Trenchless technology is a form of underground construction that requires the use of few or no trenches at surface or street level. Trenchless technology uses new techniques and equipment to install or replace underground infrastructure without causing disturbance to the ground above. Its goal is to avoid interfering with surface-level activities, including traffic, businesses, residential areas or people.
The idea behind trenchless technologies is simple: rather than digging a trench that disturbs traffic, businesses and people, make a small vertical hole, then bore horizontally beneath the surface, like a mole, along a planned path to a specific destination
Trenchless technologies also include making repairs using processes such as pipe bursting, to replace piping and conduits in a single effort, without the need for trenching or even disposal of old pipe sections.
Although we regard “trenchless drilling” as somewhat of a misnomer—because drilling is by nature “trenchless”—directional drilling does incorporate the advantages practiced by this branch of technology. Horizontal drilling is a perfect technology when you have the need to locate a well:
under active sites where surface operations precluded disruption or drilling equipment (Airports and major highways are good examples) beneath a building, road or other surface obstruction to place leak detection sensors beneath solid or hazardous waste landfills to install gas collection systems at landfills or similar waste dumps.
Trenchless Pipe Repair:
This new liner is called a “cured in place pipe,” or CIPP. It is made from a resin that hardens and essentially replaces your old, damaged sewer line. This is all completed with minimal digging because only part of the sewer line needs to be accessed for a trenchless pipe repair to be completed.
Advantages of Trenchless Drilling:
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Decrease in social costs as pedestrian and vehicle traffic remain unaffected
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Decrease in cost and/or safety risks from teams working in deep trenches or in unstable ground;
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Increase in productivity due to faster cleaner installation;
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Maintain structural integrity of road surface and layers;
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Can be more cost effective in many cases depending on trench depth and pipe diameter;
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Increased margins for principle contractor;
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Adherence to regulations for “No-Dig” roads.
Method of Trenchless Technology:
The most popular trenchless technologies methods are: Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), Micro-tunneling, Horizontal Auger Boring (HAB), Pipe Ramming, and Pipe Jacking. An over view of all methods
Horizontal Drilling:
A steerable system for the installation of pipes, conduits, and cables in a shallow arc using drilling equipment from the surface
Micro Tunneling (MT):
A trenchless construction method for installing pipelines by consecutively pushing the Micro tunneling Tunnel Boring Machine (MTBM) through the ground using a jacking system.
Horizontal Auger Boring (HAB):
Forming a bore from a launch pit to a reception pit, by means of a rotating cutting head. Soil is removed back to the drive shaft by auger flights rotating in a steel casing.
Pipe Ramming (PR):
Installing steel casing (pipe) from a launch shaft to a reception shaft utilizing the force of a percussion hammer attached to the end of the pipe.