How to Choose the Right Horizontal Directional Drill ...

Author: Helen

Apr. 29, 2024

132

0

0

How to Choose the Right Horizontal Directional Drill ...

The first factor you need to consider before adding a directional drill for utility work is the size of the installed product and bore distances.

Read more

Choosing the right size horizontal directional drill (HDD) for utility work can be a real challenge. Trying to manage multiple customers in multiple locations and varying ground conditions can sometimes feel like a moving target. The model that worked yesterday may not be the right one for the next project.

If you’re looking for ways to narrow your utility directional drill search, Tod Michael, Cutting Edge Business Unit Manager at Vermeer, recommends reviewing these four factors.

Bore Specifications

“The first factor contractors need to consider before adding a directional drill for utility work is the size of the installed product and bore distances,” says Michael. “As bore diameter steps up in size or distance, so does the thrust and pullback requirements, as well as the drill’s size and tooling requirements to perform the work. Manufacturers set their utility directional drill line based on those ranges.”

Drills like the Vermeer D8x12 and D10x15 S3 HDD are designed for smaller diameter work (up to 4 and 8 in., respectively) at shorter distances ranging up to 300 and 450 ft. in most ground conditions. On the larger end of the spectrum is the midsize D60x90 S3 HDD. This drill can install products 20 in. in diameter at ranges up to 1,800 ft., depending on ground conditions. After that, you graduate into maxi rig drill sizes.

“From the smallest drill in the product line to the largest, there are ranges where each drill model will overlap in capabilities,” Michael points out. “Those overlaps are when it gets to be a little more challenging to decide what utility drill to choose. Choosing a smaller drill gives a contractor greater flexibility on a jobsite. It can fit through gates. It won’t take up as much space when working in urban environments as a larger drill. However, a larger drill has more horsepower, which translates into thrust and pullback.”

Larger drills also are equipped with drill rods that have a large inside diameter, so they can bore longer distances than a smaller drill. They can handle greater volumes of mud, which can be critical when working in certain soil types.

Smaller drills using smaller drill rods can be more flexible and allow for tighter steering corrections. In congested areas, where the bore profile calls for extensive steering, flexibility can be a significant advantage and reduce setback requirements when drilling deep.

Michael advises starting your utility directional drill search by determining which model is the smallest unit you can use without putting the success of a project at risk and the largest machine that fits your need.

Jobsite Conditions

The next factor in determining what is the right directional drill for utility installations is jobsite conditions. Michael says you need to consider above-ground and below-ground conditions.

“In urban environments, machines with a small footprint may be more productive than a drill that can drill out farther,” he explains. “Larger drills may mean having to close lanes of traffic and/or setting back farther because of space constraints. On the other hand, longer drill shots can reduce the number of bores needed, which also means less repositions on a project.”

VermeerIn more residential areas, you should also think about public perceptions. “Many contractors choose to use small drills here because some residents may have concerns about potential property damage larger drills could cause," says Michael. "In most instances, those concerns are unfounded, but there’s a perception that goes along with large construction equipment.” The sound level is an important attribute to pay attention to when working in residential areas.

What’s happening below ground is something you must think about, as well. Soil conditions can have a major impact on identifying the optimal directional drill for your needs. “If a crew is working on rocky grounds regularly, a dual rod machine like the Vermeer D23x30DR S3 or D40x55DR S3 HDD may be the right choice. For infrequent rock work, investing in an air hammer or the Vermeer Armor drilling system may be a better option.”

For soil conditions like sand, where higher volumes and a specific mixture of drilling fluid may be required for bore hole integrity, a larger drill with more fluid capacity may be the correct choice.

Transportability

As you narrow your search for the ideal utility directional drill for your work, how you get it to and from the job must be considered. Bigger drills weigh more than smaller ones do, so you’ll need a larger truck and trailer to pull it there.

Michael says some communication companies use small drills because they can set up their trucks and trailers to come below commercial driver’s license (CDL) weight requirements. “Creative thinking like this can impact their hiring requirements, which can be a competitive advantage when quality help is hard to find,” he notes. 

Drill weight isn’t the only thing to consider when it comes to transportability. You need to look at the whole package — truck, trailer, drill, mix system and tooling. “Incremental increases in costs as the total equipment package increases in size is something contractors need to think through,” says Michael. “In some cases, the same truck, truck trailer, mixing system and tool can support a few different drill models. So, a contractor may want to add the more powerful (bigger) drill when trying to decide between a couple of models.”

