Horizontal Directional Drilling Services

Atlas Group provides horizontal directional drilling services for underground utility installations, road and river crossings, and projects involving changing elevations or limited access. We review the proposed route, ground conditions, pipe requirements, and available workspace to determine the approach for your installation.

From utility work beneath paved roads to stream crossings and steep hillside installations, our team focuses on preparation, drilling-fluid management, and coordination throughout the bore.

Call (304) 460-7300 or contact us with your project location, plans, and anticipated schedule.

Directional drilling supports the installation of utilities and infrastructure, including:

• Power and telecommunications cable conduits.
• Water lines.
• Sewer lines, subject to the required alignment and grade.
• Natural gas and oil lines.
• Irrigation lines.
• Product pipelines.
• Casings used for environmental remediation.

Applications include crossings beneath rivers, streams, and roadways, as well as installations through congested areas or locations where open-cut excavation may be impractical or more expensive.

HDD may also be considered in environmentally sensitive areas where reducing surface excavation is important. The approach still requires evaluation of ground conditions, drilling-fluid management, and project-specific constraints.

Atlas also performs steep hillside installations where conventional excavation can require difficult equipment access and extensive work along the slope. Suitability depends on the proposed route, setup areas, and conditions at the site.

Horizontal directional drilling offers several potential advantages when the conditions and design support its use:

• Directional and curved installations: The bore can follow gradual changes in direction and elevation.
• Deeper installations: HDD may reach the required depth without excavating a launch pit to the full installation elevation.
• Longer installation distances: A continuous bore may reduce the need for excavation along an extended route.
• Reduced traffic disruption: Crossing beneath pavement can limit the need to open the roadway.
• Less surface disturbance: HDD can reduce excavation and restoration along the crossing.
• Potential cost and schedule advantages: Avoiding extensive excavation, pavement replacement, or difficult access may benefit the project.

These advantages are project-dependent. HDD is not automatically the fastest, lowest-cost, or most appropriate method for every installation.

Atlas performs HDD, auger boring, and open-cut excavation. We review the complete project and discuss alternatives when another method may better fit the requirements.

Project-specific planning

A crossing may arrive with a method already specified, but the installation still requires a review of the ground, alignment, access, and pipe requirements. Atlas examines those details and identifies questions that need to be resolved before mobilization.

Early involvement also helps establish whether the proposed setup areas and setbacks are sufficient for the drilling equipment and pipe.

Careful preparation of the pilot bore

The pilot bore establishes the path used throughout the remaining installation. Atlas invests time in steering, fluid circulation, and bore preparation because those early decisions affect hole enlargement and pipe installation.

Reaching the exit point is only part of the objective. The path must also accommodate the pipe’s allowable bend radius and support the work that follows.

Attention to drilling fluids

Drilling fluid is an essential part of the installation. It carries excavated material out of the bore, lubricates tooling, and helps support the borehole.

Atlas selects and adjusts the fluid mixture for the conditions encountered. The team monitors returns and drilling performance, with access to drilling-fluid specialists when additional support is needed.

Equipment, training, and field support

Atlas emphasizes access to appropriate equipment, ongoing learning, and support for its field crews. The team evaluates techniques and draws on additional expertise when a project presents unfamiliar or challenging conditions.

Coordination between the drill operator, locator, and drilling-fluid operator helps the crew recognize changes and make informed adjustments throughout the installation.

Review the route and installation requirements

Atlas reviews the proposed path, installation length, depth, pipe specifications, existing utilities, and available ground information. These details help determine the setup, tooling, and drilling approach.

Even when HDD is already specified, the team needs to understand what the finished installation must achieve and what constraints affect the route.

Allow room for gradual changes in direction

HDD does not travel vertically downward and then make an abrupt right-angle turn. The drill enters at an angle and follows a gradual curve.

The required depth, equipment, pipe material, and allowable bend radius influence how much setback is needed. Changes in direction and elevation must be considered as part of the complete bore path.

Confirm access and workspace

The project needs adequate space for the drilling setup, support equipment, exit area, and pipe preparation. Property boundaries and available access can affect what is practical.

Reviewing these details during planning helps identify space limitations before equipment arrives.

Evaluate ground conditions

Available geotechnical information helps Atlas anticipate rock, soil transitions, groundwater, and other conditions that may affect the installation.

When information is incomplete, share what is available. Atlas can discuss the uncertainties and identify additional questions that need to be addressed.

