The type of additive to the drilling mud is a function of the soil type. It provides lubrication and cooling effect for the drill bit, stabilises the hole, prevents the hole from collapsing, suspends, and transport the cuttings from the drilled hole.ĭrilling fluids are typically made from Bentonite, water, and other additives. Appropriate additives are added to the drilling fluid, depending on the drilling requirements. 3.4 Drilling Mudĭrilling Mud is a mixture of natural and synthetic chemical compounds that may be oil-based or water-based. It also houses the HDD steering system and other display devices for monitoring and controlling drilling activities. The drilling machine operator controls drilling activities from here. The Cabin is placed almost immediately beside the drill rig. Within the rig assembly is a component attached to the drill pipes, this component performs rotational motion during drilling activities.įigure 3: Rotating Component of a Drilling Rig 3.3 Control Cabin/Room The rig is equipped with a power unit that drives a travel mechanism back and forth on a structural framework. It is positioned on a flat surface and may be appropriately anchored to the ground to ensure the machine stays in position during drilling and pipeline pulling operations. This is the major equipment of a typical horizontal directional drilling setup. Horizontal directional drilling is a trenchless method of installing pipelines underground below identified features (obstacles) without disruption to any of the identified features 3.2 Drill Rig In this section, I have defined/explained the meaning of some of the terms used in HDD 3.1 Horizontal Direction Drilling 3 TERMS USED IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING This method requires high drilling precision to ensure that the pilot hole intersects at the designed point. HDD has been utilised for crossing length of over 1km utilising one rig however, the advent of drill and intersect method has led to the successful execution of crossing length longer than 2km.ĭrill and Intersect method entail drilling the pilot hole from each side of the proposed drill path and intersecting the two pilot holes. However, there has been significant improvement in technology, which has led to the successful crossing of large water bodies and greater depth. It entails drilling a hole at a specified depth below the features (obstacles) and pulling in the pipeline into the drilled hole.Ĭrossing length is dependent on the drilling rig capacity. Horizontal directional drilling is a trenchless method of installing a pipeline underground below identified features (obstacles) without disruption to any of the identified features. Horizontal Directional Drilling application has expanded to cover shore crossing for pipeline transiting from offshore to onshore. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is one of the most suitable means of crossing such obstacles. Therefore, it is imperative to select an appropriate crossing method during the design phase of the project. They require special crossing technology when an open cut cannot be performed. These obstacles include roads, railways, water bodies, sensitive areas, buried pipelines, and cables. Various features (obstacles) are encountered during pipeline installation. 7 PROJECT EXPERIENCE: pipeline bundle installationįigure 1: Horizontal Drilling Machine 2 INTRODUCTION to Horizontal Directional Drilling.6.4 Pipe Pullback (Pipeline Installation).6 HOW DOES HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING WORKS.5 Horizontal Directional Drilling: INSPECTION AND TESTING.4.1.2 Surface and Topographical Surface.
![horizontal directional drilling diagram horizontal directional drilling diagram](https://i1.wp.com/az417944.vo.msecnd.net/diagrams/manufacturer/toro-pro/utility-equipment/23823-4045-directional-drill-with-cab-2015-sn-315000001-315999999/travel-pendant-and-life-jacket-assembly/diagram.gif)
4 Horizontal Directional Drilling: PREDESIGN AND DESIGN ACTIVITIES.3 TERMS USED IN HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING.2 INTRODUCTION to Horizontal Directional Drilling.1 OVERVIEW: Horizontal Directional Drilling.