How Does Horizontal Drilling Work?

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) provides a trenchless construction or conduit laying method of tunneling that does not disturb the ground’s surface. This method lets construction workers complete their projects under busy streets and in urban areas without closing the road by using a directional borer.

As the video illustrates, only a small dugout space is needed for a liquid collection and from this space, the drill operator launches the drill bit through the designated bore path.


Video Source

Sensors help track the bit through the ground and retain its pre-planned path. The bit exits the ground in a retrieving space similar to the launch area.

Due to its trenchless nature and its ability to avoid street closures, this has become the preferred method of pipe laying. An essential form of this method has been used in drilling since 1929, but the current methods grew out of the 1980s steering technology developments. HDD provides a useful method of doing things in environmentally challenging areas since you can drill under the river, lake, wetland, or estuary which avoids disturbing wildlife.