Horizontal Directional Drilling

HDD - A Brief Overview

Horizontal Directional Drilling techniques are used for the steerable installation of new pipelines, ducts and cables. The term applies to a crossing in which a pilot bore is drilled, and then enlarged to the size required for the product pipe. The drill path may be straight or gradually curved, and the direction of the drilling head can be adjusted at any stage during the initial pilot bore to steer around or under obstacles.
Normally launch and receipt pits are excavated so as to collar the hole and collect drill slurry and cuttings. These pit dimensions vary according to the size of the rig and conduit to be installed.
Installation of the product pipe or duct is usually a two-stage operation.  A pilot hole is drilled along the required path to provide steering information, and the bore is then reamed in a single or multi-stage operation, depending on the ground conditions and project requirements, to a larger diameter to accommodate the product pipe. During the final ‘pullback’ stage, the product pipe is attached to the reamer by means of a swivel connector, and is pulled into the enlarged bore as the drill string is withdrawn.
Most guided horizontal boring machines use a drilling fluid, which lubricates and stabilises the bore, and also conveys the excavated material in suspension.


Figure 1. Pilot Bore – Starting at the entry point a drill head, suitable for the ground conditions, is drilled along the predetermined route with depth and alignment monitored continuously.


Figure 2. Reaming Process – The pilot bore is enlarged in suitable steps by back reaming the hole with cutters designed for the ground conditions to a size that accommodates the product pipe.

Figure 3. Pipe Installation – Once the drill string is connected to the pipe via a swivel pull back commences. In some instances the pipe can be pushed into place.

Horizontal Directional Drilling methodology can be broken down into two stages:

STAGE 1 - SITE INVESTIGATION / PRELIMINARIES

A number of considerations have to be taken into account before a Horizontal Directional Drilling project can commence. These include:

• Geology Investigation
• Bore Design

STAGE 2: CONSTRUCTION

Once the design works have been completed the boring works can commence. This consists of a number of processes:

• Pilot Bore
• Drilling Fluids
• Reaming
• Pull Back
• Guidance Systems
• Mud Motors

Source : http://www.uea.com.au/technical-centre/trenchlesstechnology/horizontal-directional-boring/. January 2015