The pipe ramming method involves using a pneumatic hammer to install an open-ended steel casing to replace or install culverts and pipes in a trenchless manner. It can install casings through various soil conditions including free-flowing sand, cobble, rock, and groundwater. The hammer pushes and compacts soil ahead of the casing to swallow obstructions. For longer distances, a telescoping method uses progressively smaller casings installed within larger casing sections. The method reduces surface impacts compared to open trenching.

1. PIPE RAMMING METHOD
PRESENTER(S) NAMES

2. What is Pipe Ramming?
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
A pneumatic hammer installs an open ended steel casing that is cleaned out during and after completion of
pipe installation.

3. PIPE RAMMING APPLICATIONS
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
•Steel casing installation
•Culvert replacement
•Ram and swallow
•Slick boring
•Piling
•HDD Assist
–Wash-over casings
–Stuck Bores
–Removal of drill stem
–Hydro-locked casings

4. Advantages
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Trenchless
• Able to swallow rock as large as the
inside diameter of the casing
• Method does not remove soil until
casing is installed
• Minimizes voids
–Roads
–Railroads
• Reduced soil compaction

5. Preferred for Adverse Soil Conditions
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Free flowing sand
• Cobble conditions
• Large rock formations
• Excessive ground water

6. SWALLOWS LARGE OBSTRUCTIONS
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Rock swallowed during ram
• Spoil removed post ram
54” Casing

7. CULVERT SWALLOWING
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
An oversized casing is rammed over existing culvert. After installation is complete, old culvert and spoil is
removed. Steel casing can serve as the drainage culvert or as a carrier pipe for another pipe inserted
within.

8. TELESCOPING METHOD
PIPE RAMMING FOR LONGER DISTANCES
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
An oversized pipe is rammed over the existing culvert until production ceases and is cleaned out. Further
progress is made with smaller casings installed within the oversized pipe in the same manner.

9. METHOD IMPLEMENTATION
Trenchless Culvert Replacement Under Railways with the Pipe Ramming Method

10. RAM SITE LAYOUT
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Note: Follow local regulations for sloping or shoring of pit.

11. SITE PREP: CASING PLACEMENT
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Rail system I-beam Pipe Mule™
Leveling System

12. STEEL CASING PREP
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
SOIL SHOE LUBRICATION
Steel Casing
Internal Shoe
External Shoe
Reinforces lead casing and provides an Supplies lubricating fluid to OD and ID of
annulus for lubrication. casing during installation.

13. COLLETS AND RAMMER
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Install Pushing Collets/Collars Install Rammer
Collets and collars help to distribute the The rammer is locked into the collets when
ramming force to the face of the pipe. the tool is started.
The collets also lock the rammer into place.

14. SPOIL REMOVAL
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
Spoil removal for >30” and/or Spoil removal <30” Casing
large spoil/culverts
Seal kit
Manual excavation, HDD culvert cleaning Air and/or water pressure. Seal kit for air
tools, jet washing, auger boring wherever pressure removal.
applicable.

15. PIPE RAMMING CASE STUDIES
HIGHWAY & RAILROAD CULVERT INSTALLATION & REPLACEMENT WITH PIPE RAMMING

16. NEW INSTALLATION – ROCKVILLE, MN
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–2 – drainage culverts under
railroad
• Pipe sizes
–1-60” Casing
–1-32” Casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 90’
–1@ 195’
• Free flowing sand
• Holding grade

17. PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT NEW INSTALLATION – GRAND ISLAND, NE
• Project
–1 – drainage culvert under railroad
• Pipe sizes
–1-24” Casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 250’
• Free flowing sand with loose coal
dust and other materials
• Installed with 2% grade

18. PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT NEW INSTALLATION – COUER D’ALENE, ID
• Project
–2 – drainage culverts under RR
and Highway
• Pipe sizes
–2 - 48” casings
• Equipment
–23” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 190’
–1@ 195’

19. PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT NEW INSTALLATIONS – MARICOPA CTY, AZ
• New culvert installation under rail
bed.
• 84” steel casing
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer

20. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Collapsed 7’ casing, 164 feet long

21. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
First section of pipe installed.

22. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Swallowing and removing sections.

23. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Telescoping 60 feet down sized
sections.

24. TELESCOPING METHOD – ALASKA
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Replacement of 84” dia. culvert
drain with telescoping method
• 96” steel casing, 164 feet.
• 24” HammerHead Pipe Rammer
Trenchless telescoped pipe.

25. NEW INSTALLATION – DALTON HWY, AK
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Drainage culvert
• Glacial til/new road bed
• Service hwy between Prudhoe
Bay oil reserves & Fairbanks

26. NEW INSTALLATION – DALTON HWY, AK
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–1 – drainage culvert under service
highway
• Pipe sizes
–1 - 36” casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 160’

27. NEW INSTALLATION – DALTON HWY, AK
PIPE RAMMING
CULVERT INSTALLATION AND REPLACEMENT
• Project
–1 – drainage culvert under service
highway
• Pipe sizes
–1 - 36” casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–1 @ 160’

28. HDD ASSIST METHODS
PIPE RAMMING

29. HDD RAM ASSIST
• When problems arise while
horizontal directional drilling
HDD ASSIST
(HDD) costs begin to add up with
each tick of the clock.
PIPE RAMMING
• Quick reaction time and expert
technical support are critical to
salvaging a bore gone bad.
• The percussive power of pipe
rammers can help free stuck
product pipes, drill stems, and
help remove product pipes on
failed bores.

