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
Maidstone is the county town of Kent, in the Southeast of England. Maidstone has a population of around 180,000 people, making it the largest town in Kent. Maidstone has several train stations, with Maidstone East, Maidstone Barracks, and Maidstone West being the main ones.
The town has direct train services to London, with journeys to London Victoria and London St Pancras International taking around 45 minutes to an hour. This makes Maidstone a popular location for commuters working in London. The town is connected by the M20 motorway, which provides quick access to London, the coast, and other parts of Kent. There are also good road links to Maidstone’s Ring Road, providing easy access to surrounding towns and villages such as Tonbridge, Sevenoaks, Chatham, Ashford and Aylesford.
There are several shopping centres in Maidstone like The Mall Maidstone and Fremlin Walk. The town also has lots of restaurants, cafes, and leisure facilities. Maidstone is home to a lot of different businesses including engineering, construction, and distribution. Due to its location near the M20 and proximity to London, Maidstone is a key centre for logistics and distribution. Distribution centres for large companies are located on the outskirts of Maidstone, providing jobs in warehousing, logistics, and transportation.
Ground conditions in Maidstone vary depending on the specific location, however, generally the geology of Maidstone and the surrounding Kent region is composed of several key types of ground conditions that may influence horizontal directional drilling. Much of Maidstone sits on the Weald Clay Formation, which includes clay, marl, and sandstone layers. Clay can be difficult to drill through due to its sticky nature and can often lead to problems with hole stability, making proper borehole design essential. Special drilling fluids may be required to prevent borehole collapse. In some areas around Maidstone, there are beds of sandstone and chalk, especially in the higher ground towards the North Downs. Chalk can be more challenging to drill, as it is hard and can cause wear on drilling equipment. However, it can provide a stable base for drilling once the initial surface layers are passed through.
The water table can vary in the Maidstone area, especially in areas near the River Medway, which could impact drilling conditions. Water inflow can be an issue for drilling and managing groundwater during the operation. There may be occasional presence of harder rock layers or fault zones in the deeper strata. These can present challenges like increased torque and drag on drilling equipment, meaning more advanced drilling techniques or modifications to drilling. Along riverbanks or in more low-lying areas, soft soils, silts, and sands can dominate and may require additional support for the borehole.
Overall, directional drilling in Maidstone will require careful planning, with particular attention to borehole stability, equipment wear, and potential groundwater management. Understanding the local geotechnical conditions and conducting a thorough site survey before drilling is crucial for the success of a directional drilling project.
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 commonly used in various construction and infrastructure projects in Maidstone, as it is well-suited to areas where minimising surface disruption is essential.
HDD is widely used for the installation of underground utilities such as water pipelines, gas lines, electricity cables, and telecommunications infrastructure. In Maidstone, where urban development and infrastructure are growing, HDD helps install these utilities under roads, rivers, or built-up areas without the need for large trenches or excavation. This reduces traffic disruption and minimizes the impact on local businesses and residents. Maidstone is situated on the River Medway, and Horizontal Directional Drilling is an ideal solution for crossing water bodies like this without disturbing the riverbed. HDD allows the installation of pipes or cables beneath the river or other bodies of water, maintaining environmental integrity by avoiding the need for dredging or excavation in the waterway.
Given Maidstone’s location within Kent and its proximity to key roads and rail networks, HDD is commonly used for crossing roads, highways, and railways. This is especially beneficial in congested areas where digging up the road surface would cause significant disruption. HDD avoids the need for road closures or traffic diversions. Horizontal Directional Drilling can be used for installing monitoring wells, groundwater remediation systems, or other environmental infrastructure that helps manage soil and groundwater conditions. In areas like Maidstone, where groundwater may be an issue due to proximity to rivers or low-lying land, HDD is a non-invasive method to install equipment without significant environmental disturbance.
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.
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