Horizontal Directional Drilling Surrey
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a trenchless method used for installing underground utilities such as water, gas, electrical, and communication cables. This technique is commonly used in places like Surrey, which is a large and growing urban area in the UK. The main advantage of HDD is that it allows the installation of pipes and cables without the need for extensive digging or disruption to the surface, making it ideal for use in areas where excavation would be challenging, disruptive, or expensive.
In Surrey, HDD might be used in urban and rural settings, helping to minimise the impact on traffic, residents, and businesses. The method is particularly useful in areas with limited space, like busy roads, parks, or environmentally sensitive areas, where traditional open-cut trenching would be impractical or damaging.
What is Directional Drilling?
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is the technique we use to install underground utilities, such as pipes, cables, or conduits, without the need to dig long messy open trenches. Instead of traditional trenching methods, Directional Drilling creates underground pathways with minimal surface disruption that utilities like Water pipes, Electric Cables and Conduits can be installed underground.
It’s a fast, cost effective solution that is perfect for installing utilities underground where there are obstacles like roads, rivers, trees and wildlife or buildings. Horizontal Directional Drilling is one of the most cost effective methods for underground installations.
What is the
Horizontal Directional Drilling Process?
Before starting, we determine the best route for the bore, considering factors like existing infrastructure, soil conditions, and environmental impacts. Entry and exit pits are excavated from which a pilot hole is drilled, using specialist drilling equipment that is guided by a tracking system. The pilot hole follows a predetermined path.
After the pilot hole is drilled, it’s enlarged by pulling larger reamers through the hole to accommodate the size of the pipe or cable to be installed. Once the hole is the desired size, the pipe or conduit is pulled back through the hole.
From planning to execution, our experienced team focus on expert underground installations, while minimising environmental impact and maximising productivity.
Contact us now for a sustainable, cost-effective directional drilling quote
Contact us today to learn more about how Directional Drilling can benefit your project. Let us be your partner in building a better tomorrow, underground
Why Choose Elite Utility Services
for Directional Drilling?
Expertise
Our team of professionals have extensive experience in directional drilling, ensuring your project is completed to the highest standards.
Precision
Using state-of-the-art equipment and techniques, we drill precise pathways for utilities, even in challenging terrains.
Minimal Disruption
With directional drilling, there's no need for large-scale excavation, minimizing disruption to your property and surrounding areas.
Versatility
Whether it's water and gas pipes, telecommunications conduits, sewer lines or electrical cables, we have the expertise to handle a variety of projects.
Environmentally Friendly
By reducing the need for extensive digging, directional drilling helps protect the environment and preserve natural landscapes.
About Surrey
Surrey is a county in the Southeast of England, located just south of London. It is a mix of urban, suburban, and rural areas, offering a wide range of landscapes, from dense urban development to picturesque countryside. Surrey has a growing population and significant infrastructure, making it a great location for residents and businesses. It’s well connected to London and the surrounding regions, which means that there is a constant demand for infrastructure projects, including utilities, transport, and communication. Large towns like Guildford, Woking, and Staines-upon-Thames are busy urban areas with significant commercial, residential, and transport infrastructure.
There are vast stretches of countryside, including parts of the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB), which require sensitive and environmentally conscious construction methods. Surrey has an extensive road network, including the M25 motorway, and is also well-connected by rail to London, making it important for both local commuting and long-distance travel. As Surrey continues to develop, there’s an increasing demand for infrastructure upgrades, particularly in areas like housing, communications, and energy supply.
The population of Surrey is approximately 1.2 million people. This makes it one of the most populous counties in England, with a mix of populated urban areas and more sparsely populated rural regions.Major towns like Guildford, Woking, and Staines-upon-Thames contribute significantly to this population, while the rural areas offer a more relaxed living environment.
What is Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) used for in Surrey
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is likely to be used in Surrey for various utility and infrastructure installation projects, especially where traditional methods like open-cut trenching would be disruptive, costly, or impractical. HDD can be used in both urban and rural settings, and its advantages make it ideal for installation projects across the county.
In busy urban areas like Guildford, Woking, and Staines-upon-Thames, HDD is used to install water pipes, gas lines, electrical cables, and telecoms cables without digging up roads or disrupting traffic. This is particularly valuable when there is limited space for excavation or when roads have a lot of heavy traffic. In rural parts of Surrey, Horizontal Directional Drilling can be used for installing utilities under farmland, natural areas, or conservation zones without disturbing the surface too much, protecting both the environment and agricultural land.
