HDD Techniqe description

1.Intro
Installation of a pipeline by HDD is generally accomplished in three stages.
The first stage consists of directionally drilling a small diameter pilot hole
along a designed directional path. The second stage involves enlarging this pilot
hole to a diameter suitable for installation of the pipeline. The third stage consists
of pulling the pipeline back into the enlarged hole.

2.Pilot Hole Directional Drilling

Pilot hole directional control is achieved by using a non-rotating drill string with
an asymmetrical leading edge. The asymmetry of the leading edge creates a
steering bias while the non-rotating aspect of the drill string allows the steering
bias to be held in a specific position while drilling. If a change in direction is
required, the drill string is rolled so that the direction of bias is the same as

the desired change in direction. The direction of bias is referred to as the tool
face. Straight progress may be achieved by drilling with a series of offsetting tool
face positions. The drill string may also be continually rotated where directional
control is not required. Leading edge asymmetry can be accomplished by several
methods.
It is common in soft soils to achieve drilling progress by hydraulic cutting
with a jet nozzle. In this case, the direction of flow from the nozzle can be offset
from the central axis of the drill string thereby creating a steering bias.

Downhole mechanical cutting action required for harder soils is provided by

downhole hydraulic motors. Downhole hydraulic motors, commonly referred to
as mud motors, convert hydraulic energy from drilling mud pumped from the
surface to mechanical energy at the bit. This allows for bit rotation without drill
string rotation.
3.Reaming & Pullback
Enlarging the pilot hole is accomplished using either prereaming passes prior to
pipe installation or simultaneously during pipe installation. Reaming tools typically
consist of a circular array of cutters and drilling fluid jets and are often custom

made by contractors for a particular hole size or type of soil.

4.Prereaming
We will preream a pilot hole before attempting to install pipe. For a prereaming
pass, reamers attached to the drill string at the exit point are rotated and drawn
to the drilling rig thus enlarging the pilot hole. Drill pipe is added behind the
reamers as they progress toward the drill rig. This insures that a string of pipe is
always maintained in the drilled hole. It is also possible to ream away from the
drill rig. In this case, reamers fitted into the drill string at the rig are rotated and
thrust away from it.
5.Pullback
Pipe installation is accomplished by attaching the prefabricated pipeline pull
section behind a reaming assembly at the exit point and pulling the reaming
assembly and pull section back to the drilling rig.

This is undertaken after completion of prereaming or, for smaller diameter lines
in soft soils, directly after completion of the pilot hole. A swivel is utilized to
connect the pull section to
the leading reaming assembly to minimize torsion transmitted to the pipe. The
pull section is supported using some combination of roller stands, pipe handling
equipment, or a flotation ditch to minimize tension and prevent damage to the
pipe.
6.DRILLING FLUIDS
Drilling fluids are an important aspect of a drilling operation because they control
the stability of the hole during and after drilling. Drilling fluids are typically
composed of water, bentonite, soda ash and, in some soils, chemical additives.
When specifying the drilling fluid to use, it is important to look at the geological
settings and the properties of the water and other fluids being used.
Geological properties determine what is used in the overall drilling fluid. When
drilling fluid is used in coarse-grained soils, like sands and gravels, its main
purpose is to provide stability to that bore and carry away cuttings. Drilling fluid
serves the same purpose in fine grained soils like clays with one additional task;
the drilling fluid must also prevent swelling. At this point, the drilling fluid must
not only be composed of bentonite but other chemical additives.
For sandy soils, water is usually mixed with bentonite to create drilling mud.
Clayey soils are more of a concern because they react strongly to water, which
makes up more than 90% of drilling fluid. The clay problem can be approached in
two ways. One can either prevent the clay from interacting with water or alter the
properties of clay to lessen the effects of water.
For coarse or sandy soils one needs to control water loss and prevent the
sloughing of material at the walls. This can be accomplished by using a
water/filtrate control additive like poly-anionic-cellulose (PACs). The PAC binds

with the bentonite to seal the wall cake and lessen the loss of water. Completely
sealing off any interaction between the water and soil can become expensive, so
it is usually a better option to treat the clay. Some common ways to treat the clay
are to coat it to prevent it from sticking to steel drill, prevent it from swelling, or
flocculate it so that it flows out of the borehole. In the article Drilling Through the
Clay, Randy Strickland lists general categories of
additives used to treat clay:
1.) Surfactants (drilling detergents)
-involve coating the surface of clay particles when clay is cut by drill bit.
2.) Polymers
-partially hydrolyzed poly acrylimite (PHPA).
-prevent clay from swelling (also known as inhibition).
-can be used with drilling detergents.
3.) Flocculants
-bind clay particles together in a flowable liquid slurry.
-solve problem of removing the clay from the hole without it getting reattached
to the
sides of the borehole.
4.) Thinners
-dispersants or de-flocculants.
-neutralize charges on clay particles and reduce viscosity.
Any of these common additives can be found at many suppliers. Strickland also
emphasizes the continued use of bentonite with these additives. Additives do not
have gel strength, i.e. the ability to keep particles in suspension. This is
important when cuttings need to be suspended to allow for washing out the
borehole. The amount of bentonite required to allow for suspension is
small, 3-15 kg per 500 liters of water. In general, for drilling fluid one will need 4
to 5 times the soil volume that is to be cut.
Fluids are necessary for washing out cuttings, lubricating the bore, allowing flow
and cooling down the drill. As such, special attention must be given to their
selection. Water makes up the biggest percentage of the drilling fluid mixture, so
it makes sense that the properties of water will have a big impact on how the
drilling fluid behaves. An important property to note is the pH of the water. This
can be done easily using ordinary pH strips. The pH of the water controls amount
of soda ash (sodium carbonate) necessary to increase the pH to the desired
level.