When determining how transporting equipment to and from the job impacts your buying decision, you need to balance operational costs with productivity. Depending on your operation, travel distance, jobsite space, bore length and diameter, you may find that being nimble in transport may outweigh drill power and productivity. The key is determining what is most important to your business. 

Fleet Preference

The last factor to consider when shopping for a new utility drill comes down to your personal fleet preference and size. Are you looking to expand the range of work your company can do? Or do you want to standardize your crews so it’s easy to stock parts, tooling and wear parts?

There is no wrong answer here. “A lot of smaller contractors or companies that specialize in a certain area may choose to add multiple drill models to give them greater flexibility to adapt to customer needs,” Michael says. “Larger companies may tend to prefer to stick to a couple of drill models to make it easier to manage their large equipment fleet. Other contractors may choose a particular model because they can get a specific feature, like a cab with it.”

Decision Time

So, when you’re trying to decide which horizontal directional drill is right for your utility installation needs:

If you need help along the way, contact your local dealer, who can walk you through all the options.

Ultimate Guide To Horizontal Directional Drill Options

When choosing a Horizontal directional drill for your operations, you may want to choose based on a variety of factors – the drilling conditions being one of them.

In this article, we take an overview of drilling techniques and the different models of Horizontal Directional Drills to help you in your decision-making process.

First, the working conditions – soft rock, hard rock, and loam.

 

Horizontal directional drilling techniques drilling in soft rock

Step one – Pilot Boring using a gauntlet bit, and the carve steering technique to complete the bore.

Step two – Pull back using a fluted reamer and a swivel to pull the pipe or cable through.

Horizontal directional drilling technique for loam.

Step one  – pilot boring using a dirt bit.

Step two  – pull back using a reamer and a helical reamer and swivel.

Horizontal directional drilling techniques for hard rock.

Step one – pilot boring using a dual rod drill head and a technique called position bent for sub steering.

Step two – pull back using a hole opener and swivel.

The use of this tool makes the hole larger and allows a larger pipe or cable to be pulled through the cavity.

TYPES OF HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLS

This is specifically designed for larger horizontal directional drilling projects.

The features of this particular pipeline directional drill include a climate-controlled cab and compact footprint which makes it well suited for hard to access and narrow job sites.

The operator-controlled rod loader helps minimize the labour involved and also an optional front-mounted stake down system helps reduce the amount of time and materials needed to secure the drill. The optional telescoping crane can help reduce the amount of support equipment needed on site.

This model features a three-speed gearbox which helps improve the overall efficiency of the drill as operators can adjust the machine’s torque to match different ground conditions. There are two engine options available one having a manufacturer’s rated power of 240 hp and the second option having 260 hp. The hydraulic tank holds up to 416 L while the fuel tank holds 284 L. The optional crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 3200 kg and a maximum reach of 700 kg at 6.3 m. The maximum entry angle for the drill pipe is 20° with a length of 6.1 m and a diameter of 8.9 cm.

Suitable for tough terrain or urban settings this HDD drill provides power to maximize productivity.

Featuring a climate control cabin helps reduce operator fatigue, making it ideal for hotter environments.

The open-top vise design allows for removing and adding tooling when doing horizontal directional drilling.

This directional drill also has a dual pivot rack. This provides entry angles from 10° to 24°.  Having this range means that versatility is maximised for different pipes and job sites.

Link to tongshun

Boring efficiency with this model can be increased thanks to the optional single row sliding arm rod loader.  This rod loader allows for up to the staging of five rods.

This also has an optional onboard drilling fluid pump making it suitable for larger projects.  It can also be used with a standalone pump if the additional fluid flow is required.

The engine on this model has a power rating of 400 hp. The optional crane has a lifting capacity at  a 6.2m maximum reach of 500 kg.

Highway transport is a feature of this drill even though it will be an overweight load meaning it can be transported at any time of day as it is within legal dimensions in transport mode.

It also features a self-contained drill which minimises equipment requirements from a support perspective.

This drill features an auto drill which allows the operator to set the rotation and thrust pull backpressure while drilling in changing soil conditions.

