Installing piping, conduit or cabling underground using Horizontal Directional Drilling is fast becoming the preferred method of underground pipe installation in South Africa.

This trenchless technology practise offers an alternative to traditional trenching or excavating. This is particularly useful where traditional methods are either not practical or simply not possible.

It is a specialised technique designed to install pipelines under construction sites, rivers, roads and highways, railway lines and across farm land. It is also commonly referred to as a trenchless technology practice.

  • Does not require any trench digging
  • Less equipment is required, making it cost effective
  • Non-obstructive
  • It’s much quicker
  • Significantly reduces enviromental impacts

Here are a couple of applications where Horizontal Directional Drilling have been used:

  • Laying cables underground
  • Renovations to historical buildings without damages
  • Installation of cable sleeves under roads, highways and railways.
  • Gravity lines for sewers and storm water.
  • Pressure lines and drinking water supply.
  • Gas Lines.
  • Crossing under rivers and other waterways.

Rock Drilling

Sometimes when laying down a new pipeline system the project may be compromised due to a rock-bed under the ground. Rescue Rod has various machines equipped for rock drilling.

These machines are equipped with a DTH, which is the hammer that is used to break through the rock.

A down-the-hole hammer, referred to as DTH is designed like a mini jackhammer screwed on the end of a drill string. The fast hammer action breaks hard rock into small flakes, fragments and dust which is blown clear by the air exhaust from the DTH hammer. The DTH hammer is one of the fastest ways to drill hard rock.

Pipe Cracking

Pipe cracking is a technique used to fracture an existing pipeline from the inside using a pipe cracking head.

Butt Welding

Butt welding is a technique used to join two components together (also known as ‘jointing’). The ideas is to connect the two parts, but not to overlap the ends.C

Further Reading

Learn more about the Directional Drilling Equipment.