What is Moling?
In the construction industry, moling is a trenchless method used to lay pipes. During the moling process, a pneumatically-driven machine known as a mole, forces its way through the soil along the desired path of the pipe to be laid. Moling avoids the need to dig a trench and can be used to lay water pipes and cables.
Brief Methodology:
- The standard approach to moling is to dig a hole about 1 m square and 2 m deep. Such a hole is small enough that it can be dug by hand instead of by machine in inaccessible locations.
- The mole is then entered into the earth on the horizontal face at the bottom of this hole. A destination hole of similar proportions is also dug, and this is where the mole emerges.
- The mole itself is a steel cylinder about 60 cm long and 6 cm in diameter.
- It works as a pneumatic cylinder with pulsed compressed air causing the head of the mole to repeatedly hammer against the soil in front of the mole.
- Once the mole has passed through the earth the pipe can be pulled through the long horizontal hole.
