Horizontal directional drilling may be a non-excavation method for installation in underground pipes and cables. This involves the use of directional drilling and electronic equipment to drill precise holes along the selected bore path and return the desired pipe.
Why use horizontal directional drilling?
Underground pipelines will be constructed within supply corridors in rural areas. Typically, the units clear the approved route, dig specially prepared trenches, lower the welded sections of the pipes into the trenches and remove the soil on time for the recycling process.
This method is usually recommended for open space installations and can be carried out in sensitive areas using a technique that minimises the impact on the environment. During horizontal directional drilling activities, the land around the entrance and exit of the drill is disturbed but returned to its pre-drilling state.
Advantages of horizontal directional drilling.
- This can be a fast and accurate drilling process, allowing the operator to achieve excellent accuracy even at complex intersections.
- Continuous monitoring and control during operation allows operators to move between existing utility lines in tight spaces. They can use such drills in restricted areas.
In order to completely bypass the current recharge route, the borehole can be drilled at greater depths. Only the starting shaft at the entrance is required, therefore a receiving shaft at the exit point is needed.
The horizontal directional drilling process consists of 4 stages
Horizontal drilling Diagonal drilling
- Stage 1 – Excavation of pilot holes
- Stage 2 – Pre-drilling of horizontal holes
- Stage 3 – Pull-in operation
- Stage 4 – Production line installation
Stage 1 – Preparation of the hole for the horizontal drilling process
In the highly successful horizontal drilling process, the main step in drilling is the drilling of the exploratory hole. The pilot hole is drilled horizontally and continues below and above the obstruction along the intended construction path. The electronic transmitter is mounted in a housing behind the directional drill. The directional drill head can use the knowledge sent to orientate the drill path in any direction.
Stage 2 – Horizontal Drilling Process 2 – Horizontal Drilling Pre-drilling Directional Drilling Pre-drilling Directional Drilling Directional Drilling Pre-drilling
Once the pilot hole has been completed, the hole should be widened to an acceptable diameter for the commodity. This can be achieved by ‘pre-drilling’ the horizontal hole to an oversized diameter during the second stage of the horizontal drilling process. The slurry is pumped into the directional borehole to take care of the integrity of the hole and flush out the shavings.
Stage 3 of the horizontal drilling process is retuning
Swivel joints allow you to rotate the reamer without rotating the commodity. The inclined rig begins the backing up process, rotating and pulling the drill column to circulate the drilling mud. Extraction continues until the reamer follows the path of the drill bit through the directional drill bit, thus installing the pipe。
Stage 4 – Installation of the line in the horizontal drilling process
If the horizontal bore line supports power lines, fibre optic cables or other products, the aircraft cable is inserted into the duct before being pulled into place.
Conclusion.
Horizontal directional drilling can be a flexible, inexpensive and environmentally friendly alternative to typical drilling methods. It is the best and most accurate method of drilling. After installing the pipe, a directional drill is used to place the goods on the pipe. For this purpose, see Directional Drilling Techniques.