Establish the pilot bore

The crew drills an initial bore along the planned route. The drill operator and locator coordinate direction and elevation while the team monitors drilling performance and fluid returns.

This stage establishes the path for subsequent work. Steering decisions must account for both the current position and the route ahead.

Enlarge and prepare the borehole

Where the pipe requires a larger opening, the crew uses reaming equipment to enlarge the pilot bore. The size of the opening, tooling, and sequence depend on the pipe requirements and ground conditions.

Removing cuttings and maintaining appropriate fluid circulation remain important throughout the process. The bore may require additional passes to prepare it for the pipe.

Pull the pipe into position

Once the bore is prepared, the pipe is connected and pulled into place. This final installation stage is called pullback.

Equipment readiness, pipe preparation, and crew coordination are especially important before pullback begins. Interruptions can complicate the installation, so the team plans this stage with the customer and other participants.

No single ground condition guarantees an easy installation. Consistent rock may provide predictable drilling conditions, while soft clay, cobble, sand, and mixed formations can create different challenges.

Transitions between materials may affect steering, tooling performance, and the drilling-fluid mixture needed to remove cuttings. Groundwater and subsurface voids can also affect fluid circulation.

Atlas monitors the material and fluid returning from the bore. Changes in returns can indicate that the crew needs to investigate conditions or adjust the approach.

Unknown ground conditions add uncertainty to both planning and execution. Available geotechnical and groundwater information helps the team prepare, although actual conditions may still require changes during installation.

For river crossings and other sensitive locations, drilling-fluid loss and the potential for an inadvertent return of fluid require project-specific consideration. Reducing surface excavation does not eliminate the need to evaluate these risks.

Send your plans and specifications when available. Useful starting information includes:

• Project location, contact information, and anticipated schedule.
• Proposed bore length, depth, and alignment.
• Pipe diameter, material, and installation requirements.
• Starting and ending elevations and any required grade or tolerances.
• Available geotechnical and groundwater information.
• Known utilities and other obstacles along the route.
• Access and available workspace at both ends.
• Roadway, waterway, property, or environmental constraints.
• The work you need Atlas to include in its scope.

You do not need every answer before contacting us. Share the information you have so our team can identify the next questions to resolve.

Is HDD always better than open-cut excavation?

No. HDD can reduce continuous excavation across roads, waterways, and other obstacles, but it is not the best fit for every project. Ground conditions, access, restoration requirements, installation dimensions, and the agreed scope influence the decision.

Atlas performs both trenchless installations and open-cut excavation and can discuss which approach fits the work.

How does HDD differ from auger boring?

HDD uses a surface-launched drilling rig to establish a steerable bore path, which may include gradual changes in direction and elevation.

Auger boring typically installs steel casing from a launch pit positioned at the installation elevation. The required casing, alignment, grade, depth, access, and ground conditions help determine which method is appropriate.

Does HDD require excavation?

HDD reduces the need for a continuous open trench along the route. Because the rig launches from the surface, it may avoid the deep launch pit associated with auger boring. Entry and exit excavations and other preparation may still be necessary.

Can directional drilling go around obstacles?

HDD can follow a curved path within the limits of the drill rods, tooling, pipe, and ground conditions. It cannot make abrupt underground turns. Obstacles and required changes in direction must be considered during route planning.

Can Atlas drill through rock or mixed ground?

Atlas performs directional drilling in rock and mixed formations. Suitability depends on the ground, proposed route, tooling, and installation requirements. Transitions between materials can affect both steering and drilling-fluid performance.

Can HDD be used for sewer installations?

HDD can support sewer installations, but the design requirements matter. Gravity sewer work requires particular attention to grade and tolerances. Share the specifications so Atlas can evaluate whether HDD or another installation method is appropriate.

Why is drilling fluid important?

Drilling fluid helps carry cuttings out of the hole, lubricate tooling, and support the borehole. The mixture and circulation must suit the conditions encountered. Fluid management affects bore preparation, drilling performance, and pipe installation.

What affects the cost and schedule of an HDD project?

Planning and pricing depend on the installation length and diameter, pipe requirements, ground conditions, access, existing utilities, drilling-fluid needs, and project constraints.

HDD may reduce excavation and restoration costs, but those potential savings must be evaluated against the requirements of the complete installation.

Send your plans, specifications, project location, and available ground information. Atlas Group can review the proposed installation and discuss the method, equipment, preparation, and scope needed to move the project forward.

Call (304) 460-7300 or contact us with your project details and anticipated schedule.