Important Factors to Consider When Planning a Bore for a Trenchless Project

The success of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) job sites and the industry as a whole is dependent on damage prevention and safety. With the “societal impact of damages” to subsurface utilities costing billions of dollars, demand for HDD services could be harmed unless action is taken. With each strike, the safety, productivity, and profitability of particular job sites are unquestionably harmed.

Operators and contractors should see bore planning as extra protection rather than an extra step. It’s not a matter of more time, but a matter of more output. By walking the bore path and making a plan before a crew arrives on site, you can save a lot of time by reducing strikes and downtime. Planning improves productivity by streamlining a tedious procedure.

Before choosing the location on the property where a well will be dug or drilled, there are a few things to consider.

Liaison with the client and the definition of specific requirements.

It is critical to acquire as much information as possible from your new or existing client right from the start. Plans, drawings, and designs, as well as any images of the planned project are required. Early on, developing solid relationships and communicating well can help a project go smoothly.

Take into account the possible consequences.

Examine the project’s topography, collect utility blueprints, and set up the hdd drilling equipment for the drilling area. Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) scans can also be used to determine the depths of utilities. Gather as much geotechnical data as possible and, if necessary, dig trial holes to check the ground composition.

Determine the required route.

It is critical to conduct a survey of the project. In this day and age of technology, Google Earth has a wealth of information, but nothing beats a thorough site survey, which includes taking photographs and gathering visual information that will aid the drill crew when they get on site.

It will be advantageous to have the plans and radar scans accessible at this stage, as well as any geotechnical data. Overall, depth, setback distance, rise over drill line, bend radius, and other factors should all be determined during the design and planning process to ensure a straight bore and smooth pullback.

The location of the pits for entry and exit.

The entry and exit pits should be meticulously planned, taking into account existing services as well as the bore’s distance to entry.

The drill rig must be far enough away from the pit to allow the drill head to enter at the precise entry point for the bore plan. The entry and exit holes should be large enough and deep enough to retain any drill fluids while also allowing for pipe installation.

Pre-planning for possible delays and extra expenses.

If anything can be foreseen before drilling begins, it can prevent delays and spiraling expenses. Although many trenchless HDD projects do not require extensive planning, it is important to keep in mind that trenchless technology is essentially invisible.

Takeaway

As the underground building industry expands at a rapid pace, the number of underground strikes will rise. Due to the demands of contractors, hdd drilling machine and other utilities, municipalities, and the needs of customers as a whole, HDD job sites will become increasingly crowded with crisscrossing lines, and crews will become increasingly rushed.

We cannot realistically expect an improvement in job site safety or a reduction in the cost of damages on a national scale without a dedicated effort to enhance HDD drilling techniques. Pre-bore planning based on technology is a basic step that could have a significant impact on the industry.

We believe that by making such a solution broadly available, we can stimulate adoption and behavior change for the benefit of all parties involved.