Advantages and Disadvantages of Directional Drilling

We all use our various utilities every day, but rarely do we consider how the lines that connect them got there. There are two main ways to put in utility lines: trench excavation and directional drilling.

Trench excavation has long been the standard, but directional drilling is slowly gaining popularity. There are several various pros and cons to directional drilling.

In this article, we’ll offer up some directional drilling information. We’ll also discuss some of the benefits of directional drilling in addition to some of the drawbacks.

Advantages

Directional drilling is a low-impact and trenchless process used to lay pipe or other utility lines. It’s well suited to certain types of applications and has its fair share of benefits, which we’ll cover below:

• Saves time: Trench excavation, as the name suggests, requires you to dig a trench in order to lay pipe or utility lines. This is a time-consuming and arduous process. You’ll often have to dig a trench that’s as long or longer than the line you’re putting in. With directional drilling, you don’t have to dig a trench. You can simply drill a hole horizontally where the line needs to go and get to work on installing it.
• Saves money: The longer a drilling expedition takes, the more money it’s going to cost. This is because workers need to be paid and rented equipment costs money too. You’ll also have to spend time filling in the trench you just dug at the project’s conclusion if you’re using trench excavation to lay pipes or utility lines—but directional drilling is less invasive and quicker, saving you money. It also may not require as much in the way of construction equipment—and what equipment you do need to rent won’t have to be rented out as long, saving you money.
• Saves the surrounding environment: This is one of the chief benefits of directional drilling. Directional drilling is a noninvasive and low-impact process. This means that you won’t be forced to dig a trench when directional drilling and you won’t have to tear up surrounding roadways or dig up existing utility lines. Directional drilling reduces soil disturbances, damage to underground rock formations and the potential for groundwater contamination. When it comes to eco-friendly industrial solutions, directional drilling is at the top of the list.

Disadvantages

No method is perfect. In offering up some directional drilling information, we’d be remiss not to mention its disadvantages:

• Skilled workers: Directional drilling might seem straightforward, but it’s actually pretty complicated. As such, it should only be carried out by skilled workers who are well versed in the process. Finding such workers isn’t always easy, and they usually require more compensation than unskilled laborers.
• Project scope: Directional drilling is best suited to large-scale projects. This is because the equipment itself is more expensive to rent. Monetarily, it makes the most sense to use directional drilling on larger projects that require more drilling, as the decrease in time compensates for the increase in overhead costs.

Call to discuss directional drilling today

Hopefully, this directional drilling information was helpful. Now that you know the benefits of directional drilling as well as the drawbacks, call us at Es7 Comm-2 U, Inc. We can discuss your project with you and help you decide whether you want to use directional drilling or excavation trenching. Whichever you choose, we’re well versed in both, so call us today.

Categorised in: Directional Drilling

This post was written by Writer