Introduction to HDD - Home | Chester County …...Horizontal Directional Drilling Machines Machine Size Classes Directional Drill Machines are mostly rated by two specifications. Thrust

Introduction to HDD

Vermeer North Atlantic Sales & Service

Horizontal Directional

Drilling Machines

Machine Size Classes

Directional Drill Machines are

mostly rated by two specifications.

Thrust

Rotational

Torque

Machines with 6K to 10K lbs of thrust are

typically installing ½” to 2” diameter pipe

under 300’ in length. These drills carry 200’ to

400’ of drill rod onboard.

D10X15 S3

Machines with 20K to 40K lbs of thrust install

pipe ranging from 2” to 12” diameter. These

drills carry 400’ to 600’ of drill rod onboard.

D20X22 S3

D23X30 S3

D24X40 S3

D40X55 S3

D60X90 S3

Machines with 50K to 100K of thrust install 12” to

24” diameter pipe for distances of 1000’.

Onboard rod carrying capacity is 360’ with

separate rod boxes loaded as needed.

D100X140 S3

Machines with 150K to 1.5M pounds of thrust

install various diameter pipe for distances over

1000’.

D220X300 S3

D330X500

D500X500

D750X900

D1000X900

D1320X900

HDD Drill rod

FIRESTICK

HDD Drill Rod vary with the specifications of

the Drill Machine. Drill rod sizes range from

1.6” diameter X 6’ long to over 6” diameter X

30’ long.

The Drill Rod conveys the drill fluid

down hole and transfers the Thrust and

Rotation of the machine to the drill head or

backreamer underground.

Each length of rod is threaded

together by the machine and

tightened to a specific torque.

After the rod is coupled together, it is drilled

into the ground using thrust, rotation, and

fluid.

Drill Head Location

Equipment

Radio Transmission

Locate Points

Rear Forward Over Drillhead

Rear Forward Over Drillhead

Depth Measurement

Overhead View of Locate Points

+

-

Drill Bit

Bit Profile

Steering the Drill

12 6

9 3

Drill Fluid and Reaming

Purpose of Drill Fluid

during Pilot Bore

• Cool Electronics in Drill Head

• Assist Penetration of Drill Bit

• Assist steering of Drill Head

• Stabilize Pilot bore hole

• Suspend cuttings

• Lubricate Drill Rod

Back Reaming

Back Reaming is the process of

opening and stabilizing the bore hole to

the appropriate size for installing the

pipe.

Back Reaming uses the reverse thrust,

rotational torque, and drill fluid flow of the

drill machine.

Back Reamer Selection

• Size of Pipe being installed (O.D.)

X 1.5 = Back Reamer size

(size may vary with conditions)

Pre-reaming

Pre-reaming is a technique used to incrementally

increase the diameter of the bore hole before

making the product pull.

Pre-reaming is used for all types of ground

conditions, product sizes, and bore lengths.

Pre-reaming is one of the simplest techniques to

insure success.

It’s all about the FLOW!

Purpose of Drill Fluid during

Backreaming

• Assist cutting action of the Backreamer

• Stabilize bore hole

• Mix with the cuttings into a flowable slurry

• Convey cuttings out of the bore while pipe

is being pulled in

• Lubricate pipe being installed

Basic Drill Fluid Ingredients

• Water

• Bentonite

• Polymers

• Wetting Agents

• Soda Ash

Viscosity

The property of resistance to flow in a fluid

or semifluid.

Gel Strength

Ability of the drilling mud to suspend drilled

solids and weighting material when

circulation is ceased.

Polymers

Drill Fluid Equipment

Fluid Equipment Section

•Volume

•Ability vacuum and dump

returns

•Time

•Economics

Mixing Systems

•Tank: holds drill fluid

•Pump: circulates and mixes fluid, transfers fluid

to drill rig

•Engine: powers pump

•Venturi Hopper: introduces bentonite into tank

•Roll Jet: circulates and agitates fluid

•Antifreeze System: tank and valve used to

winterize the pump

MX240

D24X40II and up

MX125

D7X11II to D20X22II

Fluid Recycler

RECYLER COMPONENTS

• TANKS HOLD CLEAN AND DIRTY FLUID

• SHAKERS SEPARATE LIQUIDS FROM SOLIDS

• CONES SEPARATE SILT FROM LIQUIDS

• PIT PUMP TRANSFERS DIRTY FLUID FROM PIT TO RECYCLER

• DISCHARGE PUMP TRANSFERS CLEANFLUID OUT OF RECYCLER

• CONE PUMP SEND FLUID THROUGH CONES TO THE CLEAN TANK

• GENERATOR POWERS EVERYTHING

Pit Pump

STAND ALONE PUMP

SA400