24 SEPTEMBER 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® HDD Bit Turns 20 Adapted from Information by Melfred Borzall The journey of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) from the gas and oil industry to construction sites has been remarkable. Over the years, HDD has seen significant improvements through advancements in locating technology and steering capabilities in various ground conditions. Many of the innovations have been created to address a specific need or problem. One of those innovations is Melfred Borzall’s tricutter hard ground bit, the Eagle Claw. It has become one of the industry’s most popular bits for challenging ground conditions. This remarkable bit is celebrating 20 years of helping drill operators succeed. In 2004, the HDD process had become a preferred method for installing underground utilities. Its ability to minimize surface disruption made it an attractive option for urban areas and environmentally sensitive regions. During this time, Dick and Eric Melsheimer of Melfred Borzall started to dig into a more efficient method of drilling in more complex ground conditions. They were trying to provide drill operators with better steering downhole without sacrificing speed. Some of the most challenging ground they knew of was in the countryside of the southeastern United States. Harold Peeples, owner of Tarheel Contractors Supply, headquartered in North Carolina, started to raise concerns over bits wearing out too fast. The need for bits capable of standing up to hardpan, sandstone, and other mixed, hard ground conditions was clear. The challenge was to develop something efficient enough to run on a standard rig without sacrificing steering capability or wearing out too fast in challenging terrain. The Melsheimers came up with a concept which would rotate on the center to cut the hole to the intended size. The result was the Eagle Claw bit. Fast-forward to 2015, the Eagle Claw had become the go-to bit for drill operators around the world. Despite its growing popularity, there was one area with significant feedback about the bit. The difficult ground in the heart of Florida is chert, and it was giving the Eagle Claws a run for its money. Chert is a hard, fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of microcrystalline or cryptocrystalline quartz making for tricky drilling operations. Dick Melsheimer teamed up with local HDD specialists to troubleshoot the issue and a few months later, they designed the second generation of Eagle Claw called the Super Eagle. They added embedded carbide blocks around the cutter teeth to take some of the cutting force. They were also positioned so the bore shavings would keep the freerotating cutter teeth rotating in the opposite direction of the bit. This resulted in even wear on the cutter teeth and had a sharpening effect to keep them carving rather than blunting. In 2019, the company’s engineers set out to secure the Super Eagle’s place as HDD’s number one hard ground bit. Knowing they needed to stay ahead of the curve, they made more improvements by bulking the body with impregnated dome carbide blocks to protect the body on the pilot shot, as well as with direct pullback. More chunky hardfacing was added to critical areas, and fine-tuning of the bit’s performance made bringing the Eagle Claw SD to the masses. Earlier this year, Melfred Borzall added another connection type to its current line-up. A five-inch box splined connection Eagle Claw SD is now available to use with existing SplineLok housings. As the Eagle Claw celebrates its 20th anniversary, it’s clear that Melfred Borzall has made significant contributions to the industry. The continuous evolution of the Eagle Claw, from its inception in 2004 to the latest advancements in 2024, reflect the company’s commitment to innovation and responding to the needs of drill operators facing challenging ground conditions. Three generations of Eagle Claw bits. DIR
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