Development of guided horizontal boring tools. Final report, June 1984-March 1991

Technical Report · Fri Mar 01 04:00:00 EST 1991

OSTI ID:5258498

McDonald, W J; Herben, W C; Pittard, G T; Wasson, M R

Maurer Engineering Inc. (MEI), under a contract with the Gas Research Institute (GRI), has led a team of research and manufacturing companies with the goal of developing a guided boring tool for installing gas distribution piping. Studies indicated guided horizontal boring systems can provide gas utilities with a more effective and economical method for installing pipe than conventional techniques with a potential cost savings of at least 15% to 50%. A comprehensive state of technology review of horizontal boring tools identified concepts appropriate to being directionally controlled. Development of a universal system was found impractical because the requirements for short and extended range systems are significantly different. Concepts for steering and tracking were evaluated through lab and field experiments which progressed from proof of concept tests to cooperative field tests with gas utilities at the various stages of system development. The systems were brought to commercial status with needed modifications and the technology transferred to licensees who would market the systems. The program resulted in the development and commercialization of five distinct guided boring system. Pipe can now be installed more rapidly over longer distances with a minimal amount of excavation required for launching and retrieval. This means increased work crew productivity, reduced disturbance to landscaping and environmentally sensitive areas, and reduced traffic disruption and public inconvenience.

• Research Organization: Maurer Engineering, Inc., Houston, TX (United States)
• OSTI ID: 5258498
• Report Number(s): PB-91-213900/XAB; MEI-TR--90-9; CNN: GRI-5084-271-0889
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
032000* -- Natural Gas-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
COMMERCIALIZATION
CORING EQUIPMENT
COST ESTIMATION
DESIGN
DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
DRILLING
DRILLING EQUIPMENT
DRILLS
ENERGY SYSTEMS
EQUIPMENT
EXCAVATION
FIELD TESTS
INSTALLATION
MARKETING
MITIGATION
MODIFICATIONS
NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
ORIENTATION
PIPES
PRODUCTIVITY
TECHNOLOGY ASSESSMENT
TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER
TESTING
TIME DEPENDENCE