Directional drilling equipment

Directional drilling is used in drilling projects to install underground infrastructure such as water pipes, telecommunications cables, power lines and natural gas pipelines. This technology makes it possible to conduct drilling operations at angles and depths previously considered challenging or even impossible. Good directional drilling equipment is essential here. But what equipment is needed to perform a directional drilling project?

• Drill bit: The drill bit is located at the front of the drill head. In soft soils, such as clay and sand, a milled tooth drill bit is used, and for drilling in stone surfaces, a tungsten carbide insert is used. The size of the drill bit depends on the diameter of the desired hole.

• Jetting assembly or mud motor: Directly behind the drill bit is either the jetting assembly or the mud motor. The jetting assembly is used for soft surfaces. Drilling fluid is pumped through the drill string, which ensures that clay and sand layers are flushed away. For hard soils, a mud motor is used. The pumped fluid in the mud motor is used to generate hydraulic power, which is needed to drill through hard rocks. The jetting assembly and mud motor also enable the drill to steer.

• Guidance/measurement-while-drilling tools: There are three ways to determine the location of the drill head in underground drilling, i.e. walkover, magnetic and gyroscopic. The last method is the most accurate. To accurately navigate underground in all conditions, Brownline has developed its in-house Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool based on gyro technology.

• Add-ons: Some drilling projects are more challenging than others. In those cases, Brownline's add-ons offer a solution.

• Drill pipes: These are thin pipes made of steel that are screwed back-to-back to make the drill string longer. The drill pipes are strong, yet flexible, which is necessary to steer the bore in a curve.

• Reamer: After performing the pilot bore, a reamer is installed. The reamer has a larger diameter than the pilot drill head, which makes the borehole larger. Reaming can be repeated until the hole is the right diameter for the pipe to be passed.

• Mud pump: The quality and the pumping volume of the drilling fluid are critical to the operation of the drilling process. The mud pump controls what is mixed and how many gallons are pumped per minute.

• Drill rig: This is the machine that performs the drilling. There are different types and sizes of drill rigs. Which drill rig you need depends on the size and length of the project.

At Brownline, we use our in-house developed Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool to perform drilling projects around the world. This steering service uses gyro technology to measure the exact position and direction of the drill head. This is the most accurate method of positioning because the measurements are not disturbed by the surroundings and no ground level access is required. For this reason, the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool is the perfect solution for drilling under river and sea beds, roads, rail lines, urban areas and protected nature areas.

In addition to this advanced Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool as directional drilling equipment, we have developed a number of add-on modules that enable drilling in a variety of situations. For long drilling and drilling with tight margins, the GPS Track add-on is the perfect solution. For intersect drills, we offer our Radar Intersect add-on. We have also developed the UXOscope module, which allows us to drill in high-risk areas where unexploded bombs and ammunition are still present. In this way, we enable safe and efficient drilling even in challenging environments.

Every drilling project is different. That's why it's important to carefully consider in advance what directional drilling equipment you'll need to make your drilling project a success. As an expert in measurement while drilling, Brownline is happy to help determine which tools you need. With our Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool and our additional add-ons, we have a solution for accurate drilling for every drilling project.

Brownline is the world's leading supplier of gyro steering services for horizontal directional drilling. With groundbreaking technology and innovative tools developed by our experts, we are at the forefront of the industry. Our advanced Drillguide Gyro Steering Service provides the highest precision and reliability, making us an indispensable partner for successful drilling. We help our customers complete their drilling projects faster, more efficiently, and with unmatched accuracy.

More than 25,000 projects worldwide have been successfully completed using our solutions. Would you like to know how our steering service can take your drilling project to the next level? We would be happy to discuss the possibilities with you.