There are many uses for underground piping. Most modern constructions use them either for water supply, drainage, and even for installing communication lines. It can be tricky to install new underground pipes in locations where open drilling is not permitted. The solution to this is horizontal directional drilling.
What is horizontal directional drilling?
Horizontal drilling, also known as trenchless drilling has become more common because it does not disrupt the surrounding area where the installation is in progress. Highly specialised drilling equipment creates a predetermined path underground for installing pipes and.
Doing away with traditional open-cut methods of installing pipes means you can work in areas where open drilling is not permitted. It is also less expensive to install pipes using horizontal directional drilling.
Advantages of using directional drilling over conventional methods
A lot of contractors around the country prefer horizontal directional drilling over traditional methods for a variety of projects requiring pipework installation because of the following benefits:
- Pipes are installed either straight or in curved lines to avoid obstacles. A sophisticated directional drilling machine can detect underground barriers which may impede the pipework. Instead of costly path recalculation, pipework is curved to avoid these obstacles instead.
- There is less disruption to the surrounding area because drilling is limited only to the entry point and the exit point. This is extremely helpful when laying down pipework along regions with pre-existing structures.
- There is also little impact on infrastructure and landscapes. When there is ongoing directional drilling alongside a major thoroughfare, it won’t disrupt traffic or cause inconvenience to businesses.
- Directional drilling eliminates costly and dangerous deep excavations.
- Aside from the ability to avoid underground obstructions, above-ground obstacles will not impede ongoing directional drilling work.
- The process is done in less time and requires fewer workers. This translates to less operational cost for the contractor and the contracting party.
- Another advantage of directional drilling is that it can work even with varying ground conditions.
Trenchless drilling has, in most cases replaced traditional methods of laying pipework because of the advantages mentioned above. These days, you will rarely see open excavation being done to install pipes used in various applications.
Finding the right horizontal directional drilling specialist
If you are looking for a horizontal directional drilling company to lay down pipes for residential and commercial building projects, there are a lot of them currently operating today. It is recommended that you find a company that specialises in the type of project you are about to undertake.
If you don’t have much knowledge about drilling equipment, you can always seek the assistance of an expert to help you understand which equipment best suits the job. Always look for a company with the most advanced fleet of machinery to guarantee exceptional work quality.
There are additional resources online such as reviews, testimonials, and case studies which give you a glimpse on a how a company was able to undertake and complete a specific project requiring directional drilling. Lastly, ask as many questions as possible and seek advice on how directional drilling can benefit your project.
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