Trenchless utility installation

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Industrial and Agricultural Equipment Supplier. Agricultural and industrial equipment. Because trenchless boring moves the soil to the side, instead of pushing it to the surface, you lower the risk of soil contamination. With traditional trench digging, contamination is a large concern that could pose a significant threat to the environment. Trenchless options ensure nothing is compromised and instead allows for the job to be completed quickly and safely.

If you are in need of utility installation, reach out to directional drilling contractors and set up a consultation so that you can experience these benefits for yourself. Skip to content. Facebook page opens in new window Linkedin page opens in new window Instagram page opens in new window. Workers use CIPP on pipes ranging from three-inches to inches in diameter. Most only use it on the small section in need of repair.

However, CIPP can run as far as feet. Pipe ramming is another trenchless method. As the name implies, a tool rams the casing into the ground. The device, which attaches to the end of the pipe, uses percussive blows powered by compressed air to insert the new tubing in place. Once laid, compressed air blows through, clearing the line of debris.

This method allows the laying of new pipe, particularly under roadways, but can also install vertical pipes as well. It is not used to replace existing pipe; there are other methods like this to perform replacement projects.

Pipe ramming has a distance of up to feet or meters. Typically, tubes used in pipe ramming are as small as 4-inches and as large as inches. A variety of utilities can use the lines run via this method. Like pipe ramming, auger boring digs a trench to place pipe without disrupting the surface.

Instead of using percussive blows to insert the pipe into the ground, auger boring uses an auger to drill the hole for the line. In most cases, the casing is inserted into the hole as it is boring. Removal of soil in the line occurs as the auger bit comes back out of the line. All utilities benefit from boring auger use.

Smaller bores, those under 6-inches, work for electric and telecom fiber optic cables. Water, sewer and gas lines use large bores. Augers bore up to feet with a diameter of up to inches. The trenchless technique of moling is a combination of boring and pipe ramming. With moling, a pneumatic tool drills the path for the line to run. Unlike with pipe ramming, the tool, better known as a mole, creates the path before pipe insertion, much like boring does for its line. However, workers insert the line after the mole completes its task.

Construction workers use moling for smaller water lines, electric and fiber optic cables, or for heating coils. The mole is only about 6-centimeters in diameter and is approximately cm long. Unlike other trenchless tools, the insertion point is only a couple meters in diameter. It is also a fast method of pipeline installation and enables the operators to accomplish creditable accuracy even when crossings are complicated. Continuous monitoring and control during the operation allow operators to navigate in constrained spaces between existing utility lines.

Drilling can even be carried out at greater depths to bypass existing utilities altogether and requires only one launching shaft at the entry point and one reception shaft at the exit point. The cons of HDD are not many but are significant. HDD operation can be carried out only by highly skilled operators and the cost of equipment and machinery requires the project to be of sufficient bore length to be profitable.

HAB utilizes a casing system fitted with a cutting head and rotating auger that is jacked into the earth from the launching shaft. As the auger proceeds, it transmits torque to the cutting head. The soil cuttings generated from the cutting head are transmitted back to the launch pit via the rotating augers.

Once the casing and auger are in the earth, the next set of casing and auger blades are attached to the previous casing and auger and the process is continued to the reception shaft.

The major advantage of HAB is that the casing installation and excavation are carried out simultaneously. It only requires two pits, one for launching and one for excavation. The method is suitable for all types of soil except for mixed soils containing boulders.

HAB is disadvantageous in that there is considerable investment in equipment because the method calls for availability of different sizes of cutting heads and augers for the varying casing sizes.

Pipe ramming is carried out by using a percussive hammer attached to the end of the pipe or casing that pushes it into the soil. The leading edge of the pipe or casing creates the borehole and installs the pipe.

The spoil enters the pipe and is removed after the installation is complete. The advantage of pipe ramming is that the method is very economical and does not require expensive equipment. The pipe can be installed either as one piece or in segments and can be installed in almost any type of soil. It is best suited to medium sized pipes and for shorter lengths.

The major disadvantage of pipe ramming is that there is no control over the line and grade of installation. There is also the chance of the pipe deflecting if met with hard obstructions like hard boulders that are larger than the casing.