4 Advice to Choose a Double Arm Drill Pipe

When choosing a Horizontal directional drill for your operations, you may want to choose based on a variety of factors – the drilling conditions being one of them.

If you want to learn more, please visit our website.

In this article, we take an overview of drilling techniques and the different models of Horizontal Directional Drills to help you in your decision-making process.

First, the working conditions – soft rock, hard rock, and loam.

Horizontal directional drilling techniques drilling in soft rock

Step one – Pilot Boring using a gauntlet bit, and the carve steering technique to complete the bore.

Step two – Pull back using a fluted reamer and a swivel to pull the pipe or cable through.

Horizontal directional drilling technique for loam.

Step one  – pilot boring using a dirt bit.

Step two  – pull back using a reamer and a helical reamer and swivel.

Horizontal directional drilling techniques for hard rock.

Step one – pilot boring using a dual rod drill head and a technique called position bent for sub steering.

Step two – pull back using a hole opener and swivel.

The use of this tool makes the hole larger and allows a larger pipe or cable to be pulled through the cavity.

TYPES OF HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLS

This is specifically designed for larger horizontal directional drilling projects.

The features of this particular pipeline directional drill include a climate-controlled cab and compact footprint which makes it well suited for hard to access and narrow job sites.

The operator-controlled rod loader helps minimize the labour involved and also an optional front-mounted stake down system helps reduce the amount of time and materials needed to secure the drill. The optional telescoping crane can help reduce the amount of support equipment needed on site.

This model features a three-speed gearbox which helps improve the overall efficiency of the drill as operators can adjust the machine’s torque to match different ground conditions. There are two engine options available one having a manufacturer’s rated power of 240 hp and the second option having 260 hp. The hydraulic tank holds up to 416 L while the fuel tank holds 284 L. The optional crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 3200 kg and a maximum reach of 700 kg at 6.3 m. The maximum entry angle for the drill pipe is 20° with a length of 6.1 m and a diameter of 8.9 cm.

Suitable for tough terrain or urban settings this HDD drill provides power to maximize productivity.

Featuring a climate control cabin helps reduce operator fatigue, making it ideal for hotter environments.

The open-top vise design allows for removing and adding tooling when doing horizontal directional drilling.

This directional drill also has a dual pivot rack. This provides entry angles from 10° to 24°.  Having this range means that versatility is maximised for different pipes and job sites.

Boring efficiency with this model can be increased thanks to the optional single row sliding arm rod loader.  This rod loader allows for up to the staging of five rods.

This also has an optional onboard drilling fluid pump making it suitable for larger projects.  It can also be used with a standalone pump if the additional fluid flow is required.

The engine on this model has a power rating of 400 hp. The optional crane has a lifting capacity at  a 6.2m maximum reach of 500 kg.

Highway transport is a feature of this drill even though it will be an overweight load meaning it can be transported at any time of day as it is within legal dimensions in transport mode.

It also features a self-contained drill which minimises equipment requirements from a support perspective.

This drill features an auto drill which allows the operator to set the rotation and thrust pull backpressure while drilling in changing soil conditions.

It also features onboard diagnostics which means that serviceability and troubleshooting are made easier for operators.

The crane has a maximum lifting capacity of 4762.7 kg, and with the boom extended to a maximum reach of 7.7m a max lift of 1054.6 kg.

Ideal for horizontal directional drilling in congested urban or residential areas the D60X90 has a guaranteed sound power rating of 107 DBA.

This compact drill is suitable for a variety of applications including light pipeline work and long fibre-optic cable shots.

It takes advantage of technology by allowing operators to load a bore plan via flash drive and view it digitally with a touchscreen display.

It comes with two drill pipe options including the first option with a rod diameter of 7.3 cm and that second option a rod diameter of 8.9 cm.

Its compact size means its transport length is 9 m and it’s width is 254 cm making it the perfect choice to manoeuvre on congested job sites.

Designed for small service installations, it actually can help your crew increase their productivity to move from one job to the next meaning you can get cables and pipes in the ground in a shorter time frame.

Operator training time is short as it features common controls and intuitive dual joysticks to help manage precision for the drill operator.

This HDD model has a narrow footprint of only 111.8 cm in width making it perfect for urban spaces. While it is small, it is still powerful thanks to having a thrust pullback of 10,000 lb.

This model is also suitable for neighborhoods thanks to it’s reduced noise output,  making communication for your team easier.

The fuel tank is 68.1 L and the hydraulic system is 94.6 L and the rod diameter is 4.3 cm with a bend radius of 29.1 m.

