Triple-Wall “Spinner” Pilot Tubes Reduce Clay-Related Loads
By Jason Holden
Reactive clay has always been one of the more unforgiving ground conditions in trenchless construction. When moisture is introduced, some clays can swell, stick to tooling, and dramatically increase the thrust and torque required to advance a pilot tube alignment. Drilling fluids, clay inhibitors, dispersants, and wetting agents can help manage those conditions, but swelling clay can still close around the pilot tube string and create excessive drag.
Akkerman’s triple-wall pilot tube, nicknamed the “spinner” tube, was developed to address that problem mechanically while still supporting standard pilot tube guidance and fluid delivery. The innovation was inspired by working in heavy, reactive clay, where drilling fluid alone was not providing consistent results.
Spinner tubes are used with standard Akkerman pilot tubes and are typically installed at approximately 50-ft intervals along the pilot tube string. In supported annular conditions, they also act as rod stabilizers. The practical benefit is reduced torque and thrust demand during pilot tube installation, which lowers machine loading and reduces fatigue on auger boring equipment.
The concept has already shown strong field results. On a Texas crossing, crews installed spinner tubes on a 375-ft pilot tube drive after experiencing swelling clay on previous installations in the area. With a drilling fluid mix that included a PHPA clay inhibitor and wetting agent, crews reported an additional 60% reduction in torque after the spinner tubes were installed.
For contractors working in reactive clay, the spinner tube provides a meaningful advancement: it combines guidance, lubrication, borehole conditioning, and mechanical drag reduction in a single tool designed for difficult pilot tube installations.
About the Author
Jason Holden
Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer for Akkerman Inc.
Jason Holden leads a global team focused on growing premium revenue and enhancing the B2B experience for sales customers, while also driving sales strategy and marketing developments in the trenchless industry. Jason works closely with all sales and engineering teams across the company, using his 25+ years of experience in the heavy equipment business to help develop innovative solutions for Akkerman’s customers.
Jason started his career with Akkerman, Inc. in 2004 and previously served as the Director of Sales and as a Design and Project Engineer. He holds a technical degree in mobile hydraulics as well as a mechanical engineering degree from Minnesota State University – Mankato.
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