30. FOUR METHODS
•Washover casings
HDD ASSIST
•Pull back assist
PIPE RAMMING
•Pipe extraction
•Drill stem recovery

31. WASHOVER CASING METHOD
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING
• Used as a pilot for large HDD projects • Makes a guide down hole for mud motors
• Casings are rammed through difficult soil • Casing provides a path for drill fluid
conditions to rock or solid soil recycling and reduces the loss of fluids
in surface soils

32. ON THE JOB: WASHOVER CASINGS
• Hong Kong, China
–Wash over casing
HDD ASSIST
• Pipe sizes
PIPE RAMMING
–2 – 54” casings
• Equipment
–24” Rammer
• Ram distance
–2 @ 66’

33. PULL BACK ASSIST METHOD
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING
• Assist HDD when pullback is not possible • Percussive power frees immobilized
and machine still has rotation capabilities product pipes.
• Rammer attached to product pipe

34. PULLBACK ASSIST
HDD ASSIST CONNECTION METHOD STEEL
PIPE RAMMING
Rammer is locked into steel casing via collets. Steel casing is installed using
pullback force of HDD and percussive force of the rammer.

35. PULLBACK ASSSIST
CONNECTION METHOD HDPE
(OPTION 1)
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING
Rammer is locked into steel casing via collets. The steel casing is connected to
the HDPE product pipe via steel to HDPE flange compression kit. HDD pull force
is used in conjunction with the rammer to install the pipe.

36. PULLBACK ASSIST
CONNECTION METHOD HDPE
(OPTION 2)
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING
Rammer is locked into steel casing via collets. Steel casing is welded to
steel ring that is flush with HDPE face, and welded to steel sleeve. Steel
sleeve is bolted to HDPE product pipe. HDD pull force is used in conjunction
with the rammer to install the pipe.

37. ON THE JOB: PULLBACK ASSIST
• Normangee, TX
–Pullback Assist (pipe stuck for 4
HDD ASSIST
days before start of assist)
• Reason for pullback failure –
PIPE RAMMING
excessive flooding in area
caused collapsed entry pit and
hole.
• HDD Rig
–500,000 lb pullback
• Pipe
–2,800’ of 36” casing
• Equipment
–24” Rammer

38. ON THE JOB: PULLBACK ASSIST
• Stewart, FL
–HDPE Pullback Assist, pipe sat
HDD ASSIST
for more than two weeks before
assist could be started due to
PIPE RAMMING
excessive hurricane season.
• HDD Rig
–1.2 M lb custom drill rig
• Pipe size
–4,500’ of 24” HDPE pipe 80’
deep
• Equipment
–24” Rammer

39. PIPE EXTRACTION METHOD
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING
• Remove stuck product pipe and bore • Percussive action along with static
again tension pulls product pipe, removing it
• Rammer is attached to product pipe by from the bore
fabricating an adaptor

40. PIPE EXTRACTION
HDD ASSIST CONNECTION METHOD FOR STEEL CASING
PIPE RAMMING
Rammer is locked into steel casing that is welded onto the product casing.
Static pull force is used in conjunction with the rammer to extract the product
casing.

41. PIPE EXTRACTION
HDD ASSIST CONNECTION METHOD FOR HDPE
PIPE RAMMING
Rammer is locked into steel casing that is welded onto the steel
sleeve. Steel sleeve is bolted to HDPE product pipe. Static pull force
is used in conjunction with the rammer to extract the product casing.

42. ON THE JOB: PIPE EXTRACTION
• Orlando, FL
–HDPE Pipe Extraction
HDD ASSIST
• Pipe size
PIPE RAMMING
–850’ extraction of 30” HDPE pipe
• Equipment
–16” Rammer

43. DRILL STEM RECOVERY METHOD
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING
• Recover expensive stuck drill rod • Kinetic energy is used to assist in
• Rammer is attached the to drill rod by pulling or pushing rod out of the ground
fabricating an adaptor with the assist of static tension

44. ON THE JOB: DRILL STEM RECOVERY
HDD ASSIST
PIPE RAMMING

45. RECOMMENDED HAMMERS
Calculated
Rammer Impact Rate Pipe Diameter
HDD Class Impact Force
Size BPM Range
at 1 ft/min*
HDD ASSIST
7” 24,000 lbs 295 184,000 lbs 8” – 16”
PIPE RAMMING
24,000; 33,000;
8” 223 252,000 lbs 8” – 24”
50,000 lbs
33,000; 50,000;
12” 271 744,000 lbs 12” – 36”
80,000 lbs
16” 80,000 lbs 231 1,094,000 lbs 12” – 48”
80,000;
20” 190 1,740,000 lbs 20” – 54”
150,000 lbs
150,000 lbs
24” 177 2,020,000 lbs 24” – 72”
and larger
*The numbers shown here are based on calculation and are for comparative purposes only between various models of HammerHead
Rammers. The numbers are not intended for engineering applications.

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FIRST NAME LAST NAME
PRESENTER TITLE
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