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!
Colchester is a located in Essex, with a mix of modern and historic architecture. It offers a wide range of cultural and leisure activities, such as theatres, parks, and a zoo. It is also home to the University of Essex. Colchester is well-connected, with good road and rail links to London and other parts of the UK. The town is served by the Colchester railway station, which provides direct train services to London Liverpool Street, making it a popular commuter town.
Colchester is home to a busy retail sector, with many independent shops and large retail chains. The town centre features high-street stores, as well as boutique shops, markets, and shopping centres. Retail is boosted by Colchester’s role as a regional shopping hub for surrounding towns and villages, attracting visitors from all over Essex. Colchester has become a growing centre for the tech and digital industries. The University of Essex has played a significant role in fostering innovation, providing skilled graduates, and supporting tech startups through initiatives like its Innovation Centre.
While manufacturing is not as dominant in Colchester as it once was, the town still has a significant number of businesses in the sector. This includes companies involved in construction materials, food production, engineering, and light manufacturing. Colchester has a variety of industrial estates and business parks, such as St. Mary’s Industrial Estate and Colchester Business Park, which are home to manufacturing and logistics companies. With its rich history, Colchester is a popular tourist destination, and the tourism sector plays a key role in the local economy. Attractions such as Colchester Castle, Colchester Zoo, and Castle Park draw visitors from across the country. The hospitality industry is also strong, with a variety of hotels, restaurants, and cafes that cater to both tourists and local residents. Many businesses also benefit from being near London and the surrounding areas, serving as a destination for day-trippers or short breaks.
Colchester has a significant presence in the health and social care sectors. The Colchester Hospital University NHS Foundation Trust provides a wide range of medical services to the region and is a major employer. In addition to healthcare services, Colchester is home to several private healthcare businesses, care homes, and wellness centers.
Colchester is experiencing growth in residential and commercial property development. The town’s relatively affordable property prices compared to London make it an attractive location for commuters, leading to significant housing development projects. The local construction industry is supported by ongoing infrastructure improvements, such as new housing estates, schools, and commercial developments, including the ongoing Northern Gateway regeneration project. Due to Colchester’s strategic location near major road networks, such as the A12, and its proximity to the Port of Harwich, the town is well-positioned for logistics and distribution businesses. Warehouses, distribution centres, and transport companies contribute significantly to the local economy. Several logistics companies use Colchester as a base to serve the wider East Anglia region.
Moling and Directional drilling in Colchester, is influenced by the local ground conditions, which can affect the feasibility, cost, and technique of drilling operations. The ground conditions in Colchester can vary depending on the specific location within the town, but there are several general factors to consider when assessing the suitability of the area for directional drilling. In Colchester, many areas are underlain by clays, sands, and gravels, which can vary in depth. These types of soils are often found in river valleys and can affect the ease of drilling. Clay-rich soils may present challenges due to their potential to swell when wet or collapse when disturbed.
Like much of Essex, Colchester sits on glacial deposits, which include a mix of silts, sands, and gravels. These materials can offer relatively stable conditions for directional drilling, but the nature of these deposits can vary significantly from one location to another, which may influence drill ability. In some areas of Colchester, the ground is underlain by harder materials such as chalk, limestone, or sandstone. These harder rock layers can require more powerful equipment and could increase the cost of drilling. Colchester has areas that are prone to high groundwater levels, particularly near rivers or low-lying areas. The presence of groundwater can impact the stability of boreholes and require specialized equipment to manage water ingress during drilling operations. Proper planning is required to ensure that the water table doesn’t pose a significant issue for drilling.
Colchester, as a town with both historic and modern infrastructure, presents unique challenges for directional drilling in urban areas. Drilling in populated areas near buildings, roads, utilities, and other infrastructure can complicate the process. For instance, it may be necessary to avoid underground utilities, such as water, gas, and electricity lines, which requires careful planning and survey work. In urban areas, directional drilling may be preferred to avoid disturbing surface-level infrastructure. However, the depth and condition of the ground in such areas must be assessed to ensure that the drilling can be done without damaging existing structures or utilities. The depth of directional drilling required in Colchester depends on the specific project, whether it’s for utility installation, geotechnical investigations, or other purposes. Ground conditions will vary with depth, so it’s important to conduct a thorough survey of the area to understand the challenges at the target depth. Shallow drilling may encounter less challenging soil conditions, while deeper drilling may require more specialized equipment due to harder materials such as bedrock.
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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