Methods for installing or repairing underground pipelines and conduits without open-cut excavation. Common techniques include HDD (Horizontal Directional Drilling) and pipe bursting. Subcontractors specialising in these methods often command premium rates due to reduced surface disruption and specialised equipment requirements.
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Related Terms
Back-To-Back Well Program
IndustryA drilling schedule where wells are spaced consecutively with minimal downtime between completions. For subcontractors, it means sustained mobilisation of crews and equipment across multiple well sites. Expect extended contract durations but also compressed turnaround times between locations.
Best-Value Scoring
IndustryA bid evaluation method where contractors are ranked on price plus non-price factors like safety record, experience, and equipment. Low bid alone does not win the work. Subcontractors must demonstrate overall capability, not just competitive rates.
STACK (Sooner Trend Anadarko Basin Canadian and Kingfisher)
IndustryA prolific multi-zone oil and gas play in central Oklahoma covering Canadian and Kingfisher counties. Subcontractors active here support high-density horizontal drilling and completions work. Mobilisation demand can spike quickly, so maintaining local crew and equipment availability is critical.
Infill Drilling
IndustryDrilling new wells between existing producers to recover bypassed reserves in a developed field. For subcontractors, it means shorter mobilisation windows and back-to-back well programmes. Expect high crew utilisation but tight scheduling with little downtime between jobs.
Directional Drilling
IndustryA drilling technique used to steer a wellbore along a non-vertical path to reach a target zone. Subcontractors supporting these operations often require specialised tooling, MWD (Measurement While Drilling) equipment, and certified directional hands. Scopes can shift quickly, so flexible crew and equipment mobilisation is essential.
Load Path Planning
IndustryThe process of mapping how heavy equipment or materials will be moved from origin to job site. Subcontractors must identify weight limits, road restrictions, and permit requirements along the route. Poor planning causes costly delays, fines, or equipment damage.
Latest Industry News
Team Fishel Beats Granite and Clock on 14-Mile Fiber Bore in Maryland
Trenchless Technology reports that Team Fishel completed a 14-mile fiber HDD project in Frederick County, Maryland, in eight months, overcoming continuous granite and a compressed schedule to connect four data centers.
6 days agoIndustryCrossing Group Sets HDD Record on Athabasca River Pipeline Bore
The Crossing Group completed a 2,955-meter gyroscopic intersect HDD crossing under Alberta's Athabasca River for the Whiskey Jack Lateral, a company record, Trenchless Technology Canada reports.
25 days agoIndustryPURIS Expands Water Infrastructure Platform With Amici Acquisition
PURIS LLC has acquired Florida-based Amici Engineering Contractors, adding underground water and utility infrastructure capabilities including horizontal directional drilling to its national platform, Trenchless Technology reports.
1 month agoIndustryCharleston Picks Spray-In-Place Lining Over Dig-and-Replace for Water Mains
Charleston, South Carolina used spray-in-place polymer pipe lining to rehab two aging ductile iron water mains, a pilot project Trenchless Technology reports the city plans to replicate systemwide.
1 month agoRelated Guides
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