Trenchless technology enabling Horizontal Drilling underground, with the ability to steer to avoid obstacles in the ground.
EPS Trenchless Installations advocates this revolutionary approach, offering a range of innovative solutions that remove the need for disruptive excavations. By leveraging state-of-the-art techniques such as Moling and Directional Drilling, EPS Trenchless Installations delivers efficient and cost-effective alternatives for laying and repairing underground utilities.
Trenchless technology enabling Horizontal Drilling underground, with the ability to steer to avoid obstacles in the ground.
Directional Drilling is a technique for installing utilities such as Water pipes, Electric Cables and Gas pipes underground along distances up to 250 metres. State of the art Directional Drilling equipment can be steered deeper underground or around obstructions blocking its path.
This removes the need to dig long, unsightly, messy trenches to lay pipes and cables. Directional Drilling creates neat accurate bore holes under the ground, which utilities can be pulled back through.
The whole process is fast, cost effective, and kind to the environment, with minimal surface damage.
dependent on the required diameter and the ground conditions
(subject to pipe size and ground conditions)
ground dependent
Select your installation type and pinpoint your exact start and end locations on our interactive map to get started!
Southend-on-Sea is a popular seaside town in Essex, located on the southeastern coast of England, approximately 40 miles east of central London. It’s known for its long coastline, vibrant tourism, and rich history. Southend’s origins can be traced back to the medieval period, but it began to grow in prominence as a seaside resort in the 19th century. It became particularly popular during the Victorian era, when the construction of railways made it easily accessible from London. The town expanded rapidly with the rise of tourism, and it was officially granted its “on-Sea” suffix in 1892 to distinguish it from other places named Southend. Southend has a population of around 180,000 people, and it’s a popular place for tourists and retirees due to its coastal location.
Southend’s economy is driven by tourism, retail, and leisure. It also has a strong aviation sector, with London Southend Airport serving as a centre for European flights. The airport has undergone significant expansion in recent years, improving access to the town and boosting its economy. Southend is connected by rail to London, with trains running frequently to London Liverpool Street and Fenchurch Street. The town is also has good roadlinks via the A127 and A13.
Southend has increasingly become a centre for technology and digital businesses. The town’s growing tech industry benefits from its proximity to London and its relatively affordable office space. Startups in digital marketing, software development, and IT services are increasingly common in the area.
The construction industry in Southend has experienced significant growth, largely driven by urban regeneration projects and a boom in housing demand. As one of the largest towns in Essex, Southend has seen increasing interest from developers who are keen to capitalise on the demand for new homes, particularly given its proximity to London and its appeal as a commuter town. With the rise in technology and digital industries, there has been a demand for modern office spaces, particularly in the Southend Business Park and surrounding areas. Construction of office buildings, flexible workspaces, and business hubs is on the rise to accommodate new tech companies and other businesses. Developments are also taking place in retail and leisure sectors, as Southend’s high street continues to grow and evolve.
Ground conditions are crucial factors in both directional drilling and impact moling projects, as they influence potential challenges during the process. Southend-on-Sea, like much of Essex, has a variety of ground conditions that can impact these methods of subsurface installation. Southend has areas with clay and loam soils, particularly in urban areas and those closer to the coast. These soils can be dense and cohesive, which can help provide support for the borehole but may also make it more challenging to drill.
Clay can create friction in the bore, requiring more powerful drilling equipment to maintain stability and prevent collapse. Silty soils are often found near coastal regions or riverbanks and can present challenges due to their tendency to retain water and have low shear strength. These can lead to more difficult drilling conditions, and additional measures like bentonite slurry may be needed to keep the borehole open. Areas near beaches or riverbanks, such as those along Southend’s seafront, may feature sandy soils. These can be unstable and loose, which increases the risk of borehole collapse and makes directional drilling more complex. In these conditions, the use of casing may be required to stabilise the borehole.
Southend is located near the coast and is influenced by the proximity to the Thames Estuary, which affects local groundwater conditions. High water tables and the presence of groundwater can cause instability during directional drilling, as water may enter the borehole. The use of drilling fluids, like bentonite or polymers, can help stabilise the borehole and prevent the inflow of water during drilling. Areas near the seafront may face challenges with softer, unstable ground, particularly if erosion is ongoing. Careful monitoring and equipment may be necessary. Being an urban area, Southend has existing utilities and infrastructure that need to be avoided, which can require precise control over the direction of drilling.
We start with conducting a detailed survey, a site visit, and the use of online technology to check geological information
From conception to completion, EPS will work in partnership with you, planning and advising you on the best way to complete your project
The directional drilling process is handled professionally and meticulously by our fully qualified engineers from start to finish
We leave your site clean and clear of all materials and debris, providing an end-to-end service and complete reinstatement and site clearance.
