Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD); state-of-the-art developments

Supported by:
Drilling Contractors Association (DCA-Europe)

Dutch Society for Trenchless Technology 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 pipelines and/or cables need to cross railways, roads, 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. A lot of experience has been gained about drilling processes, drilling-soil interaction and minimizing risks. Minimizing the potential risks prevents construction delays and high project costs. Being able to identify risks on forehand giving different circumstances, allows the horizontal directional driller to optimize his project and to apply the best suitable equipment and methods.

Aim of the course

During this three-day course participants will learn to master the design of HDD while considering all 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.

Specific topics are:

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

For a detailed listing of subjects, please see the course programme.

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.