As the demand for faster broadband and mobile internet grows, Horizontal Directional Drilling is increasingly being used to install the infrastructure for 5G networks. In urban and suburban areas where digging up roads and pavements would cause major disruption, Horizontal Directional Drilling provides a less intrusive way to lay cables and telecoms lines. In rural areas of Surrey, Horizontal Directional Drilling helps extend high-speed broadband services to less accessible regions. This can help bridge the digital divide and improve internet access for residents and businesses.
Ground conditions for directional drilling in Surrey
The ground conditions for Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) in Surrey can vary widely depending on the specific location within the county, as Surrey has a diverse range of geological characteristics. However, there are some general features of the ground conditions in the region that can influence HDD operations.
Chalk is a common bedrock in Surrey, especially in the northern and central parts of the county. Chalk is a soft, porous, and sometimes fractured rock that can be relatively easy to drill through but may pose challenges in terms of stability and controlling the borehole. Limestone layers are also present in parts of Surrey, particularly around areas such as the North Downs. Limestone is generally harder than chalk, which can make drilling more difficult and require specialized equipment or techniques. Much of the southern and central parts of Surrey feature clay soils, which can vary in terms of cohesiveness and moisture content. Clay can be challenging to drill through, particularly when wet, as it can become sticky and difficult to manage. However, it can also provide stability to the borehole. In certain regions, particularly near river valleys like the Thames and the Wey, there are deposits of sand and gravel. These are generally easier to drill through than harder rock formations, but they can also create issues with groundwater or shifting material during the drilling process.
Surrey has several rivers, including the Thames, the Wey, and smaller tributaries. In areas near these water sources, the high water table can lead to challenges with drilling. Groundwater can interfere with the drilling process, leading to issues like borehole collapse or the need for additional equipment (e.g., slurry or bentonite) to maintain stability. In areas where harder bedrock such as chalk or limestone is present, HDD operations may require specialized equipment such as rock-drilling tools, which can increase both the difficulty and cost of the operation. Fractures and fault zones within these rocks can also pose additional challenges.
What can be Installed with HDD Directional Drilling?
HDD Directional Drilling for underground installations of pipes, ducts, and cables. Pipe sizes ranging from 25mm to 355mm, and distances of up to 200 metres long.
- Water Pipes
- Gas Pipes
- Drainage Pipes
- Cable Ducting
- Fibre and Telecoms Cables
- EV Charging Points
Directional Drilling Case Studies
Benefits of Directional Drilling
Limited Surface Disturbance
Directional drilling reduces the need for extensive excavation, minimizing disruption to surface environments such as landscapes, vegetation, and wildlife habitats.
Preservation of Fragile Areas
By avoiding traditional excavation, directional drilling helps protect environmentally sensitive regions like wetlands, forests, and habitats, safeguarding biodiversity and species.
Conservation of Urban Greenery
In cities, directional drilling preserves parks, green spaces, and trees by minimizing disturbance during utility installations, maintaining valuable urban green infrastructure.
Prevention of Soil Erosion
Traditional excavation can destabilize soil, leading to erosion and sediment runoff. Directional drilling minimizes soil disturbance, helping to prevent erosion and preserve soil health.
Protection of Water Quality
Directional drilling reduces the risk of water pollution by minimizing soil disturbance and sedimentation, thereby safeguarding nearby water bodies and ecosystems.
Reduced Carbon Footprint
With fewer heavy machinery and transportation needs compared to traditional methods, directional drilling helps mitigate carbon emissions and air pollution, contributing to a cleaner environment.
Utility Pipe Tracing and Surveys
As we replace services underground, we are faced with multiple dangers such as electric cables and gas pipes. Our specialist equipment locates other utilities such as these to ensure a safe comprehensive installation, avoiding other existing underground installations.
We use tracer cables to help us locate plastic pipes and drainage systems. We can determine as the depth of the other services, in order to avoid them and also locate them for our clients.
To locate and assist other companies with underground works we carry out full mapping of large areas such as estates and car parks.
Multi-Utility Installations
We utilise the same no-dig methods and equipment to install a wide range of underground services.
For example, we install water, gas, electric, data, fibre and drainage using moling and directional drilling trenchless technologies.
We also use trenching methods where trenchless methods are not viable.
We have carried out multi-utility installations for domestic customers, utility providers, commercial clients and even railway projects.
