1. Introduction

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is a trenchless technology for underground installation, allowing precise directional control of the drilling head along a predetermined path with a relatively shallow curvature, achieved using surface-based drilling rigs. Developed by engineer Cherrington in the 1960s in Los Angeles, HDD originated from the concept of combining drilling with hydraulic fracturing techniques used in shale oil and gas extraction. Advancements in science and technology have since refined and enhanced HDD, making it widely applicable for underground installation of water and sewage pipelines, oil and gas pipelines, underground electrical cables, and telecommunications cables.

Compared to open-cut methods, HDD offers numerous advantages, including the ability to install infrastructure through complex terrain without disrupting or restoring surface structures, minimizing land use and environmental impact, and providing highly accurate control over installation progress and positioning through precise transmitting and receiving devices. These benefits make HDD a valuable method in developing sustainable underground infrastructure with reduced environmental impact.

2. Scope of application

Due to the outstanding advantages, Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) technology is widely used for underground installations of water supply and drainage systems, oil and gas pipelines, underground electrical cables, and telecommunications cables.

 

3. Construction sequence

The construction sequence of HDD is illustrated in Fig. 1.

 

Figure 1. Construction sequence of horizontal directional drilling (HDD)

4. Technology video