Directional drilling creates horizontal holes for underground utilities using heavy-duty borers. Workers drill a pilot hole, then use a reamer to cut a path for the pipe or duct. This method is environmentally friendly and can be used under rivers and busy roads. However, it is limited to hard soil or rock and cannot be used for deep installations.
Directional drilling is a process used to drill holes beneath the surface of the earth. Rather than drilling these holes straight down, directional drilling allows workers to create horizontal holes that run parallel to the ground above. This process is used to place many types of underground utilities, including power and telephone lines, as well as sewer, water and gas lines. Directional drilling may also be known as horizontal directional drilling (HDD) in some regions.
This process is accomplished using heavy-duty directional borers, which often rely on hydraulics to generate sufficient drilling power. Before drilling, workers first perform geological surveys and soil tests to ensure that drilling can be completed safely and effectively. They then create a start and end trench, which represents the start and end of the pipe run.
Next, the directional borer drills a small pilot hole using a special metal drill bit. This pilot hole serves as a guide for the remaining holes. After the pilot hole is successfully drilled, workers drive a metal-cutting tool, or reamer, through the ground. The reamer cuts out a path slightly larger than the diameter of the planned pipe or duct. Finally, the reamer is passed through the hole once more and is used to draw the pipe or conduit into place.
Directional drilling often requires the use of a special drilling fluid, consisting of water, mud and chemicals. This fluid travels through the ground with the drill and reamer to keep the hole clean and to help remove mud, rock, and other materials. The drilling fluid also cools the cutting tools to remove some of the heat generated by the drilling process. This helps these tools stay strong and sharp and helps prevent breakage and failure.
One of the major benefits of directional drilling is that it allows workers to drill holes without disturbing the soil above. This means that the pipe or duct can be laid under a river, a busy road or a crowded urban area. It allows you to install pipes quickly and economically compared to traditional excavation methods. It also helps protect the overlying ecosystem from disturbances, which are critical in environmentally sensitive areas.
Directional bore also presents some challenges and limitations to workers in some types of applications. This process can only be used when the subsurface layers consist mostly of rock or hard soil. It cannot be used in loose, sandy or gravelly soils. This technique may also not be appropriate for applications where the pipe must be installed very deep underground.
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