Directional drilling is a fast-developing technology, originating in the oil exploration and production drilling sector, in which the capabilities are constantly being extended. It is used mainly in the installation of pressure pipes (gas and water mains) and cables but recent developments in control are such that accuracy is sufficient in some circumstances for gravity sewer installation at smaller diameters.

Jason Consultants was among the early pioneers in using and developing the technology internationally for non-oil uses and our directional drilling team includes engineers who were involved at the very beginning as the technology was first developed.

The range of directional drilling is considerable. Mini-rigs are used to install pipes and cables along and across city and suburban streets. In these locations there is often a dense array of existing underground infrastructure and our experience in route planning and investigation based on location data from geophysical and similar surveys enables owners and contractors to undertake the works with minimum risk of damaging existing infrastructure.

Larger projects using midi-rigs require similar care in planning in urban locations and may also entail crossings below natural features or transport infrastructure. These require some geotechnical design input and engineering decisions on method and equipment. Jason provides this capability to owners and their engineers so that they can evaluate contractors’ proposals and methods to ensure that projects are completed using the most suitable techniques.

Long crossings, most commonly under waterways, using maxi-rigs to achieve complex installations in a wide range of geotechnical conditions are high cost undertakings that require significant experienced engineering and design input to complement the experience of the contractors who specialize in this field. We have designed crossings that extended the boundaries of the technology and enabled major savings to be made compared with using conventional methods or longer routes to obviate the need for a crossing.

Risk management is a key element of large crossing projects and we have extensive experience in developing performance and prescriptive specifications and accompanying contract documentation to ensure that risk is sustained by those best able to manage it effectively.