
Directional drilling is also useful when faced with restrained working conditions where a bore pit would be unfavorable.
Minimized Environmental impact
Environmental impact is minimized because directional drilling can take place without the excavation of a launching pit.
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Effective Usage
Directional drilling can be used effectively in many situations where conventional trenchless methods will not work. There are situations where additional precautions need to be exercised before attempting this method:
High-Voltage Electric Lines
Operating around high voltage electric lines can cause some interference in the sonde reading. This interference may create a false location of the cutting head making it dangerous when operating in critical situations.
Soil Conditions
Soil conditions play a major role in choosing a directional drill. This technique is ideal in sand, silt, clay, or dirt. Harder geological formations are drillable with greater mud pressure and the use of mud motors or hammers. Generally, a harder material yields less control when operating a directional drill.
Ground Movement
The possibility of ground movement is also a concern when directional drilling. Depending on ground conditions and fluid pressure, the earth could shift, causing the cutting fluid to seep into surrounding areas. These “frac-outs” (meaning literally to fracture out) hinder drilling fluid returns and disrupt the environmental surroundings.