Installing utilities like petroleum pipelines, fiber optic and electric cables, or water and wastewater pipelines

Laying down underground utilities is a demanding job. Whether you want to install utilities for telecom, gas, power, landscaping, or any other application, you need the right equipment to get the job done efficiently and in a cost-effective manner. As you might already know, there are two major technologies to consider for laying pipelines- Horizontal Directional Drilling and Trenching.

Both, trenchers and horizontal directional drills (HDD), offer unique advantages. You need to thoroughly evaluate factors like job site conditions, budget, pipe size, and project location before deciding. In this article we will evaluate these two techniques for laying utilities on critical parameters to help you make an informed decision.

What is Trenching?

Trenching involves using equipment to dig narrow trenches of varying depths for laying pipelines, conduit, or cables. Trenching can be considered as a type of excavation which meets the two conditions mentioned below:

• The trench is generally deeper than it is wide
• The length of the trench exceeds the width

Trenching is a demanding job and needs to be tackled with the right type of trencher. Trenchers come in a variety of sizes ranging from walk-behind pedestrian models, attachments for compact loaders to large-sized heavy equipment models.

What is Horizontal Directional Drilling?

Horizontal Directional Drilling is another method for laying down underground utilities, but it is “trenchless”. It uses a directional drill machine to create a horizontal bore below the ground without having to dig across the soil or landscape. This technique involves drilling non-vertical bores along the chosen path. It is most used to tackle jobs that require installing conduits under obstacles including roads, buildings, and wetlands.

Comparing Horizontal Directional Drill and Trenchers on various crucial parameters.

1.Jobsite with Obstacles

Horizontal directional drilling ensures quicker, safer, and cost effective installation if the jobsite has obstacles

If your jobsite features obstacles like roads, waterways, buildings, or pre-existing utility lines, then you would be better off without digging them up. You can eliminate the time and costs associated with digging up the obstacles, removing debris from the site, and then restoring them after the work is done. Using horizontal directional drilling, you can traverse long distances under waterways and other obstacles without having to run pipes under bridges or over the ground.

Since trenching involves the ground being cut open, it poses a safety hazard at jobsites in crowded areas. It is a general safety practice to stop activities around the jobsite in such cases. This further adds to the inefficiencies and increases the over all cost of the project.

2.Environmental Impact

Horizontal directional drilling minimizes the impact on the surrounding environment, making it a more sustainable option

The traditional trenching methods involve displacing copious amounts of earth which often disturbs the surrounding eco-system and increases the risk of soil as well as groundwater contamination. Trenching also requires the use of other heavy equipment like wheel loaders and dump trucks to move the soil. This further increases the carbon footprint of the project.

Horizontal directional drilling causes minimal surface disruption since the equipment creates a pathway under the ground. It also requires just one type of equipment i.e., the drill itself so the overall diesel consumption and fume emission is much lower as compared to trenching. If you are looking to install utilities without damaging the surrounding environment and creating a safer workspace for your crew, then horizontal directional drilling may be the right choice.

Check out these Vermeer HDD which can help you get the job done while reducing the environmental footprint.

3.Cost of Equipment

Upfront cost of a trencher is lower than that of a horizontal directional drill (HDD)

Trenching equipment is less expensive than a horizontal directional drill. If you are working on a jobsite which is relatively open with low to no obstacles and is remote, then trenching might be a good option. There might still be environmental issues and costs related to restoration, so it is advisable to look at the overall cost of installation rather than just the upfront cost of equipment.

4.Pipe Size

Trenching is more efficient for laying bigger pipes

Horizontal directional drilling may not be a suitable option for applications which require laying down large pipes. Trenchers are a more efficient and cost-effective option for applications like petroleum industry. Over the year, horizontal drilling technology has made significant progress and its capacity in terms of the pipes has gone up but it still lags behind trenching.

5.Flexibility

Horizontal directional drills are more versatile as they can go almost anywhere

Horizontal directional drills offer the flexibility to tackle any type of job because they are more maneuverable and do not require equipment like dump trucks to move earth. If you project often includes hard to access sites or sites with obstacles, then adding a horizontal directional drill to your fleet is a great idea.

6.Total Cost of Installation

Overall project cost may be lower with horizontal directional drills

It is critical to look at the over all cost of installation to get a holistic picture before you make an investment decision.

Let us compare the two techniques on vital parameters to understand the overall costs involved with using them.

Conclusion

In recent years, horizontal directional drills have become an equipment of choice for utility installations as they are more flexible, sustainable, and cost-effective. That said, trenching can be a suitable option in certain types of projects, especially for installing large pipes across long distances. You should thoroughly evaluate various parameters before deciding on the best technique for your needs.

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