Successfully executing an underground drilling project requires proper planning. Underground boring contractors need to examine the subsurface location, conduct soil testing, establish existing underground utilities, and determine its accessibility. Studies indicate that well-planned construction projects are likely to complete at 3% below the budget, while unplanned projects are likely to consume an additional 13% of the budget.
Here’s how underground boring contractors prepare for underground drilling projects.
Directional Boring Contractors Conduct an Extensive Site Survey Before the Drilling Begins
Installing utilities such as gas pipelines, water lines, and telecommunication cables require you to utilize underground drilling services. No worthy contractor will start drilling as soon as you call in for their services. HDD contractors will first conduct an in-depth survey of your project’s site to establish the existing utilities and the accessibility of the site. Boring contractors may utilize subsurface utility engineering technology to precisely map the vertical and horizontal position of the underground facilities existing in your site. Data collected from the site survey allows a boring contractor to plan for the drilling project accurately. After the site survey, a contractor can determine the type and size of drilling rigs that will be most suitable for your project. It also helps HDD contractors select the best day and time to conduct the drilling project.
Pre-establish the Bore Path
If HDD contractors started drilling without establishing the bore path first, there would be a high utility strike risk. Resultantly, a contractor would have to pay extra costs to repair the damage or relocate the utilities altogether. These are the costs and inconveniences that boring contractors seek to avoid by conducting a site survey. The ideal bore path should have fewer obstacles so that the drilling process goes on smoothly. Contractors consider factors such as shear strength, soil bearing capacity, groundwater conditions, and moisture content. It helps HDD contractors determine the most viable bore path that can accommodate the magnitude of drilling needed. When the soil in the subsurface location is in poor condition, the bore path may cave in as the underground boring intensifies.
How do you benefit when an HDD contractor prepares adequately for your underground drilling project?
Timely Completion of Your Underground Boring Project
When boring contractors are well-prepared to execute your project, there will be fewer inconveniences experienced. For starters, there will be less risk of causing damage to the existing utilities. Carrying out underground boring projects in developed states such as Texas requires extra planning. Given the modern network of utility facilities in big cities, a poorly planned drilling project may cause heavy damages to adjacent utilities.
Although the HDD contractor may be liable for the damages, the time taken to repair the damages will drag your project for much longer than initially planned. Conversely, a directional drilling contractor who takes time to conduct an extensive site survey will avoid such damages. In turn, your project will continue as planned and complete in good time.
Quality Results
Replacing or repairing underground utilities can be more expensive than the installation, especially if the repairs are extensive. Underground boring contractors who prepare well for your drilling project will deliver more quality results. When underground utilities are properly installed, you may not have to conduct any repairs for a long time. However, poor installations will cost you more in repairs and replacements because they may involve more work and expertise.
A good and experienced HDD contractor will conduct an inclusive site survey before commencing the drilling and installation operations. From inspecting the subsurface location to testing the soil, boring contractors should take all necessary precautions to execute and deliver a drilling project successfully. That’s why most directional boring contractors have invested in modern technologies such as subsurface utility engineering to prepare well for underground boring projects.
By 2022, the global horizontal directional drilling market is projected to reach $14.95 billion. When selecting HDD contractors, consider how well they prepare the subsurface location for your project because it affects your project’s overall quality.
