Horizontal Directional Drilling Services

Horizontal Directional Drilling Service

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a modern and efficient method used to install or replace underground utility pipes.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a modern and efficient method used to install or replace underground utility ducting and water mains.

Directional drilling is the fastest method of Trenchless Mains Replacement, with the ability to install up to 100 metres of underground water supply pipe or utility ducting in a single day.

The most significant benefit of using horizontal drilling is that it gives us the ability to install or replace water mains or utility ducting over long distances with minimal disruption to the surface.

How Does Directional Drilling Work?

Horizontal Directional Drilling works by enabling us to drill a distance of up to 60 metres horizontally without having to dig sending or receiving pits every 8 metres or so, which is required with moling services.

The technique provides us with extensive control, allowing us to pre-plan the route of the bore path, which means we can navigate around other underground services. Underground services are located during a pre inspection using Ground Penetrating Radar.

Once we have found a safe path for the installation we begin boring a small-diameter pilot hole and continue to drill until we reach the destination.

Throughout the process, our engineers use a Sonde to track the drill head depth and direction, ensuring that it always remains on course. If they identify that the direction has changed or altered off the correct path, the equipment allows our engineers to correct the direction of travel to ensure it gets to the final required destination.

Once we have reached the destination, we then connect the new pipe to the drill head and slowly reverse the drilling process until the drill head returns to its original starting point with the new water mains or utility ducting attached.

Advantages of Horizontal Directional Drilling

The advantages of Horizontal Directional Drilling include numerous benefits to you, the consumer. These include but are not limited to

Significantly less disruption to the top surface of your garden or driveway. This has the added benefit of potentially saving you thousands of pounds in remedial work following the replacement of your pipework.
This method is much faster than traditional methods turning what used to be days of work into hours.

Our engineers are able to connect your brand-new water main to the supply line and to your house, meaning that you could have a brand-new water supply pipe installed in a single day if required.

Limitations of directional drilling

Directional drilling does have some limitations. The good news is that the limitations are relatively minor, and in most scenarios, a solution involving horizontal directional drilling can be found. Those limitations are

If you have poor, rocky soil conditions, then this can reduce the distance of pipework that we can install per day.
Drills used for this process are incapable of passing through rock formations.
The maximum size of water supply pipes or conduit that can be installed using this method our drilling rig is 110mm in diameter.

Utility Installation and Replacement

We can replace water mains or install conduit for any utility service, including:

Directional Drilling FAQ’s

What are the costs of replacing a water main using directional boring?

The costs of replacing a water main using directional boring start from as little as £75 per linear metre. This is based on excellent soil conditions and a run of 100 metres. Typically shorter runs are a little more expensive than longer runs when calculated by linear metre. By comparison, the average cost for laying a new water supply pipe or replacing an old water main over 20 metres is roughly the same as the cost of moling.

Typically for a run under 20 metres, the cost of directional drilling may be more expensive than moling or trenching. This, however, only takes into account the actual process itself. Bear in mind that horizontal directional drilling may be more cost-effective than other methods when the remedial works after the pipework has been replaced are factored into the equation.

How do the engineers know where the end of the drill is?

Our team of engineers are highly skilled and have many years of experience. They are able to detect where the end of the drill is with the help of a piece of equipment known as a Sonde. A Sonde is known within the industry as a walk-over locating system. It works by detecting radio waves given off from the drill head throughout the drilling process.

How safe is Horizontal Directional Drilling?

Horizontal Drilling is one of, if not the safest method of replacing or installing underground pipes and other services, although it goes without saying that there are inherent risks involved with any type of underground drilling. This includes the risk of hitting other pipes or services. To avoid this, we ensure that all of our engineers are fully trained in the equipment they are using, and we also invest in the latest technology, including ground penetrating radar, to ensure that we avoid hitting any other services.

How can the drill make a turn?

On the drill head itself, there is a claw attached to it, which can change the angle of direction, allowing our engineers to steer the drill.

Will Moling or Trenching be required along with Directional Drilling?

Yes, potentially.

We always endeavor to start and finish the horizontal drilling procedure as close to the boundary and building as is safely possible.

If required, final connections may require a small amount of trenching and moling. This is to protect existing services from potential damage.

Contact Us Today For Directional Drilling Services

For all of your directional drilling services, contact ADI Water Mains Replacement on 0800 731 3848