This horizontal directional drill is suitable for installing cable fibre and product pipe efficiently in urban areas it features come and controls which assist with training operators.

Featuring a narrow lightweight design compared to other models means it can sit comfortably on a trailer alongside a mixed system.

This drill is designed to maximize job site productivity thanks to its rotational efficiency meaning that linear feet can be laid faster on job sites. It comes with two drill pipe options.  The first one being at 3 m in length and a 4.8 cm rod diameter with a bend radius of 30.1 m.  The second option is a length of 3 m with a rod diameter of 5.2 cm and a bend radius of 31.1 m

A horizontal directional drill suitable for compact urban or commercial job sites.

With competitive price and timely delivery, tongshun sincerely hope to be your supplier and partner.

Featuring a 100 HP engine this HDD is compact yet powerful and also ultraquiet making it perfect for working in neighborhoods thanks to its 99 DBA guaranteed sound power level.

It features thrust pullback of 24,000lbs a maximum carriage speed of 62.8 m/m.

Designed for drilling in rock this drill uses a jewel rod technology in a small machine which means that operators can manoeuvre efficiently and confidently through congested rock sites in cities or neighborhoods or tight job sites.

Designed to offer drilling power and tracking on job sites,  this is the choice to maximise productivity. This drill out paces competitor models thanks to its 270 rpm rotational speed meaning that operators can complete jobs faster.

Also featuring a touchscreen display this makes it easier for operators to view locate information and ball plans to help productivity.

The drill pipe for this model has a length of 3 m a rod diameter of 6 cm and a bend radius of 33 m. Its fuel tank is 166.6 L and also has an antifreeze tank capacity of 14.7 L.

Suitable for long fibre shots and light pipeline work this drill has 40,000lb of thrust and pull back to help maximise productivity on site.

It can be configured to a contractor’s needs with a range of 3.0  meter or 4.6 meter rod options.  The carriage speed of 57.3 m/min means that anyone choosing this machine to complete works on site will be able to install more linear feet per day.

The operator cab is an excavator style that allows more legroom for people using this drill. It also comes with a full colour touchscreen so it is easier for operators to locate information with digital bore plans.

This horizontal directional drill can handle a range of conditions from hard medium and soft rock and also loan dirt and clay. It is designed so that the appropriate tooling can be selected to match the ground conditions which means an entire job can be completed with one machine.

This drill is also a hammer ready and has been tested for Australian conditions.

NEED MORE INFORMATION ON CHOOSING THE RIGHT HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILL?

When you are looking for the right horizontal directional drill to suit your drilling operations be sure to reach out to the team at Vermeer to get professional support in choosing the machine that is right for you and your operation.

One of the complications with horizontal directional drilling is recognizing when it’s the right time to replace or rotate your drill rod. When do you do it? It can be tempting to maximize the life out of them, but doing that can lead to the other rods being affected. Instead, knowing the signs of worn-down drill rod can save you time and effort.

Here are several indicators of how to know when it’s time to replace or rotate your drill rod, tips on how to maintain them well, and why they’re important to the overall health of your drill and jobsite. Refer to your machine’s operator’s and maintenance manual for safety messages and further instructions.

Rotation tips

Here are some valuable tips when it comes to rotating your drill rod:

• Once a week, you want to take off your lead rod (the first rod behind the drill head or starter rod) and put it in the back of the rack, so you’re rotating it
  • Why? That first rod takes a lot more stress than the rest of the string behind the drill head, so it’s wearing faster than the other rod behind it
• Once you put the lead rod in the back, put a fresh rod on and drill with that
  • Why? If you have that built into your process, you’ll cycle all that rod through the process of being a lead rod, getting more ease and wear out of the entire basket

“If you’re rotating that lead rod, it’s like rotating the tires on your car,” said Cody Mecham, Vermeer cutting edge product manager. “That whole rack of pipe should be worn out at the same time. If you don’t, one or two rods will reach end of life significantly faster.”

