Horizontal Directional Drilling & tunnelling

Microtunnelling can be defined as a remote-controlled pipe jacking operation able to provide continuous support for excavation by applying mechanical or fluid pressure to balance the pressure exerted by underground water and the soil. Microtunnel Boring Machines (MTBM) are pushed through the soil by hydraulic jacks assembled and aligned directly in the shaft.

TBM can be considered a “multitasking automated enterprise” able to: – handle excavation and remove detritus, – position prefabricated tunnel lining segments and seal them with plastic mixtures Conventional TMBs can be used in rocky grounds; Earth Pressure Balance Machine (EPBM) for clays and limestone; Slurry Shield Machine (STBM): for gravel, sand.

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is generally used for: oil & gas, rain water and black waters, electrical and fibre optic cables. HDD methods utilize steerable soil drilling systems to install both small- and large-diameter lines.