It also features onboard diagnostics which means that serviceability and troubleshooting are made easier for operators.

The crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 4762.7 kg, and with the boom extended to a maximum reach of 7.7m a max lift of 1054.6 kg.

Ideal for horizontal directional drilling in congested urban or residential areas the D60X90 has a guaranteed sound power rating of 107 DBA.

This compact drill is suitable for a variety of applications including light pipeline work and long fibre-optic cable shots.

It takes advantage of technology by allowing operators to load a bore plan via flash drive and view it digitally with a touchscreen display.

It comes with two drill pipe options including the first option with a rod diameter of 7.3 cm and that second option a rod diameter of 8.9 cm.

Its compact size means its transport length is 9 m and it’s width is 254 cm making it the perfect choice to manoeuvre on congested job sites.

Designed for small service installations, it actually can help your crew increase their productivity to move from one job to the next meaning you can get cables and pipes in the ground in a shorter time frame.

Operator training time is short as it features common controls and intuitive dual joysticks to help manage precision for the drill operator.

This HDD model has a narrow footprint of only 111.8 cm in width making it perfect for urban spaces. While it is small, it is still powerful thanks to having a thrust pullback of 10,000 lb.

This model is also suitable for neighborhoods thanks to it’s reduced noise output,  making communication for your team easier.

The fuel tank is 68.1 L and the hydraulic system is 94.6 L and the rod diameter is 4.3 cm with a bend radius of 29.1 m.

This horizontal directional drill is suitable for installing cable fibre and product pipe efficiently in urban areas it features come and controls which assist with training operators.

Featuring a narrow lightweight design compared to other models means it can sit comfortably on a trailer alongside a mixed system.

This drill is designed to maximize job site productivity thanks to its rotational efficiency meaning that linear feet can be laid faster on job sites. It comes with two drill pipe options.  The first one being at 3 m in length and a 4.8 cm rod diameter with a bend radius of 30.1 m.  The second option is a length of 3 m with a rod diameter of 5.2 cm and a bend radius of 31.1 m

 

A horizontal directional drill suitable for compact urban or commercial job sites.

Featuring a 100 HP engine this HDD is compact yet powerful and also ultraquiet making it perfect for working in neighborhoods thanks to its 99 DBA guaranteed sound power level.

It features thrust pullback of 24,000lbs a maximum carriage speed of 62.8 m/m.

 

 

 

Designed for drilling in rock this drill uses a jewel rod technology in a small machine which means that operators can manoeuvre efficiently and confidently through congested rock sites in cities or neighborhoods or tight job sites.

 

Designed to offer drilling power and tracking on job sites,  this is the choice to maximise productivity. This drill out paces competitor models thanks to its 270 rpm rotational speed meaning that operators can complete jobs faster.

Also featuring a touchscreen display this makes it easier for operators to view locate information and ball plans to help productivity.

The drill pipe for this model has a length of 3 m a rod diameter of 6 cm and a bend radius of 33 m. Its fuel tank is 166.6 L and also has an antifreeze tank capacity of 14.7 L.

Suitable for long fibre shots and light pipeline work this drill has 40,000lb of thrust and pull back to help maximise productivity on site.

It can be configured to a contractor’s needs with a range of 3.0  meter or 4.6 meter rod options.  The carriage speed of 57.3 m/min means that anyone choosing this machine to complete works on site will be able to install more linear feet per day.

The operator cab is an excavator style that allows more legroom for people using this drill. It also comes with a full colour touchscreen so it is easier for operators to locate information with digital bore plans.

This horizontal directional drill can handle a range of conditions from hard medium and soft rock and also loan dirt and clay. It is designed so that the appropriate tooling can be selected to match the ground conditions which means an entire job can be completed with one machine.

This drill is also a hammer ready and has been tested for Australian conditions.

 

 

NEED MORE INFORMATION ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILL?

When you are looking for the right horizontal directional drill to suit your drilling operations be sure to reach out to the team at Vermeer to get professional support in choosing the machine that is right for you and your operation.

If you are looking for more details, kindly visit Hdd Drill Pipe.

Comments

Please Join Us to post.

0

0/2000

Guest Posts

If you are interested in sending in a Guest Blogger Submission,welcome to write for us.

Your Name: (required)

Your Email: (required)

Subject:

Your Message: (required)

0/2000