Directional boring, also known as horizontal directional drilling (HDD), is a trenchless technique for installing underground utilities that causes minimal environmental impact. It involves drilling a pilot hole and then enlarging the hole to pull cables, pipes, or conduits through. There are four main stages: 1) drilling the pilot hole, 2) enlarging the hole with a back-reamer, 3) preparing and pulling the pipeline through, and 4) documenting the final installed location. HDD is beneficial because it is cheaper than traditional techniques, enables deeper installations, is quicker, avoids the need for access pits, and causes less environmental disruption.

1. A Complete Guide
On
Directional Boring

2. ●
Directional boring, popularly known as (HDD), facilitates
sideway drilling, thus, providing more exposure to the surface
area.
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It is usually preferred in those installation processes where
trenching or excavation cannot be implemented.
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Industries opt this technique in installation of various pipes,
conduits, power cables, water lines, etc. while causing
minimum harmful impact on the environment.
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Major applications include crossing waterways, shore
approaches, roadways, environmentally sensitive areas,
congested areas, etc.
Introduction

3. Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

4. Benefits
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Cheaper than traditional drilling techniques
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It enables deeper installations
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Quicker to implement
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No requirement of access pits
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Causes minimal hazardous impact on the environment
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Provides maximum directional capabilities
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Maintenance cost incurred is quite less
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Suitable for diverse soil conditions & surfaces (river crossings,
roads, landscapes, etc.)
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Power supply requirement is comparatively less
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Labor force & machinery equipment used are significantly
shortened.

5. Prior to drilling, the surface area (constituents and properties
of the soil) is examined closely.
Next, existing underground communication lines are removed
and selective soil probing is carried out.
Procedure

6. Later, the results are combined and studied to decide which
path and tactic should be chosen for bore hole laying.
It is essential to choose an optimum location for drilling
equipment on the site. Also, measures should be undertaken
to ensure safety of all the workers and other people around.

7. Four Stages of Drilling Procedure
1.Drilling a Pilot Hole
A rock-cutting tool is used to perform the drilling work. The
drilling head along with a transmitter fitted on it allows to
operate and control the drilling process. A fluid is filled in the
head to reduce friction and provide more stability to the
bore hole. Visual information about the position, angle and
azimuth of the drilling head is showed on the locator display
that receives information via the transmitter.

9. 2.Enlargement of Pilot Hole
After drilling a pilot hole, it is enlarged with the help of a
back-reamer which is attached to the drill string. The reamer
is pulled back to the machine, from the exit end of the
tunnel, enlarging the pilot hole to the required diameter.

10. 3.Pipeline Pulling
A pipeline string is prepared for pulling on the opposite site
from the drilling machine of the bore hole. To prevent the
pipeline from rotation, a swivel is attached to the back-
reamer; then pipeline is attached to this swivel with the help
of a gripping device.
4.Final Stage
Documentation on the operation scheme is prepared to
describe the link between pipeline and landmarks. It
provides an overview on where the actual pipeline is
positioned on different planes.

11. We-Bore-It has been providing directional boring & trenching services to
the Cable, Telecommunications and Wireless industry since 1990. The
company was founded with the idea of uniting multiple contracting
companies under one umbrella company. After years in the industry, and
valuable feedback from customers and partners it became clear that they
wanted us to expand our operations from that of local to that of a regional
or even nationwide operator. Our goal is to offer our residential and
commercial customers a service that focuses on all their underground
construction needs.

12. 755 Ridgeview Dr #200, McHenry, IL 60050,
United States
800-864-8857
info@we-bore-it.com