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!
Braintree in Essex is a historic town located about 10 miles northeast of Chelmsford and approximately 45 miles northeast of London. It is known for its history, charming rural surroundings, and as a commuter town. Braintree’s history dates back to ancient times, with evidence of Roman settlement in the area. The name “Braintree” is thought to derive from the Old English “bran” (a stream) and “treow” (a tree), reflecting the town’s location near a stream or river. In the 19th century, Braintree became a centre for the silk and textile industries, particularly due to the establishment of the Warner & Sons silk mills.
Braintree has a population of approximately 45,000 people. While the town itself has a relatively small population, the broader Braintree district, which includes surrounding villages, has a larger population. The town has experienced population growth due to its appeal as a commuter town, with many people choosing to live in Braintree and commute to London or Chelmsford for work.
Braintree is served by the railway station, which offers connections to London Liverpool Street through the Greater Anglia network. The journey to London takes about 60 to 70 minutes, making it a popular choice for commuters. The town is well-connected by road, with the A120 running through it, linking Braintree to the M11 motorway and A12, which provides easy access to London and other parts of Essex. Braintree has a thriving town centre with a variety of shops, national retailers, and local markets. The George Yard Shopping Centre and Braintree Village (an outlet shopping centre) are popular destinations for shopping and entertainment.
With its proximity to London and excellent transport links, many of Braintree’s residents work in London or Chelmsford, contributing to the town’s economic growth. As such, Braintree’s economy benefits from a mix of local businesses and commuters who work in other parts of Essex and London. Like many towns in Essex, Braintree has seen a significant increase in housing developments, particularly as it serves as a commuter town for London. New housing estates and apartments have been built to accommodate the growing population. Braintree Village and the surrounding retail areas continue to attract investment, making it an increasingly popular location for shopping and leisure.
Directional drilling in Braintree, is influenced by the local ground conditions. Understanding the geology and geotechnical characteristics of the area is crucial for any directional drilling operation. Braintree is situated in a region with a variety of soil types, including clay, sand, and silt. The mix of these soils is typical of Essex, and their characteristics play a key role in drilling operations. Clay is relatively dense and sticky, which can make drilling slower and more challenging, as it requires more force to penetrate. Clay soils tend to hold water, leading to potential issues with wellbore stability and the need for specialized drilling fluids (e.g., bentonite or polymer-based fluids) to help lubricate the drill bit and stabilise the borehole. Sandy soils are generally easier to drill through, though they can be prone to instability, particularly if the sand is loose or poorly consolidated. In directional drilling, it’s important to monitor the drill path to ensure the borehole doesn’t collapse. Special measures, like casing or drilling fluid, might be needed to prevent this. Silt is finer than sand and can cause problems like borehole collapse if not properly managed. Its behaviour in directional drilling is like clay in that it requires careful handling to maintain borehole integrity.
Braintree lies in an area where the water table can be relatively high, particularly in low-lying or flood-prone areas. Groundwater presents challenges for directional drilling because it can cause the borehole to become unstable, leading to issues such as caving or collapse. Some parts of Braintree may fall into flood-prone areas, especially near the River Blackwater and other watercourses. Ground conditions in these areas might have a higher moisture content, increasing the risk of borehole instability and requiring careful monitoring during drilling operations.
Some areas of Braintree, especially near watercourses or parks, may be subject to environmental protection regulations. Drilling in such areas may require permits and environmental assessments to ensure that the work does not negatively affect the local ecosystem. Ground conditions, such as the presence of clay or silty soils, could affect water runoff, which needs to be managed during drilling. To ensure that groundwater and surrounding environments are not contaminated, it’s essential to implement appropriate monitoring techniques and use eco-friendly drilling fluids, especially in areas close to water bodies.
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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