Use boring pipe conduit wire installation : Method, Techniques and advantages

 The conventional method of pipe and utility boring pipe conduit wire installation, commonly known as "open cut," traditionally involved digging the surface. This method, which is highly disruptive and comes with several drawbacks, clears vegetation, damages existing structures such as roads and streets, leads to traffic congestion, and incurs high costs for infrastructure restoration.

Fortunately, there are modern trench less technologies that offer significant improvements compared to the open-cut method. These technologies include slip lining, pipe bursting, and horizontal directional drilling (HDD), with HDD being the preferred choice for pipe boring pipe conduit wire installation, repair, maintenance, or replacement. This article focuses on the application of HDD technology and the selection of suitable pipes.
Pipe boring is an underground pipe boring pipe conduit wire installation method that avoids the use of trenches. It can also be employed for the boring pipe conduit wire installation of cables and conduits. Instead of excavating a trench, a drilling rig is utilized to create shallow arcs, forming a bore path. The primary purpose of opting for the boring method, as opposed to trenches, is to minimize the environmental impact.

 Moreover, when the designated area for conduit passage is unsuitable for trenching, such as in rocky terrain, pipe boring becomes the most suitable approach for laying down pipes and cables.
Available Methods
The pipe boring process consists of three steps. Firstly, a hole is drilled along the predetermined path to accommodate the pipe, conduit, or cable. Secondly, the hole is enlarged to the desired size using a back reamer. Once the hole reaches the appropriate width, the pipe is strategically positioned within the excavated hole.

However, this process can be challenging as the pipe may encounter resistance against the sides, hindering its smooth insertion. To mitigate this issue, a drilling fluid is employed as a lubricant. The drilling fluid also serves to wash away debris generated during the hole creation, preventing clogging. Additionally, the waste generated can be reclaimed to minimize environmental harm. Overall, this method is relatively straightforward and enables efficient pipe boring pipe conduit wire installation.

Boring Techniques

Auger Technique

The auger technique involves the use of a rotating cutting head connected to the lead hole via a string. The cutting head continuously removes soil as the boring process proceeds. This method ensures the stability of the hole, minimizing risks to workers.

Directional Drilling

For directional drilling, a rig is deployed on the surface to create holes, and the pipe is steered into these holes. Drilling fluid is utilized to provide lubrication and facilitate the removal of mud during the process. This technique is widely employed in the market.

What is Horizontal Directional Drilling?

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), also known as directional boring, is an innovative trench less technology used for the boring pipe conduit wire installation or replacement of sewer lines, water lines, and gas pipelines.

Advantages of HDD Technology

Horizontal directional drilling offers greater flexibility and precision for pipe boring pipe conduit wire installation, repairs, and maintenance.
HDD eliminates the inconveniences associated with road closures, which are common in the open-cut pipe boring pipe conduit wire installation method.
Horizontal directional drilling is environmentally friendly as it does not involve digging or cutting vegetation along the pipeline.
This technology is more cost-effective than trench-based boring pipe conduit wire installation methods since it eliminates the need for large digging crews and expensive repairs to roads and other structures damaged during pipe repair, boring pipe conduit wire installation, or maintenance.

Pipe Selection

Depending on your preferences and the materials available, such as PE, HDPE, and MPP pipes, there are various trench less pipe options to choose from. Although all these pipes are made of plastic, they possess distinct properties suitable for different industrial applications. LESSO is a leading manufacturer of these three types of pipes, and below are the advantages of each.

PE Pipe

PE Pipes
These pipes are made from polyethylene materials with different densities: PE 80 and PE 100. PE 100 pipes have a higher density than PE 80 pipes and offer a pressure rating between 0.4Mpa and 1.6MPa.

Advantages of PE Pipes

PE pipes exhibit high resistance to UV rays, breakage, and impacts.
They are lightweight, easy to handle, and transport, facilitating easier boring pipe conduit wire installation.
PE pipes have a long service life.
Their smooth interior walls and low abrasion resistance result in high flow capacity.
PE pipes are highly flexible and can be supplied in coil form.
They are free from heavy metal additives, making them non-toxic and immune to bacterial contamination.
These pipes are resistant to chemical and electrochemical elements that cause corrosion.

HDPE (High-Density Polyethylene) Pipes

HDPE pipes are commonly used for industrial and municipal water applications. They come in various pressure specifications and lengths. HDPE pipes are durable, possess high tensile strength, are lightweight, flexible, and resistant to corrosion and environmental impact. When fused, they provide leak-free joints due to their seamless nature. Additionally, they are eco-friendly and non-toxic.

Advantages of HDPE Pipes

HDPE pipes are typically joined by heat fusion methods, such as socket, butt, electrofusion, or sidewall fusion, resulting in joints with the same strength as the pipe itself. This ensures virtually leak-free connections.
The pipes exhibit excellent flow characteristics due to lower turbulence and drag during high flow rates.
HDPE pipes maintain optimal flow rates and resist tuberculation, scale buildup, and biological contamination.
They are resistant to chemicals, abrasion, and corrosion, ensuring a long lifespan after boring pipe conduit wire installation.
HDPE pipes have a high strain allowance, virtually eliminating breakage caused by freezing.

MPP Pipe

MPP Pipes
MPP pipes are another type of pipes used in trenchless operations, manufactured from modified polypropylene. While primarily used for trenchless applications in municipal, telecom, power , and gas engineering, they are also suitable for drainage works and referred to as power cable protection pipes. The following advantages make MPP pipes suitable for these uses:

Advantages of MPP Pipes

MPP pipes are highly flexible and bendable along their axis.
They exhibit excellent impact resistance at extreme temperatures.
MPP pipes provide sufficient ring stiffness even at high temperatures, protecting high voltage cables.
They have high stiffness, enabling them to withstand heavy soil loads without deformation.
These pipes possess excellent bending, compressive, and tensile performance, making them ideal for trenchless projects like HDD.

Summary

Trenchless technologies, such as HDD, offer numerous advantages over the open-cut method of pipe boring pipe conduit wire installation. However, their most significant advantage is their environmentally friendly nature.