Traditional trenching is often used for a variety of projects including pipe and utility installations. It’s estimated that there are 2.5 million miles of pipelines to transport fuel products from source to market throughout the United States.
But traditional trenching isn’t always the best option to use for certain projects, especially when it comes to drilling near roads. Luckily, this is where horizontal directional drilling comes in handy.
What’s the process of horizontal directional drilling?
Horizontal directional drilling is the industry standard for trenchless drilling. It’s accomplished in three main phases.
The first phase is when a pilot hole is drilled from surface point A to point B along a directional path. The second phase is when the hole, called a bore, is drilled to enlarge so it’s wide enough for a pipeline or other utility to be installed in it.
Finally, in the third phase, the pipeline or other utility is pulled into the hole and installed. This creates a continuous segment of pipeline underground.
When is it better to use horizontal directional drilling?
As we mentioned before, traditional trenching doesn’t always work great in every environment. So when is the best time to use horizontal directional drilling instead of traditional trenching?
- You can’t damage the surrounding environment. When you’re installing pipelines or other utilities in an open space like a yard, you don’t necessarily have to worry about disrupting the surrounding environment. You can always go back and fix it after you’re done. But when you’re working by a road or in the city, underground drilling can be tricky. It’s best to use horizontal directional drilling in this case.
- You’re on a tight schedule. If you’re already running behind on a construction project, it may be a good idea to use HDD instead of traditional trenching to install pipelines. You don’t have to worry about spending additional time repairing the surrounding environment.
- You don’t have the biggest budget. You may not be able to afford to trench freely in a given area. HDD can keep any impact on the surrounding environment as minimal as possible.
Looking for Texas directional boring contractors?
Although traditional trenching can work for many pipe installations, it doesn’t always work for every environment. Trenchless underground drilling works for every type of environment for a more efficient and eco-friendly drilling.
If you’re looking for Texas underground boring services, American Directional Boring has the underground drilling contractors you need to get the job done. To learn more about our underground drilling services, contact American Directional Boring today.
