Horizontal Directional Drilling Explained
Horizontal Directional Drilling is the method to install underground cables, ducts, or pipelines. Special machines with the appropriate drill bits move through the layers of rock and soil in a precise way. This helps the surface above remain undisturbed.
Most of the time, horizontal directional drilling is for installing utilities such as water supply lines, sewer mains, or gas lines. It’s also a common method for installing telecom utilities, such as fiber optics or electricity cables.
One of the advantages of this method it that it is more efficient. Open-cut methods disrupt the ground because they need large trenches. It helps sidewalks, streets, and landscaping remain open. Additionally, it is more time efficient than traditional methods. This can help to save on costs.
To begin with, a specialized drill bit is used to dig a pilot hole. Technicians guide the drill through the process. When the hole is completed, a bigger pipe is pushed through it and is connected to a source above ground. It’s ideal for especially difficult terrains because of the precision of the methods used.
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