Directional boring
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Directional boring Commonly called horizontal Directional drilling or HDD, is a trenchless method of installing underground pipes and conduits along a prescribed bore path originating at the surface, with minimal impact on the surrounding area. Directional boring is used when trenching or excavating is not practical. Directional boring minimizes environmental disruption. It is suitable for a variety of soil conditions and jobs including road, landscape and river crossings. Installation lengths up to 6,500’ (2,000m) have been completed, and diameters up to 48” (1,200mm) have been installed in shorter runs. Pipes can be made of materials such as PVC, Polyethylene, andSteel if the pipes can be pulled through the drilled hole.
 Drill Rig |
Locating & Guidance The most commonly used equipment for locating the bore head is called a ‘walk-over’ locating system. A sonde, or transmitter, behind the bore head registers angle, rotation, direction and temperature data. This information is encoded into an electro-magnetic signal and transmitted through the ground to the surface. At the surface a receiver is manually positioned over the sonde, the signal decoded and steering directions are relayed to the bore machine operator.
 |
The process is used for installing infrastructure such as telecommunications & power cable conduits, water lines, sewer lines, gas lines, oil lines, product pipelines and environmental remediation casings. It is used for crossing waterways, roadways, shore approaches, congested areas, environmentally sensitive areas, and areas where other methods are costlier.
Directional boring is used instead of other techniques to provide less traffic disruption, lower cost, deeper and/or longer installation, no access pit, shorter completion times, directional capabilities, and environmental safety.
