The HDD technique offers a faster, more cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solution than traditional open-cut construction methods for installing underground utilities.
Many sectors are reaping the benefits of directional drilling these days. Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is conquering underground construction, thanks to its low environmental impact, ease of transportation, and ability to drill through some of the world’s toughest rock and earth.
But, as a builder or contractor, you may be wondering, “What’s in it for me?”
Economic Benefits
For starters, horizontal directional drilling eliminates the cost of restoring damaged structures, infrastructure, trains, railways, and green spaces. It also includes;
- Quicker Installation
Horizontal directional drilling is faster compared to traditional trenching. Trenching, also known as open-cut, is time-consuming since it necessitates digging deep trenches before constructing conduits for your piping. Every hdd drilling machine goes under the ground by following an angular direction and not by digging down.
The directional drilling method uses a surface-launched drilling rig that cuts through the soil beneath the surface with less dirt displacement. As a result, less excavation can help you save time on your construction project.
- Less Equipment And Manpower Required
In addition to quick installation, HDD is a more time-efficient method for underground installation than traditional trench digging. It only requires a small crew and causes less disruption to the environment.
Furthermore, horizontal directional drilling will save your company money on construction and cleanup on the job site. On either end of the pipe, HDD only requires two small worksites. Thus, setting up, tearing down, and restoring these sites to their previous state will take substantially less time and require fewer crew, saving your company both time and money.
- Lower Surface Restoration Costs
Since horizontal directional drilling is faster to complete, it also means a lower cost of expenses.
This method also requires a lesser number of persons to operate the hdd drilling machine. Because horizontal directional drilling no longer needs saw cutting, demo, removal, and rehab of concrete, pavement, sidewalks, and driveways, it is far less expensive. Drilling beneath these surfaces allows contractors and engineers to save time on labor, landscaping, parking lots, roadways, and driveways.
Environmental Benefits
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) has become the favored method for installing underground utilities and pipelines due to its safer practices than traditional open-cut trenching.
- Minimum Surface Disruption
The minimal surface damage caused by HDD is its main environmental benefit. In traditional open-cut excavation, deep trenches are dug along the line, tearing up the terrain. Horizontal drilling only allows for less soil displacement, with the amount of dirt pushed away being far less than if it were brought to the surface.
- Deeper Installation – Reduced Risk Of Damaging Existing Underground Utilities
Using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment to install underground utility lines prevents the drill from hitting and breaking existing subsurface utility lines such as water, electrical, gas, steam, sewage, and chemical, to name a few.
To avoid damaging subsurface lines, the engineer will use surface marks to check for them before drilling. It is critical to use multiple identifications and verification methods before drilling because underground lines can be difficult to identify, particularly if they are covered by other lines, buried at different depths than code requirements, undocumented, or in a different position than when they were first installed due to ground settling,
- Much Reduced Impact On Natural Environment
When there is a need for minimal surface disturbance, horizontal directional drilling is the way to go. Drilling rigs can bore beneath almost any obstacle, including swampland and deep rivers, with little impact on the surface for the length of the pipeline.
For operations in environmentally sensitive areas, this benefit can be extremely valuable. HDD enables the installation of pipes and conduits with the least disruption on wildlife and natural habitats.
Takeaway
HDD has opened the floodgates for residential and commercial areas in need of more utility installations ranging from water, gas, power, sewer, and telecommunications. With horizontal directional drilling, utilities may be installed almost anywhere at a minimal cost and with less interruption to the environment.
