▌Total Trenchless Solutions

McLaughlin Ireland Ltd recognises that construction activities can impact on the environment in a number of ways. To lower the impact of such activities and to utilise speed and minimise resources we have incorporated a Directional Drilling System to reduce the need for open excavation wherever possible. Horizontal Directional Drilling is ideal for the underground installation of gas, electric, water, telecommunication or soil remediation lines and is an excellent choice for installations in diverse rock and soil conditions on jobs including road, landscape and river crossings.

Directional Drilling provides a safe system of installing pipes, ducts and cables where conventional open cut methods are not permitted, practical, environmentally or economically viable. It is used for installing pipes from 60mm to 1200 mm. Typically, this is a surfaced launched technique steered both horizontally and vertically and can also be curved to bypass obstacles. As the bore progresses the ground is replaced and supported with drilling mud.

The drill unit installs utilities by pilot boring underground. The system uses a removable drill head matched to soil conditions by the operator and a series of drill stems to push and rotate the head. Once the pilot bore is completed, a reamer/backreamer is attached to the drill stem string and pulled back – enlarging the bore wall to comfortably accommodate the product wire, conduit or pipe that is subsequently pulled into place.

Advantages
Short, medium or long lengths of pipe can be installed without intermediate pits Pipes can be installed either straight or curved to steer clear of obstacles By boring underground the working area is confined to points of entry and exit only No disruption to road, river, or rail traffic and no scarring of the landscape Equipment works from surface with no need for deep excavations HDD is relatively quick and in many cases has lower overall costs HDD is unaffected by surface obstacles Can be used to install pipes in changeable ground conditions

Operational Skills used in the laying of utility apparatus using horizontal directional drilling equipment are as follows:

• Interpretation of site plans
• Location of underground utility apparatus
• Safe use of air supplies
• The principles of operation
• Daily inspection and maintenance of impact moling equipment
• Function testing, forward and reverse controls
• Use of lubricants approved for winter and summer
• Safe use of cradles
• Optical sighting methods
• Relevant Health, Safety and Welfare of site personnel and others.