Pilot boring with the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool

A pilot bore is the initial horizontal hole drilled along the calculated route, which determines the final course of the pipeline. Making the pilot bore is the first and most important step for horizontal directional drilling. Only if the pilot bore is done properly, the drilling project can succeed.

For a pilot bore, also known as a pilot hole, a drill head with a jet and steering plate is positioned at the end of the tube. By turning the steering plate, the drill head can change direction. In this way, the steering plate allows the operator to move the drill head in different directions.

Behind the jetting assembly, there’s the measuring tool mounted. During the pilot bore, the drill is controlled by a surveyor or an operator. The measuring tool constantly sends a signal to the operator, giving the exact location of the drill. It also gives information about the depth and alignment of the steering tool. This way, the operator can make corrections when needed.

It is important there’s enough bentonite while drilling the pilot hole. This drilling fluid drives the sand or mud out of the hole. The speed of the pilot bore depends on the soil conditions and the required amount of steering. Once the pilot hole is completed, the drill head will be replaced with a reamer to expand the drilling hole.

Making a pilot bore with the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool has a lot of benefits. First, there are no more problems with interference. Besides that, it has the highest possible accuracy, especially with the GPS Track add-on, and there’s no surface access needed. This is because the downhole unit measures the position of the steering tool in real-time. Longer and more complex pilot bores can be done with our Radar Intersect module. Besides that, it is even possible to do a pilot bore in high-risk areas containing unexploded bombs, with the UXOscope add-on module.

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.