Trenchless technology enabling Horizontal Drilling underground, with the ability to steer to avoid obstacles in the ground.
EPS provide underground utility installation that is fast, efficient and environmentally friendly. 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.
Select your installation type and pinpoint your exact start and end locations on our interactive map to get started!
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
Canterbury is a historic city in the southeast of England, in the county of Kent. Known for its cultural heritage, stunning architecture, and strong religious significance, Canterbury is a popular tourist destination and an important urban in Kent. Canterbury’s history dates back to Roman times. However, it’s perhaps most famous for its medieval past, especially as the seat of the Archbishops of Canterbury, the spiritual leader of the Church of England. The Canterbury Cathedral is arguably the city’s most iconic feature and a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is the home of the Archbishop of Canterbury, who plays a key role in the Church of England.
Canterbury has a mix of historical and modern architecture. In addition to the stunning cathedral, the city features other medieval buildings, such as Westgate Towers and St. Augustine’s Abbey. The city’s streets are lined with charming old houses and timber-framed buildings, and its medieval city walls are still largely intact. Tourism plays a significant role in Canterbury’s economy, with visitors coming to experience its historical landmarks, cultural offerings, and picturesque scenery.
Canterbury is surrounded by beautiful countryside. The Westgate Gardens, located by the River Stour, is a peaceful spot for relaxation and picnics. There are numerous parks, nature reserves, and walking trails in and around the city, making it a lovely place for those who enjoy outdoor activities. Canterbury is connected by road and rail. The M2 motorway provides easy access to London and other parts of Kent. The city is also served by Canterbury West and Canterbury East railway stations, which connect the city to London (in around 1 hour) and other towns in Kent.
Like much of Kent, Canterbury’s geology is shaped by its proximity to the coast, the River Stour, and its history as a settlement in both Roman and medieval times. For HDD, understanding the specific conditions is critical to planning and execution. Canterbury sits on the edge of the North Downs, which are primarily made up of chalk. Chalk is a relatively soft but hard, porous limestone, which can be challenging for drilling due to its hardness and tendency to erode or create borehole instability. However, chalk can offer stability once the borehole is established, though it may wear down drill bits faster.
Around the city, the underlying chalk may be interspersed with layers of clay, particularly in lower-lying areas and along river valleys. The Weald Clay Formation is common in parts of Kent, including Canterbury. This clay can be quite sticky and challenging for HDD, as it may cause issues with borehole collapse, and special attention will be required for managing drilling fluid and preventing the hole from closing in on itself.
Canterbury also has areas where sandstone or limestone may be found deeper in the strata. These materials are harder than clay and chalk, so HDD will face more resistance in these areas. They can increase the torque required for drilling and may lead to wear and tear on equipment.
Canterbury is located along the River Stour, and areas near watercourses will be influenced by local groundwater levels. For HDD projects that require crossing or working near rivers, the proximity to the water table can present challenges. Certain areas in Canterbury may be part of floodplain zones, particularly near the river. In these locations, the ground could be made up of more loose, saturated soils, which might pose issues for drilling in terms of soft soils and the potential for borehole collapse.
Canterbury is a city with significant historical architecture, and directional drilling projects in certain areas may need to account for proximity to buildings, roads, and ancient structures. This is especially important when working in or around the city centre, where geotechnical surveys may be necessary to understand the impact of drilling on existing structures.
In urban settings like Canterbury, HDD projects may encounter other underground utilities or infrastructure, such as sewage lines, water pipes, and telecommunications cables. Prior mapping and utility clearance are necessary to avoid disruptions and potential safety hazards.
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.
Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is used for a variety of infrastructure and utility installation projects in Canterbury. Given the city’s mix of urban areas, historical significance, and proximity to natural features like the River Stour, HDD offers several advantages. It allows for the installation of underground utilities and infrastructure with minimal disruption to the environment, roads, and buildings.
Horizontal Directional Drilling is used to install water mains, sewage pipes, and drainage systems without the need for extensive trenching. This method is especially useful in busy or densely built areas like Canterbury city centre, where digging up roads or streets would cause significant disruption. HDD is often use to install pipes for gas or other utilities beneath roads, buildings, or environmentally sensitive areas. This helps avoid the need for surface excavation, which could be costly and disruptive.
With the increasing demand for high-speed internet and digital communication, HDD is a popular choice for installing fibre optic cables and other telecoms infrastructure. In Canterbury, this could involve running cables beneath roads or rivers to ensure connectivity across the city and into surrounding areas, especially for expanding business and residential needs. Horizontal Directional Drilling is used to install utilities under major roads or even near railways without the need for traffic disruption or long-term closures. It is also used to lay utilities in commercial areas, supporting new developments or infrastructure upgrades.
In environmental remediation or monitoring projects, HDD is used to install monitoring wells, groundwater sensors, or other underground environmental infrastructure without disturbing the surface or local ecosystem.
Canterbury is home to many historic buildings and sensitive areas, so HDD helps avoid damaging roads, archaeological sites, and ancient structures. Canterbury is a UNESCO World Heritage site with significant historical value, so HDD minimises the risk of damaging cultural landmarks compared to traditional digging methods.
The drilling process is carefully planned and carried out by our qualified engineers who ensure accuracy and efficiency throughout. All our clients can expect the following benefits from our Horizontal Directional Drilling services:
Small carbon footprint, environmentally friendly methods
No need for inconvenient and unnecessary road closures
No need for restricted working hours or premium rates
No disruption to infrastructure, services or the surface
HDD can also be used for gravity gradient installations
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.
Select your installation type and pinpoint your exact start and end locations on our interactive map to get started!
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