A successful HDD drilling crew depends on more than the person sitting in the drill.
Horizontal directional drilling works because several people are making decisions at the same time. The driller controls the machine. The locator tracks the bore and plans the path ahead. The mud man manages the drilling fluid and watches what the bore is telling the crew.
At Atlas Group, those three roles are tightly connected.
Kyler Woody explained that when an HDD crew is working at its best, the driller, locator, and mud man trust each other and understand how their individual decisions affect the rest of the project.
That teamwork becomes especially important when ground conditions change, fluid returns disappear, or the bore begins drifting away from the planned path.
The Driller Controls the Machine
The driller operates the directional drill.
That person manages thrust, rotation, rod advancement, and the physical response of the machine.
However, the driller is not working independently.
The drill head is underground, so the operator cannot simply look ahead and see where it is going.
The driller depends on information from the locator.
Woody explained that the driller is also the person sitting directly with the machine and watching how the bore is progressing. The operator may be the first person to report changes in resistance, fluid behavior, or machine response.
The job requires constant communication.
A good driller has to understand what the machine is doing while also trusting the information coming from the rest of the crew.
The Locator Guides the Bore
The locator, sometimes called the steer hand, helps determine where the drill head is underground and where it needs to go next.
Atlas Group described the driller and locator as two people who need to operate almost as one.
The locator is constantly thinking ahead.
While the driller is working on the current rod, the locator may already be several rods ahead in the planning process.
That person is evaluating:
- Current depth
- Direction
- Grade
- Upcoming utilities
- Planned turns
- Entry and exit targets
- How much correction is needed
- Whether the next move will affect the rest of the bore
Woody explained that a locator works in both the present and the future. The locator watches where the driller is now while planning where the drill needs to be several rods later.
That is one reason communication is so important.
A small misunderstanding can create a larger correction later.
One Wrong Move Can Take Several Rods to Fix
Directional drilling does not allow the crew to instantly correct every mistake.
Atlas Group explained that what happens during one rod may take two or three rods to correct.
If the driller and locator miscommunicate, the bore may move off the intended route.
The crew then has to gradually bring it back.
That may require one rod to begin the correction and another to return toward the planned path. The team then has to consider whether the drill is properly positioned for the next turn, climb, or section of the bore.
This is why experienced crews try to avoid aggressive corrections.
The best path is usually the one that requires the least unnecessary steering.
The Mud Man Manages the Bore's Lifeline
The third major role is the mud man.
To someone unfamiliar with HDD, the person mixing drilling fluid may not appear to be one of the most important people on the project.
Atlas Group sees the role differently.
Woody explained that drilling fluid is what holds much of the bore together.
The mud man may be responsible for:
- Bringing fresh water to the project
- Mixing bentonite and other additives
- Checking viscosity
- Monitoring sand content
- Tracking fluid volume
- Watching returns
- Adjusting mixtures as ground conditions change
The mud man is helping manage the material that carries cuttings, supports the bore wall, and reduces friction.
That makes the position directly connected to the performance of the bore.
The Mud Man Also Watches the Entire Jobsite
Atlas Group described the mud man as more than the person responsible for fluid.
That person can also become an extra set of eyes for the entire operation.
The locator is focused on the path ahead.
The driller is focused on the drill and the immediate bore.
The mud man can step back and monitor the broader picture.
Woody explained that this person may notice things such as:
- Fluid loss
- Changes in returns
- Equipment issues
- An oil leak
- Production changes
- How much fluid needs to be mixed
- How close the crew is to completing the pilot or reaming pass
The mud man may also be listening to radio traffic and adjusting fluid production based on where the crew is in the bore.
That makes the role both technical and observational.
Trust Between the Driller and Locator Is Critical
The driller cannot see the drill head underground.
That requires trust.
Woody compared the relationship to driving a vehicle while blindfolded and relying on someone else to tell you when to turn.
If the locator says the drill needs to move right, the driller has to trust that information even when the machine may not feel like it should be turning that direction.
That trust is not automatic.
It develops over time.
New crew combinations may need time to learn how each person communicates.
Different drillers may use different terminology. Locators may interpret instructions differently. The team has to develop a shared rhythm.
That is one reason experienced crews can become extremely efficient.
The Best Crews Sometimes Barely Need to Talk
Atlas Group explained that some of its most seasoned crews can look almost disconnected from the outside.
They may not appear to be talking much.
That is often a sign that the team is working well.
The mud man knows when to adjust the fluid.
The locator knows where to move next.
The driller knows what information is coming.
Everyone understands the process without needing constant explanation.
That level of teamwork only comes after people have worked together and learned how the others think.
Pullback Shows Why the Team Matters
The importance of the crew becomes especially clear during pullback.
Pullback is the final stage when the finished pipe is pulled into the prepared bore.
Atlas Group described it as one of the most stressful parts of the project.
Once the pipe starts moving, the team wants to keep it moving until the installation is complete.
That requires everyone to be ready.
The driller has to manage the machine.
The locator and crew need to understand what is happening along the bore.
The mud system needs to be ready.
Other people on the project have to know that stopping may not be an option.
By that point, the crew has already invested significant time into the pilot, reaming, and preparation.
The final pull depends on the work done by the entire team.
The Crew Has to Work as One System
HDD is difficult to separate into completely independent jobs.
Each person affects the next.
The driller depends on the locator.
The locator depends on accurate communication from the driller.
Both depend on the mud man to maintain the fluid system.
The mud man relies on information about where the bore is and what the crew is experiencing.
That creates a true team environment.
Woody said that when the team is working well, completing a difficult bore can create a strong sense of accomplishment.
Everyone had a role in getting the pipe to the other side.
Training Has to Include Communication
Atlas Group has also invested in a directional drilling training simulator.
The system includes a drill setup and a virtual-reality locating component.
One of the goals is not simply teaching someone how to operate the equipment.
Atlas Group wants to see how drillers and locators communicate together.
Woody explained that different crews may use different language and habits. A simulator allows the company to evaluate those interactions without risking expensive drill rods or equipment.
That training can help people learn Atlas Group's process before they are placed on a difficult project.
A Strong HDD Drilling Crew Is Built on Trust
A strong HDD drilling crew is not simply a collection of experienced individuals.
The people have to work together.
The driller needs to trust the locator. The locator needs to communicate clearly. The mud man has to understand what the bore needs and how conditions are changing.
When those roles are connected, the crew can respond faster and make stronger decisions.
Atlas Group performs horizontal directional drilling throughout West Virginia, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Kentucky, Virginia, and surrounding areas.
For Atlas Group, the best HDD projects are not built by one person.
They are built by a crew that understands the bore, understands each other, and knows how every decision affects the people working beside them.