EPS provide underground utility installation that is fast, efficient and environmentally friendly.
Using Moling and Directional Drilling technology, our streamlined process requires minimal space which avoids unnecessary disruption and inconvenience.
There is no need for extensive surface cutting or digging long trenches. ‘No-dig’ techniques are very adaptable to various soil conditions and protected locations.
This technique provides accurate utility installation, which also protects wildlife and any ecologically sensitive locations. It is an incredibly cost-effective method of replacing old utility systems or installing new utilities.
Minimising the ecological footprint and damage to the environment is an essential when installing utilities and services underground. We integrate environmentally friendly practices into every aspect of our directional drilling process. From careful planning to efficient execution, we endeavour to minimise disturbance to natural habitats and reduce emissions.
Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI):
Protected areas contain unique ecosystems, rare species and geological formations or habitats and are often protected by law.
The use of trenchless technology is a non-invasive approach which ensures the protection of areas of special conservation interest.
ROOT PROTECTION ZONES (RPZ):
Cutting or damaging tree roots threatens the health and stability of trees, potentially resulting in decline or even death. HDD drilling provides a non-invasive approach that is carefully planned to define a precise path that avoids tree roots. This significantly reduces the risk of root damage in these specialised zones.
ANCIENT WOODLANDS:
This type of conservation area provides a specialist approach, and directional drilling provides the ability to accurately determine subterranean trajectories, allowing successful installation without affecting the ground cover, damaging tree roots, or disturbing habitats.
CARBON FOOTPRINT:
Reducing our carbon footprint is at the forefront of our operations. Traditional excavation often involves extensive earth removal and high fuel usage due to heavy equipment and machinery. However, our No-Dig techniques use far less machinery and provide minimal disruption to the environment. This in turn reduce our environmental impact.
Horizontal directional drilling, often referred to as HDD or trenchless technology, is an innovative technique for laying underground utilities such as pipes, cables, ducts, and conduits without resorting to conventional trenching. Instead of creating open trenches, this method starts with a pilot hole that is drilled diagonally from the surface toward a desired endpoint. After the initial hole is made, advanced drilling equipment enlarges and steers the hole in the desired direction while underground. This seamless process provides minimal damage to the surface ground and is not as invasive as conventional methods, saving our clients money and the hassle of restoring the area after large excavation work.
Our procedure starts by drilling a pilot borehole that follows a predetermined route. We then expand the hole along the trajectory established by the pilot bore, a process referred to as back reaming. Finally, the product pipe is pulled through the enlarged passage.
The machine we will choose for your project is dependent on your site and location. For our smaller and more fragile ecological sites, we will select our smaller HDD machine to ensure that we minimise disruption to the environment and protect delicate ecosystems. This smaller HDD machine is designed to navigate tight spaces and sensitive terrain with precision and care, allowing us to complete the job while minimising impact on the surrounding area.
For larger sites that require greater power and capacity, we have larger HDD machines equipped to handle more demanding projects, whilst still maintaining little impact at your location. These machines are capable of tackling larger bore diameters and longer distances, providing the necessary strength and efficiency to complete the job effectively.
No matter the size or complexity of your project, we have the expertise and equipment to ensure successful horizontal directional drilling while prioritising environmental conservation and minimising disruption to sensitive areas.
Directional drilling is utilised for laying utility lines and conduits, providing a more economical and minimally invasive option compared to conventional vertical drilling methods.
This approach provides many advantages over conventional drilling as it is possible to lay or repair utility pipes, ducts, or cables, without excavations of large amounts of ground and provides options for laying pipes in sensitive or protected areas.
There are many advantages to employing horizontal and directional drilling. These are, minimal disturbances to surfaces, reduced environmental impact, cost savings, enhanced safety, and provides minimal disruption to utilities.
This is entirely dependent on the machine used for your location and ground conditions and/or obstructions. We will conduct a site visit and discuss the plan of action. Pipes from 25mm to 355mm diameters can be installed over distances of up to 200 metres in a single shot. Ducting, cables, and pipework can also be installed in either straight or curved lines.
No, it won’t. Our methods and trenchless technology will minimise disturbance in your location. Our approach ensures that we can carry out our work efficiently and effectively while keeping the impact on your surroundings to an absolute minimum. We will conduct a site visit before work takes place, talk through your requirements and we will evaluate the area to identify any obstacles or obstructions that may be present.
If you require work in protected or specialist areas, we can provide minimal disruption to the natural environment, ensure compliance with any relevant regulations or restrictions, and respect the integrity of the site.
We provide many trenchless solutions such as guided auger boring, moling, pipe bursting, pipe ramming, small footprint drilling, s50works, and fire hydrant testing.
We provide our expert trenchless solutions across a span of industries in the UK. Our industries include environmental remediation, water management, utility services, civil engineering and construction, and more.
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