As we know, horizontal drilling allows miners in the oil and gas industry to drill at a wide range of angles which enables them to dig a well thousands of feet down the earth as well as achieve the accuracy of 90 degrees angles from the vertical position. It has gained popularity in the power delivery for undergrounding transmission and distribution lines primarily to minimize extended power outages in the aftermath of a large storm or hurricane. In addition, it also includes the less disruptive mental and environmental impact on the daily lives of utility customers and communities. This series will guide you through the less talked about jobsite concerns. 

Now, let’s take a look at the sis benefits of horizontal directional drilling: 

Durability

Horizontal directional drilling uses tough, high-quality materials with longer lifespans and greater placement accuracy to prevent damage during installation. It also allows installation under rivers, driveways, etc.; burying pipe and utility lines improves durability.

Much Faster Installation

When it comes to saving more time, horizontal directional drilling has faster installation, which is an obvious benefit. Directional boring contractors drill underground without digging down and then across as is done with traditional open-cut means the work will get done much faster. Less dirt is displaced, less to rebury, and less to dispose of, so the time savings are multi-fol when you compare horizontal drilling versus open-cut for water and sewer lines or utilities.

Lower Cost

Since horizontal drilling is faster, it means it has a lower cost. Moreover, it has less dirt displaced which means dirt is replaced and saves time. Requiring horizontal directional drilling contractors means also saving in terms of manpower. There will also be less equipment required as directional boring contractors do not rely on backhoes and other heavy equipment that are being rented. In short, horizontal drilling is more cost-effective than open-cut drilling.

Less Disruption

Disruptions like landscaping and time are being addressed by horizontal directional drilling contractors as it displaces less soil and doesn’t require digging down into your own property the entire length of the pipe or line. It simply means that landscaping will be preserved. There could be a dig down at the start of the pipe but no tearing up landscaping all along the line and because of this, you can get back to business as usual and make your life faster.

Flexible with Different Locations

Horizontal drilling allows the placement of pipes, water, sewer lines, and utilities where obstacles are an issue. If you need a line or utilities run under a road, driveway, culvert, rivet, or in an area where the pipe must curve, horizontal drilling allows for all of this. In addition, you can lay pipe where it was too costly before or virtually impossible and this helps homeowners and businesses.

Less Soil Contamination

There’s much less of a chance of soil contamination since horizontal drilling pushes soil to the side rather than bringing it to the surface. Contaminated soil should not permeate the pipes because the pipe connections are long-lasting to preserve integrity.