Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) has opened the floodgates for homeowners and commercial entities alike who require additional utility installations from sewer, water and power to gas and telecommunications. With access to horizontal directional drilling, it’s possible to install utilities nearly anywhere at a relatively minimal cost and with less disruption to landscaping.
What is directional drilling?
Simply put, directional drilling allows technicians to drill in a horizontal direction without having to dig across an expanse of soil, opening up new possibilities for locating pipes for utilities. In the past, the only option for installing piping was to essentially destroy the landscape, while a large, obtrusive crew and their equipment overtook the property and spent weeks digging trenches for pipe installation. Directional drilling revolutionized this process.
How does horizontal directional drilling work?
The compact drill allows a small crew comprised of one drill and one tracking operator to quickly set up shop. The drill head is electronically wired for tracking, so that the operator can monitor where it’s headed and the pressure it extends. As the drill bores into the ground, a solution made up of bentonite polymer follows it to ensure stability of the hole. Once the drill bit creates an underground, semi-circle arc and exits the ground, a reamer is sent back through to enlarge the hole to accommodate the piping. Lastly, installing the polyethylene piping requires the crew to fuse the lengths together, which is then heated until a seamless connection is made along the entire length of piping.
The advantages of using horizontal drilling include:
- Durability, as the pipes are very strong
- Quicker installation with less disruption to landscaping
- Lower installation cost with a smaller crew
- Flexibility, as the system can be installed nearly anywhere
- Negligible soil contamination, as the impenetrable pipe connections are lasting
If you require installation of utilities, why not contact Symbiont Service Corp. today and ask to speak to one of our horizontal directional drilling experts. We are the industry leaders in HVAC services, geothermal systems and horizontal directional drilling, helping commercial and residential customers across Florida since the 1980s.