Horizontal directional drilling, also known as HDD, is a type of construction technique. It's used to drill horizontal tunnels under equipment or waterways. Then, a pipe or other type of machinery is placed in the tunnel. Various types of horizontal directional drilling equipment are used for these tasks.
According to All About Pipelines, HDD crossing of a pipeline usually involves drilling a small pilot hole that's about 6 to 8 inches in diameter. Then, machinery is used to enlarge the hole in diameter, making it the size necessary for pipe string pullback. When different sizes are used, various sizes of equipment are necessary. Types of horizontal drilling equipment are available in large diameter, medium diameter, and small diameter. Most systems operate in the same way, so the main difference is simply the diameter of the tunnel that is created using the equipment.
Three main types of guiding systems are used to control the drill head.
Understanding the different types of horizontal directional drilling equipment is necessary to ensure that you or a company you work with uses the appropriate equipment. Contact Hardrock HDDP today to discuss horizontal directional drilling equipment further.