Performance Wire and Cable offers a premium tracer and stainless steel HDD wire designed for optimal use in directional drilling work. We provide a diverse range of tracer wire types and sizes to ensure we meet your specific needs for your next HDD endeavor.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) became popular in the ’70s for installing petroleum and natural gas pipelines. Since the 1990’s, its application has expanded to include water pipes, cables, and other piping systems, showcasing its versatility and efficiency.
Process of Horizontal Directional Drilling
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) involves several key stages. Find out more below about these stages:
- Pilot Drill: A rig pushes a drilling head, followed by a hollow pipe, through the ground. Drilling fluid is circulated through the pipe to stabilize the hole and prevent collapse.
- Clearing: The rig pulls a clearing device through the drill hole. This device clears any debris, and a pipe is used to apply additional drilling fluid directly to the hole. Depending on the desired diameter of the production pipe, this process may be repeated multiple times.
- Pipe Installation: Once the drill hole is properly sized, the clearing device is detached, and the production pipe is connected. The rig then slowly pulls the production pipe through the drill hole, pushing out the drilling fluid.
HDD is minimally invasive to the aboveground environment and can be executed beneath existing infrastructure, watercourses, dikes, and other obstacles.
Tracer wire systems are important for horizontal directional drilling processes. The stainless steel tracer wire is used in the final stage. Although polyethylene and PVC are the most prevalent for directional drilling projects, neither of these materials allow for a locator to send a signal. A signal is a necessary component when performing a drill and tracer wire is the preferred material to use.
How Does Directional Drilling Work?
Directional drilling is a technique used in the oil and gas industry to drill wells at various angles and directions, rather than just vertically. It allows operators to access reserves that are not directly beneath the drilling location.
Directional drilling techniques have significantly expanded oil and gas exploration and production possibilities. Directional drilling provides access to multiple reservoirs from a single drilling site, enhances production rates, and reduces environmental impact by minimizing the number of drilling locations needed.
Learn more about our stainless steel HDD wire, or contact us today for a quote.