Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

Dealing with the challenges

Supported by:
Drilling Contractors Association (DCA-Europe)

Nederlandse vereniging voor Sleufloze Technieken en Toepassingen (NSTT)

Course background

Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is one of the fastest growing techniques for trenchless installation of pipelines. On one hand they provide a logical alternative when cables and/or pipes need to cross dikes, wetlands, rivers and other structures that need to remain intact during construction. On the other hand HDD techniques minimize the impact of construction activities in densely populated and economical sensitive areas.

In the Netherlands HDD has been used on a large scale since the eighties. Considering the soft soil conditions in the Netherlands, a lot of experience has been gained in minimizing risks and as a result construction delays. Being able to identify risks on forehand giving different circumstances, allows the application of ideal equipment and methods.

Aim of the course

During this three-day course participants will learn to master the design of HDD crossings while considering the risks involved. This will help participants to choose the appropriate equipment and materials from the large variety that is available today. During this course the state-of-the-art developments in HDD technology are considered.

The course provides:

• an overview of required equipment for horizontal directional drilling;
• choice of specific drilling tools;
• practical and theoretical information about drilling fluids and hydraulic modelling;
• an overview of design aspects;
• risk analyses and risk reducing measures.

Topics are:

• horizontal drilling techniques;
• drilling rigs;
• drill pipes and downhole drilling tools;
• drilling fluids;
• guidance systems;
• small and large diameter crossing;
• design aspects crossings;
• soil investigation and soil behaviour;
• product pipes.

Excursion

The fourth day of the course is an optional day with an excursion.

Enrolment

The course fee includes course documentation, the textbook HDD Practice Handbook by H.-J. Bayer, lunches and refreshments during the breaks. The fee does not include VAT. International participants from within the European Union are charged 0% VAT only when they provide their organizations VAT number. Participants from outside the European Union are exempt from VAT, hence 0% VAT will be charged.