Directional Drilling

What is Directional Drilling?

Directional Drilling is a very useful method for the installation of services where it is not desirable or practical for an open-cut trench.  Areas like this might include roads and motorways, rivers and canals, railway crossings or environmentally sensitive areas. This methodology can be hugely advantageous when it comes to cost also.

Brief Methodology:

Directional drilling utilises a navigational system in order to avoid obstacles beneath the ground and also to determine the best path to take.

A transmitter in the drill head relays information to the operator such as depth, position and angle.

The operator can steer and navigate the drill to its desired location while also avoiding any underground obstacles that may prove problematic.

The drill contains a lubricating system also to accommodate for easier drilling.

Examples of cost efficiency:

• No trench reinstatement costs
• No waste materials
• No intermediate pits to dig
• No traffic re-routing
• No destruction of the landscape
• Substantial reduction in liability claims
• Eliminates the need to inform local authorities of 21 day and 14 day notices as this method is non-disruptive Trenchless Technology

Directional Drilling Rig

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Directional drilling job example (Drogheda, Co. Louth)

The job involved installing new water mains and upgrading the footpath. We had to drill under a number of houses to connect to their stop cocks which was at the back of each house.