Trenchless Drilling Operations On Track

For pipeline and cable laying applications that require effective horizontal directional drilling, i-Track is a reliable, easy to use guidance system.

For pipeline and cable laying applications that require effective horizontal directional drilling, Radiodetection is pleased to announce i-Track, a reliable, easy to use guidance system that tracks the position of the drill head precisely as it bores underground.

To help contractors maximise the planning and cost-efficiency of their pipeline projects, i-Track not only improves the speed and accuracy of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) but also allows work to proceed with minimum delay and training.

This system ensures projects are completed on time, within budget and with minimal disruption to local services.

The i-Track system comprises of three parts: a receiver, a remote display (DataView) and a DataSonde.

Each communicates with each other for powerful, reliable tracking and guidance.

Features include rapid and accurate location of the drill head without mislocates due to "ghosting", automatic tracking and depth, remote steering capability and downhole frequency change to overcome localised interference.

To operate, a DataSonde is housed in the drill head and the i-Track receiver picks up the emitted signal.

The receiver works in two modes; tracking and steering.

In tracking mode, the operator can walk the ground and physically track the position and depth of the drill head.

When conditions do not allow tracking (across a river or busy road), steering mode allows the receiver to be placed ahead of the obstacle and act as a stationary target.

Information from the DataSonde is also radioed to the i-Track DataView.

This device simply attaches to the HDD machine so the operator can steer the drill head remotely in realtime in a left/right direction towards the i-Track receiver.

Due to its simplicity and ease of use, the i-Track is the fastest line tracking system currently available on the market.

For a detailed, accurate profile of directional drilling work, Radiodetection has also developed Borelog: a flexible software package that is easy to use.

This allows drilling data (depth, pitch, roll, date and time) to be stored in the i-Track receiver for PC download.

Reports are easy to generate, with easy to interpret graphs showing sonde depth and tilt angles.

Up to 2000 measurement points can be stored.

Ideal for drilling in city centres as well as river and road crossings, the WireLine Remote Guidance System, also from Radiodetection, allows HDD machine operators to drill longer and deeper than before, and in areas of high interference.

The Wireline System involves a Wireline Control Unit and a DataSonde adapter that converts the standard PDF DataSonde into a CableSonde.

The CableSonde is powered by a cable from the Wireline Control Unit on the drilling machine and sends information such as Roll and Tilt Angle back through the same cable via the Wireline Control Unit to the DataView.

At the same time, the signal emitted by the DataSonde can also be picked up by the i-Track receiver.

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