Rod inspection tips

Another habit you’ll want to consider is periodically inspecting your rod connections. Here are some tips on what to look for:

• First, look at the pin end, and make sure the threads are in good shape
  • Note: If you’re getting dirt and contaminates, remove those with a cleaner
• Then look at the nose and make sure it’s not mushroomed
  • If it’s mushroomed, that would indicate you may not be achieving proper makeup torque
  • Why that matters: If under torqued, the thread will be stressed and become over torqued once down hole. When this happens, it can mushroom the pin end of the rod and could lead to flaring and galling.
  • Make sure you’re achieving full makeup torque
• Make sure the threads aren’t sharp or rolled back, and at the pin end of the rod look and check for mushrooming
  • This is an indicator of under torqued pipe,
• Look for flaring in the box end, and if it’s starting to widen out
  • This can indicate the drill rod is close to the end of its life
• Make sure your upsets are in good shape (these are right behind the pin and box end)
• Make sure there aren’t any gouges or damage from hitting rocks downhole
• Check for fluid leakage at the joint
  • Leaking drill rod joints indicate damaged shoulders, which will not torque correctly
• Check shoulders for dents, gouges or high posts
  • Dress damaged shoulders with a file

Machine alignment tips

One way to maximize the life of your drill rod is to make sure your machine is aligned correctly. This is critical if you’re operating any Vermeer drill above a Vermeer D10x15 horizontal directional drill (HDD) with a rod loader. The rod loader arms are adjustable and have wear pads, so make sure these are adjusted accordingly.

“Sometimes a rod will be off just a touch, and that misalignment can wear down the pins, box ends and threads, so checking alignment is critical,” said Mecham.

To check alignment, present a rod with the loader arms fully extended and look at the alignment of the sub saver/drive chuck with the rod. Then check the alignment of the front of the rod with the vices. Rod life can also be maximized utilizing the float on the drill, located on the gearbox. Cylinders allow that gearbox to float back and forward. The float equals the distance it takes to make a rod up and breakout front and back.

“When you’re making up a rod, it’s floating, so you don’t have pressure on that pin,” explained Mecham. “The carriage should be forward a touch, so as you makeup the thread it will pull the carriage down. Then, as you break up, the gear box can float up and not put pressure on the drill pipe.”

Sub saver tips

The components of the drill that stay above ground and come into contact with the rod should be closely monitored for wear or damage. Along with the upset and the threads, the sub saver should also be monitored frequently. Refer to the drill’s operator’s and maintenance manuals for the further instruction.

Sub savers are manufactured to handle the tolerance of HDD rigs. Much like the drill rods, sub savers feature specifically machined threads that are meant to create a strong tool joint with each rod placed on the rack.

“When you notice wear on the thread, make sure that you put on fresh sub savers,” said Mecham. “You can use a thread gauge to check the quality of your sub savers, but it’s not required. The thread gauge teeth engage with the sub saver thread teeth, and if you can see through it, then it’s time to change your sub savers.”

Vise die tips

Another area to watch is your vise dies to check that they’re in good shape.

• How often: Clean them out once a week
• What to do: Make sure you get the grease out and remove any dirt or rock. This helps maximize die life and pipe life, so it won’t create an issue or slip during makeup

One more tip about vise dies: If you break pipe out and your vises are slipping on the pipe, even after you put on new vise dies, it’s likely that the pipe’s upsets are worn down past their useful life. When this happens, the vise can’t properly grip the upsets.

“An upset gauge can help you determine the life of your upsets,” explained Mecham. “Slide it over the upsets of the box and pin end, and if the gauge will go up over the upset, then it’s worn down too much.”

If your rod won’t break out anymore, it’s very likely your upsets have significant wear or you have deformation of its threads.

Bent rod tips

If you ever experience a bent rod, it should be replaced immediately. When you’re threading pipe up, it’s usually very evident that the rod is bent.

“Usually a bent rod won’t line up on the drill correctly, and should be taken out of the drill string immediately,” said Mecham. “It’s likely been oversteered. Pipe has memory, and steers are cumulative. So, if you oversteer it today, it might not bend until two weeks later from the memory of that oversteer.”

Dual rod tips

For those that use dual rod, there are things you can do to check its condition.

Inspect the inner rod and make sure there’s no galling or cracking in those connections. Then, take a look at the couplers and flow rings.

“The flow rings allow fluid to pass through them and, because they ride on that inner rod, they can wear quickly,” explained Mecham. “You don’t want to go downhole with a worn-down flow ring. But they’re convenient to replace.”

Your drill rod are an essential part of operating your drill, and properly maintaining them can help maximize their life and keep you drilling with minimal interruption. For more information or questions, reach out to your local Vermeer dealer.

Always refer to the product’s operator’s and/or maintenance manual for safety messages and further instructions.

Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes in engineering, design and specifications; add improvements; or discontinue manufacturing at any time without notice or obligation. Equipment shown is for illustrative purposes only and may display optional accessories or components specific to their global region. Please contact your local Vermeer dealer for more information on machine specifications and attachments.

Vermeer and the Vermeer logo are trademarks of Vermeer Manufacturing Company in the U.S. and/or other countries. © 2022 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Want more information on Double Arm Drill Pipe? Feel free to contact us.