Trenchless Pipe Installation (HDD)

Install mains beneath roads & waterways with telemetry-guided precision and minimal surface impact.

Overview

Safer, faster, cleaner installations

Our HDD crews deliver grade-accurate bores for water, gas, oil, and sewage lines while avoiding open-cut disruption. Digital tracking and as-built data ensure traceability and compliance across agencies.

  • Utility crossings, river/road bores, shoreline landfalls
  • Gyro & sonde tracking with real-time alignment control
  • Mud management plans & frac-out prevention protocols
  • Full restoration with compact footprint
HDD rig stringing fused HDPE with drill rods aligned
Use Cases
  • Highway & rail crossings
  • River & wetland bores
  • Urban congestion & brownfields
  • Shoreline landfalls & outfalls
Methods
  • Pilot bore with steerable head
  • Reaming (progressive upsize)
  • Pullback with swivel & tracking
  • Proof & pressure testing
Controls
  • Frac-out response plan
  • Traffic & public protection
  • Drilling fluid recycling
  • Daily JHAs & toolbox talks
Pilot bore alignment near roadway
Reaming pass with fluid returns managed in pit
Pullback of fused HDPE across a wetland protection corridor
Technical

Capabilities & specifications

Pipe sizes2–48"+ (project dependent)
MaterialsHDPE, Steel, DI, PVC (fused/welded strings)
Bore lengthsShort shots to long river crossings
TrackingGyro, walk-over sonde, and wireline options
DocsBore logs, test records, as-builts, traffic control
HSE & Environment

Protection by design

  • Frac-out monitoring with containment kits staged at risk points
  • Recycled drilling fluids, proper disposal manifests
  • Erosion/sediment controls and waterway protection plans
  • Site restoration to pre-work or better conditions
Request sample bore log Start an HDD quote
Process

From survey to pullback

A clear, accountable sequence with QA/QC at every gate.

01 • Discovery & Design

Scope, alignment, permits, and traffic control plans approved.

02 • Survey & Locates

CCTV, utility locates, geotech & environmental screens.

03 • Pilot Bore

Steerable head and live tracking maintain designed grade/curve.

04 • Reaming

Progressive upsizing, fluid returns controlled at pits.

05 • Pullback & Tie-ins

Fused/welded string pulled with swivel; connections and testing.

06 • Testing & Handover

Pressure tests, as-builts, and restoration for close-out.

HDD process diagram and crew at reaming stage
Case Study — River Crossing, 16" HDPE

1,020 ft crossing beneath a navigable river. Mixed soils (sands to stiff clays). Night work with USCG-notified traffic control.

  • Three ream passes to 28" prior to pullback
  • Returns contained in lined pits with vacuum truck standby
  • Pressure test: 2 hrs @ 150 psi, no loss; as-builts delivered in CAD + PDF
Staging area before drill
Site restored after pullback
Equipment Fleet
  • HDD rigs (small urban to large river-class)
  • Mud mixers, reclaimers, & containment tanks
  • Fusion machines & weld stations
  • Tracking: walk-over, gyro, wireline
  • Generators, light towers, and traffic control kits
FAQ

Common HDD questions

Quick clarity on permitting, frac-out risk, and deliverables.

We model soil conditions, control pressures, and stage containment kits at high-risk points. Crews monitor returns continuously and stop operations to contain and recover fluids if needed.

Bore logs, fusion/weld logs, pressure test records, restoration photos, and as-built drawings (PDF/CAD). GIS formats are available on request.

Yes—our small urban rigs, compact pits, and traffic control plans enable HDD in tight corridors with minimal disruption.
Next step

Send us your alignment & constraints

We’ll recommend a bore plan, tracking method, and site controls tailored to your corridor.

Request an HDD proposal