Directional Drilling: Promoting Optimal Efficiency and Safety in Your Worksite

If you are planning on installing new underground conduit, pipes or cables on your property, you should consider choosing directional drilling for the project. This trenchless technique will allow your contractors to place the utilities in the ground without excavation. There are multiple benefits of directional boring over open-cut installation. These include minimal disturbance to the landscape, lower remediation costs, reduced contamination of groundwater and increased safety. On the other hand, the exact results of a drilling project will depend on the practices maintained during the operation. Therefore, consider using these simple guidelines to promote safety and efficiency in your worksite:

Understand the Ground Conditions

You should know the state of the earth in your property before commencing the drilling project. The ground has varying characteristics, depending on the particular region in which the property is situated. These differences in substrate must be taken into account during boring work, especially when choosing the equipment and drilling techniques. For example, rocky grounds might require more resilient drills than what would be used for land with soft loam soil. You can engage an expert to assess the status of your property and provide advice on getting the best results.

Locate Existing Underground Utilities

When installing new cables or pipes using directional drilling techniques, you should remember that there are existing utilities in the ground. Damaging the underground infrastructure will necessitate replacement of the networks or extensive repairs. Therefore, you should locate the cables, conduits and pipes in your property before commissioning drilling. You can obtain information on the general installation plan for these features by contacting the utility providers. You can also engage an expert with ground penetrating radar or similar equipment to provide accurate details on the underground features. 

Consider Potential Drilling Interferences

Directional drilling uses tracking devices during operations. These devices detect and track the drilling equipment to make certain that it stays on the predetermined course. Typically, these monitoring products use an electromagnetic field to perform this task. Therefore, you should ensure that there are no interferences which can skew the detection and tracking of the drill head. In general, the electromagnetic devices will be affected by electric and magnetic signals from diverse sources. You should assess your environment with the assistance of your contractor for optimal results. The most well-known sources of interferences include electric fences, buried electrical conduits, radio transmission facilities, cathodic protection currents and other locating devices. 

Finally, ensure that your directional drill operators are experienced in trenchless techniques for optimal efficiency and safety. Contact a trenchless drilling service for more information and assistance.