What is pipe jacking?
Pipe jacking is a specialist tunnelling method for the installation of underground pipelines where minimal surface disruption is required. UUL, a leading pipe jacking service provider in New Zealand, utilizes powerful hydraulic jacks to drive concrete pipes through the ground while workers or mechanical means excavate the spoil inside a jacking pit.
What is micro tunnelling?
Micro tunneling is a precise and dependable method of installing underground utilities through small-diameter tunnels with extremely tight grade tolerances. It involves using laser guidance and remote control to tunnel accurately, and our machines can tunnel up to 200 meters.
What is Universal Underground's expertise?
Universal Underground specializes in utilizing directional drilling techniques to install essential utilities such as power, gas, fiber optics, water, wastewater, and sewer lines.
How does directional drilling work?
Directional drilling is a trenchless technology that involves drilling a controlled, curved path beneath the surface. This method allows us to navigate around existing obstacles and infrastructure without the need for disruptive open cut methods. Our advanced equipment and skilled technicians steer the drill head with precision, enabling the installation of utilities while minimizing disturbance to the environment and public spaces.
What are the advantages of using directional drilling?
Directional drilling offers several benefits. It significantly reduces the mess associated with traditional open cut methods, leading to minimal disruption and inconvenience to the public. Additionally, it requires less extensive rehabilitation work after installation, saving time and costs. Furthermore, the undisturbed environment remains preserved, making it an environmentally friendly option for utility installation.
What types of projects can benefit from directional drilling?
Directional drilling is highly versatile and adaptable to a wide range of projects. Whether it’s installing utilities under roads, rivers, waterways, residential or industrial areas, or preserving the natural beauty of bush reserves and park lands, Universal Underground’s directional drilling services offer a seamless solution. The method’s ability to navigate challenging terrains and existing infrastructure makes it ideal for minimizing disruptions and costs while maximizing efficiency.
This is a trenchless method whereby a series of rods are “piloted” into the ground and guided along a bore path with electronic tracking. Rods can be directed left, right, up or down to ensure line and grade accuracy. This is the pilot bore. At the conclusion of the pilot bore the bore path is enlarged by reaming using a reamer (cutting tool) designed for the ground conditions. Then finally the pipe is attached to the reamer usually by a swivel and pulled back towards the drill.
Our HDD fleet can drill diameters ranging from 51 mm (2”) to 1,524 mm (60”).
Maximum lengths and hole diameters are determined by project specific geotechnical conditions however effective outside range for heavy rig horizontal directional drilling is 3,000 m (9,843’).
Light rigs are typically used for crossings between 50 m and 1,000 m (164’ – 3,281’).
An “Intersect” is a technique in which two rigs, positioned at each end of a crossing, drill towards each other. One rig drills into, or intersects, the pilot hole created by the opposite rig. After the intersect, one rig withdraws from the pilot hole, while the drill string from the opposite rig chases it to the other end of the hole. Reaming operations can then be conducted with both rigs working in tandem, or the ream can be conducted in a conventional fashion using one rig only. The product line is pulled in using one rig.
To ensure the safety and integrity of our installation, we require the following before proceeding with any horizontal directional drill:
- Stamped trenchless design blueprints
- Geotechnical investigation findings
- RFP (if applicable)
