When taking up projects that need underground drilling to install key underground services and conduit systems, HDD contractors follow certain key steps that are vital to a successful operation.
Here is how HDD contractors perform their operations:
1. Drilling site survey: It all starts with directional drilling contractors visiting your site after you ask for their services. Certain factors need to be analysed before the work begins. This includes an assessment of the soil type, soil condition, landscape geometry, and also utilities and buildings nearby the drilling site.
2. Bore path planning: After the initial survey, directional drilling companies will start preparing the bore path. A technique known as hydro-excavating is used to drill the path without damage to standing utilities. After preparing the bore path, the entrance pit and the receiving pits are dug. These help the contractor to gather and reuse the mud generated in drilling.
3. Kick-off point drilling: Here, a pilot hole is made. It follows the bore path. The stem of the drilling machine is eased into the bore path using the pilot hole. The drill stem is attached to an electronic transmitter behind the head. The transmitter sends signals to the receiver above the ground and with its help; the operator of the horizontal drilling rig guides the drill stem through to emerge on the other end.
4. Pre-reaming: After the pilot hole is established, the hole is shaped to the desired size and diameter. The tools of the cutting head are replaced with a reamer that is affixed to the drill stem.
5. Pull-back: After the drilling hole is shaped to the desired diameter, the pipes are laid. A swivel and pulling head are used to allow the reamer the grip and traction needed to pull the pipeline through with horizontal directional drilling.
6. Installation of the conduit system: The right cables are used to fit the pipeline. The cables could be fibre optic cables, sewage cables, or power lines. After the cables are installed, the pipeline is adjusted to its final position.
7. Clean up: The receiving and the entrance pits are sealed. Where required, the underground drilling contractor will mark the pipeline above ground for safety reasons.
Underground directional drilling technique is vital for ensuring that essential services like power, sewage, or fibre optics can be installed safely without disturbing the ground above.
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