Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

If you want an experienced contractor to install long lengths of pipe, cable or ducting with minimal disruption at ground level then UMS’ horizontal directional drilling (HDD) capabilities are exactly what you need.

HDD initially uses a guided drill head to generate a pilot bore hole. It is this ability to manoeuvre the drill head to match a pre-planned drill path which makes HDD so safe and effective. When the pilot bore has been completed, the guided drill head is replaced by a reamer which is pulled back through the pilot bore hole increasing the hole diameter to accommodate the new pipe, cable or duct. The wide range of different drill heads means that HDD can be used in virtually all ground conditions including soil, clay and rock.

Traditional ‘cut and lay’ techniques work well in open countryside, but in heavily trafficked urban and industrial areas they can lead to considerable congestion and environmental disturbance, as well as the evident economic impact. With HDD you can lay pipes, cables and ducting under buildings, rivers, roads, railways, runways, parks, golf courses, SSIs...the list is endless.

HDD leads to far less material being excavated, and a major reduction in reinstatement costs. As they fully understand its potential, engineers are developing ever more applications for HDD.
For example, UMS is working with environmental engineers installing horizontal wells to remove pollutants from contaminated ground, and leachates and gas from landfill sites.