30 DECEMBER 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Information on Horizontal Directional Drilling Adapted from Information by Heavy Equipment Colleges of America There are over 1.2 million miles of water pipes surrounded by gas lines, fiber-optic cables, and electric/power lines in America. When installing underground pipelines near unique land areas, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is a way to minimize the negative environmental impact. HDD is a steerable construction drilling method utilized in situations where vertical directional drilling is not appropriate such as near large bodies of water, congested urban areas, and residential spaces. With the help of a surface launched drilling rig, operators drill holes horizontally beneath the obstacles sitting on the surface. This limits the threat of impacting existing infrastructure above and below the drill, providing a more cost-effective and environmentally conscious option. Due to the overcrowding of underground real estate, operators build minimally invasive shallow arcs along predetermined pathways.There are three main stages in the HDD process: pilot drilling, expanding the drilling point of entry, and pulling the production pipe. Step 1 - Creating the Pilot Hole: The horizontal directional drill punctures a small-diameter hole to create an underground cavity utilizing a drill bit and pipe. Drilling fluid runs through the drill pipe to the bit to grind down the soil and rock, cool the drill bit, and carry cuttings from the hole to the surface. Step 2 - Pre Reaming: To ensure the bored hole is large enough to safely install the product lines, a cylindrical rotary cutting tool is pulled back and forth along the pathway while drilling fluid runs through to deepen the hole and remove any remaining rock blocking the passageway. Step 3 - Pipe Pullback: In the final step, the product pipe is pulled into the drill hole. The drill rod and reamer are attached to a swivel, preventing torsional stress, while the rotating drill string is transferred to the pipe. While the product pipe is pulled into the pre-reamed hole, drilling fluid is pumped throughout the cavity to provide lubrication. A drilling project’s completion timeline depends on the depth and distance of the underground drill, as well as the drill surface terrain, pipeline diameter, and pace of operations, which makes completion timelines ranging from a few weeks to a few months. HDD
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