TRACTO has shaped and developed trenchless technology over decades: with innovative inliner HDD drill rods, the company is now creating the conditions to make guided drilling significantly more efficient, safer and more sustainable. At BAUMA 2025, the prototype of these smart HDD drill rods will be presented.
In horizontal directional drilling (HDD), the drilling rig pushes the rotating drill rod string forward through the ground. The individual rods are bolted together step by step. To keep track of the drill head's position, a signal is sent through a sonde mounted on the drill head. Using a walkover detection system, the positioner can then walk along the entire drill path during the drilling process to ensure that the bore is being drilled correctly.
In situations where the signal strength from the drill head is insufficient, for example at great drilling depths, or where a walk-over detection is not possible for safety reasons, a cable-guided location system is usually used, i.e. a cable in the rods transmits the data from the probe in the drill head. Previously, this meant that the individual cable sections had to be manually inserted into the rods, crimped and sealed at the joints. This added 5 to 10 minutes to each drill rod change. Other disadvantages were the low data transmission rate of the cable and the fact that it had to be disposed of after each drilling operation.
Sustainable solution – efficient drilling
To simplify this process and maximise the data transfer rate, TRACTO has developed the new HDD inliner rods. The built-in coaxial cable is reusable, as is the connector. The connector is sealed against drilling fluid and can withstand pressures of more than 100 bar. Connectivity is maintained even in the event of fluid ingress. The high data rate also enables the use of a radar system in the drill head (ORFEUS), which detects obstacles in the ground in the area of the drill head, making HDD drilling even safer.
TRACTO's new inliner drill rods can be used with HDD rigs from any manufacturer and ensure that both cable-guided drilling and the HDD process in general are more productive, safer and more sustainable. Rig downtime is reduced by several hundred per cent, depending on ground conditions, by eliminating the need to manually thread the cable into the rods. Another benefit is increased safety, as this work is no longer required in the area of the drill axis. The ability to locate existing obstacles such as pipes using a radar drill head with Smart Rods" benefits the entire HDD process. Similarly, the high data transfer rate enables a wider range of applications, as well as improved control and documentation for the customer using sensor-based measurement and control techniques.
Contact
TRACTO Geoservice
Dan Lingenauber
T: +49 2723 808-137
M: +49 151 74514317
E: dan.lingenauber@tracto.com
In horizontal directional drilling (HDD), the drilling rig pushes the rotating drill rod string forward through the ground. The individual rods are bolted together step by step. To keep track of the drill head's position, a signal is sent through a sonde mounted on the drill head. Using a walkover detection system, the positioner can then walk along the entire drill path during the drilling process to ensure that the bore is being drilled correctly.
In situations where the signal strength from the drill head is insufficient, for example at great drilling depths, or where a walk-over detection is not possible for safety reasons, a cable-guided location system is usually used, i.e. a cable in the rods transmits the data from the probe in the drill head. Previously, this meant that the individual cable sections had to be manually inserted into the rods, crimped and sealed at the joints. This added 5 to 10 minutes to each drill rod change. Other disadvantages were the low data transmission rate of the cable and the fact that it had to be disposed of after each drilling operation.
Sustainable solution – efficient drilling
To simplify this process and maximise the data transfer rate, TRACTO has developed the new HDD inliner rods. The built-in coaxial cable is reusable, as is the connector. The connector is sealed against drilling fluid and can withstand pressures of more than 100 bar. Connectivity is maintained even in the event of fluid ingress. The high data rate also enables the use of a radar system in the drill head (ORFEUS), which detects obstacles in the ground in the area of the drill head, making HDD drilling even safer.
TRACTO's new inliner drill rods can be used with HDD rigs from any manufacturer and ensure that both cable-guided drilling and the HDD process in general are more productive, safer and more sustainable. Rig downtime is reduced by several hundred per cent, depending on ground conditions, by eliminating the need to manually thread the cable into the rods. Another benefit is increased safety, as this work is no longer required in the area of the drill axis. The ability to locate existing obstacles such as pipes using a radar drill head with Smart Rods" benefits the entire HDD process. Similarly, the high data transfer rate enables a wider range of applications, as well as improved control and documentation for the customer using sensor-based measurement and control techniques.
Contact
TRACTO Geoservice
Dan Lingenauber
T: +49 2723 808-137
M: +49 151 74514317
E: dan.lingenauber@tracto.com
