Horizontal Directional Drilling is a construction method used to install a product/use below the grounds surface on a horizontal plan without annoying the surface or above ground activities.
Horizontal drilling permits a conduit, pipeline, wire etc to be installed where other strategies such as open trenching would become deadly, messy, time intensive and at times not possible to construct.
The Horizontal Directional Drilling procedure are comprised of three major objectives:
- The Pilot Bore
- Reaming Process
- Product Installation
The Pilot Bore
Thru the utilization of a drillhead, which penetrates into the ground formation, a bore hole is produced under the surface in accordance with the designated bore trail. The drillhead location is monitored at all points by the usage of a transmitter found in the drillhead sending info to a receiver on the surface. This info tells the operator the drillheads lateral position, depth and pitch as well as drillhead temperature The bore path may require the drillhead to steered around existing services or below a structure like a road, buildings, train line or even waterway. During the complete process, drilling liquid is pumped thru the drill rods and out thru the drillhead. This specialised drilling liquid mixers with the cuttings to form a drill slurry which helps stabilize the hole, postpone cutting & stop frac-outs. Once the drillhead enters the exit pit, that has been made at the other end of the bore trail, the pilot bore has been completed.
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Reaming Process
Once the pilot hole is complete, the drillhead is removed and a back reamer attached to the drill string. The reamer is then slowly pulled back thru the hole whilst being rotated. As the reamer augments the hole, the cutting again mix with the drilling liquid being pumped through the drill rods to help stabilise the hole and ensure flow continues to the exit pit. Several different size reamers maybe needed to bring the hole to its elected size.
Product Installation
Once the bore hole has been enlarged to its correct size and the hole is cleaned out, the product is attached to the reamer thru a pipe puller, several metres of chain and swivel. As the product is being pulled back through the bore hole, drill slurry is pushed into any voids that will a have been produced around the product. This is where the correct drilling additions used are so vital. Once the product has entered the entry pit is it disconnected from the drill string, HDD machine is removed, site returned to its original condition and all open pits made safe including fencing.
The advantages for using Trenchless technology are countless and sundry but every job site should be evaluated by itself separate form as some benefits may not be as similarly important as others.
- Only minimal interruption is caused to all surface movements and structures when using Trenchless technology.
- No necessity to excavate hard surfaces like roads. Reducing disruption to traffic flow.
- Constructs a bore hole under the roots of trees and plants therefore causing minimal turmoil to vegetation.
- Preferred methodology for installing products under brooks and waterways therefore minimizing bridge modification and construction of overhead wires.
- Safer to the public as no long trenchers are required.
- Multiple products can be installed in a single bore hole.
- Trenchless equipment includes both pit and surfaced launched machines minimizing set-up time and expense.
- Nominal visible effect to residence while construction process is occurring.
- Time on the work site can be shortened.
- Can be steered horizontally and vertically en-ambling the bore hole to navigate thru existing structures and services.
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