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Drilling
The Pilot Hole
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A small rotating and steerable drill tool is launched from the surface at an inclined angle, and is used to drill a pilot hole. Monitoring of the line and level alignment takes place by using a transmitter in the tool head and a locating device at ground level. It is guided through the ground around existing utilities using the latest tracking technology. |
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The
drill rig operator uses a receiver which indicates the exact
position allowing him to accurately drill the pilot hole
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The
tool is steered to the exit pit where the utility will be terminated
or otherwise connected.
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The bore is backreamed in the stages up to the correct diameter to suit the pipeline |
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| The entry pit is approximately 2m x 1m x 1m deep. The pit collects the drilling fluid and cuttings which are then pumped back to the mud system for recycling. |
The
tool head and transmitter are removed and a backreamer is attached to
increase the bore size.