With the advancement of technology, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is becoming a more frequently used method for utility installation. For its ability to minimize environmental impact and property damage, many construction companies have begun prioritizing HDD hires. Nevertheless, this process has come with challenges, mainly in finding suitable operator candidates who know how to minimize the risk of expensive mistakes and liabilities, highlighting the challenges of the industry.
Importance of HDD in various industries
HDD is used to insert underground utilities (like pipes, cables, and conduits) in shallow areas like river crossings, railway crossings, underneath stress, and more. Originally, HDD was a vertical drilling method that inserted utilities into the ground sideways. Having only been able to complete the narrow installation of utilities from street to house, the industry saw a better way and decided to implement horizontal drilling.
Today, HDD is a process that positively impacts and helps other industries do their jobs efficiently, including:
- The oil and gas industry. They use HDD to drill wells through mud and rock to install pipes that allow people to access underground oil reserves. Horizontal drilling offers more surface area than traditional vertical wells.
- Telecommunication industry. Many companies use HDD to install cable lines and fiber optic cables on their user’s property.
- Electrical power industry. Many cities utilize HDD to run distribution lines underground to limit power outages, storm damage, and environmental impact.
- Water supply industry. HDD is used by crews to install pipes underground to help with water community water supply distribution. It can also be used to install pipes underneath waterways like bridges.
- Sewer Industry. HDD is used to help cities effectively manage wastewater. By eliminating the need for open trenches, HDD protects natural habitats and wildlife, as well as minimizes the sewer installation project’s environmental footprint.
Understanding the Common HDD Challenges and How to Overcome Them
1. Locating Utilities
Since HDD is an underground installation method, crews mustn’t impede on or damage existing underground utilities. To mitigate these risks, teams need to run and create accurate utility mapping documents that help the operator avoid existing infrastructure.
When utility strikes occur, damage, delays, and added costs to the project are all potential possibilities. In addition to accurate utility mapping, crews can use ground penetrating radar (GPR), electromagnetic locators, and hydro excavation to limit their proximity to other underground utilities.
2. Drilling Fluid Management:
Drilling fluid (mud) is a crucial aspect of successful horizontal drilling projects, as it helps cool and lubricate the drill bit, stabilize the wellbore, and transfer hydraulic power. Because of this, this fluid must be managed to prevent accidents from occuring like site location formation damage and environmental damage.
To manage this, crews can select fluid types and properties that they are most comfortable operating HDD with, preventing fluid-related problems from occurring in the first place.
3. Difficult Soil Conditions:
Soil conditions like rock, sand, and clay can greatly affect the efficiency and quality of an operator’s HDD work. To ensure HDD projects go smoothly, crews must be prepared.
By conducting a pilot hole drilling to see what the ground is made of, operators can know which specialized drill bits and remaining techniques to use, helping them successfully perform HDD despite the geographic location.
4. Equipment Failure:
By utilizing the proper tools during specific tasks, crews can minimize equipment failures that delay project timelines and increase costs. To prevent the unexpected from happening, teams can conduct preventive maintenance on their machines, ensuring they are in peak condition before use.
Additionally, by having backup equipment on hand in case of emergency, project deadlines can still be met. The most important factor is hiring experienced operators who know how to effectively and safely operate the equipment, minimizing the overall chance of equipment failure.
5. Regulatory and Environmental Concerns:
Though HDD is a more environmentally conscious drilling method, it still poses certain concerns.
To ensure construction companies comply with government regulations and permit laws. HDD contractors can work with environmental regulators on a variety of tasks like fluid management systems, erosion control, and spill containment.
Proper prior planning will prevent poor performance in all trenchless projects.
Like most projects, prior planning is essential to ensuring an HDD project is successful. The most crucial steps in ensuring your project flows smoothly are accurately designing an HDD crossing and having a budget. To make sure both of these steps are properly taken care of, contractors can hire geotechnical investigators who help map out bore routes and create reports of other preexisting utilities.
HDD Innovations Help Contractors Put More Products in the Ground and More Profit in Their Pockets
Before HDD, many contractors inserted utilities vertically. This posed problems, as the surface area allotted to each utility line/pipe was only two to three inches long. By inserting utilities horizontally, more surface area can be used, making room for a variety of services to be offered in one location.
It is because of HDD that many communities have developed so rapidly over the years. It has helped contractors help companies and their ability to provide homeowners with the following services:
- Electricity
- Renewables
- Water supply
- Sewer lines
- High-speed internet
Advanced Techniques and Technologies
There are a variety of technologies and techniques that help HDD operators effectively and efficiently perform on the job, including the following points:
1. Steering Systems:
There are two types of steering systems that HDD offers:
- Walkover – Most commonly used during small HDD rigs when installing utilities under shallow crossings. The transmitter is a hand-held unit that helps the operator maneuver toward a pre-calculated horizontal drilling path.
- Wireline – Wireline is the most popular steering system as it utilizes a magnetic guidance system and wire grid to steer the drill bit and communicates with a surface tracking system to verify the exact location of a drilling path.
2. Data Logging and Analysis:
Data collection and analysis play one of the most important, if not the most important roles in HDD. By collecting accurate data, an operator can know at which point along the drill pathway there are existing utilities underground, limiting the risk of infrastructure and environmental damage. Advanced data logging software ensures an operator knows the parameters in which they can operate the machinery.
3. Remote Monitoring and Control
With advanced real-time monitoring of drilling operations, contractors can ensure they have an accurate borehole trajectory. By using remote sensing technology and measurement while drilling (MWD) technology, a construction crew’s projected project completion deadline can be minimized.
Become a Certified HDD Operator
At Heavy Equipment College, we are committed to your success. With our streamlined HDD operator course offerings, we can ensure you receive comprehensive training that prepares you for the workforce. From hands-on experience to expert technician instruction, you will know how to excel in your industry. When you enroll at Heavy Equipment College, you gain the skills and confidence to operate an HDD rig safely.
To enroll at Heavy Equipment College, apply at the link below. We can’t wait to help you build a successful future in the drilling industry.
