Guided Pipe Reaming

Guided Pipe Reaming is a trenchless method by which a pipeline is pulled into the ground after a pilot tube is installed on line and grade. This method is similar to Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), however instead on installing pilot rods from the surface and following a shallow arc that is suitable for pressure lines and electrical utilities, Guided Pipe Reaming is a pit launch application that installs pilot rods on line and grade without the requirement of oversized pullback reamers.

Benefits:

• Environmentally Friendly:  Guided Pipe Reaming does not use high volumes of bentonite slurry to flush cuttings and potentially cause surface frac-out.
• Accuracy: The pilot tube installation ensures line and grade accuracy. Pull-back reamers used have nominal overcut diameters typically used in the gravity flow sewer industry.
• Cost Reduction: Alternative pipe materials can be considered based on project requirements and geotechnical conditions.
• HDD Assist: Pilot tubes can be used to guide horizontal directional drill stems along a critical section of the alignment that requires exact line and grade control during large HDD projects.

Step One:

• Pilot tubes are accurately installed from the launch shaft to the receiving shaft with tooling selected based on the ground conditions encountered.

Step Two:

• Depending on the product pipe diameter and ground conditions, multiple options may be available for the second step.
• For product pipe similar in diameter to the installed pilot tubes, a pull-swivel and reamer or displacement tool are connected to the product pipe and installed directly on line and grade.