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
Medway is in the southeast of the UK in Kent. It’s near the towns of Chatham, Rochester, Strood, and Gillingham. These together make the area known as the Medway Towns, which lies along the River Medway. Medway is part of Kent and lies about 30 miles southeast of London. It benefits from excellent transport links, especially via the M2 motorway, and is well-connected by rail to London. Medway’s location along the River Medway has given it a rich maritime history, particularly with Chatham being home to the Chatham Dockyard.
The population of Medway is about 275,000 people, making it one of the larger urban areas in Kent. This population is spread across the different towns, each with its own unique character.
Chatham, Rochester, and Gillingham all have busy high streets and shopping areas, including Chatham’s Pentagon Shopping Centre and the Dockside Outlet.
Medway has had strong ties to the manufacturing sector, particularly around Chatham and Gillingham. The area is still home to various industrial businesses, including engineering, distribution, and some marine industries, due to its location along the River Medway. Medway has become a growing source for innovation and tech startups.
The ground conditions for directional drilling in Medway, are an important factor to consider with Medway having a varied geology. Medway’s geology is diverse, influenced by its proximity to the Thames Estuary and the River Medway. Along the River Medway, there are often soft, unconsolidated alluvial deposits (sand, clay, and silt) which can affect drilling by providing softer, easier to drill ground. However, these materials can also be prone to instability in certain areas, particularly when water is present.
To the south and east of Medway, particularly in areas closer to the North Downs, the region has chalk bedrock. Chalk can be harder to drill through, but directional drilling techniques can manage this if proper equipment is used. Clay and Silts are common in the Medway area, especially in areas that are further inland or near riverbanks. Clay is often harder to drill than sand or silt but can also pose problems with hole stability if not properly managed during drilling.Parts of Medway and its surroundings, particularly near the Medway Estuary, may have sandstone formations, which can be moderately challenging to drill but are manageable with appropriate techniques.
Medway’s proximity to the River Medway and the Thames Estuary means that groundwater levels can be high in some areas, especially near the river. Groundwater control is crucial in directional drilling, as high-water levels can lead to issues like hole collapse or excess fluid inflow.
Medway’s towns, including Chatham and Rochester, have extensive infrastructure, including utilities, roads, and buildings. This can complicate directional drilling projects, as underground services (such as gas, water, and electricity lines) need to be carefully avoided. In addition to the physical ground conditions, Medway has a variety of environmental regulations that must be considered when planning 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.
HDD offers a range of practical uses in Medway due to its ability to avoid disruptions to the ground surface, minimise environmental impact, and navigate complex underground conditions. One of the most common uses of HDD in Medway is for the installation of utilities, including, water pipes. HDD can be used to install water pipelines beneath roads, rivers, and other obstacles without digging up large portions of land. This is particularly useful in urban areas like Medway, where excavating roads and streets would be disruptive. Gas and oil pipes HDD are often installed in Medway using Horizontal Directional Drilling where open trenching would be impractical or costly. Installing electrical cables or fibre-optic networks through HDD avoids the need for extensive surface disruption, which is crucial in areas with heavy traffic and urban infrastructure, like Chatham or Gillingham.
Medway’s location near the River Medway and other bodies of water means HDD is ideal for creating underground crossings beneath rivers, canals, or other water bodies. This avoids the need for expensive and disruptive bridge construction or trenching through water, which would be more challenging and environmentally impactful.
With significant infrastructure in Medway, including busy roads and railways (like the Medway Tunnel and major roads such as the A2), HDD is used to install underground pipelines and cables without disrupting traffic or causing delays. This is particularly important in high-traffic areas such as Chatham, Rochester, or near Gillingham train stations, where construction work can impact daily commuting and local businesses.
Medway is home to several environmentally sensitive areas, such as parts of the Medway Estuary and Marshes, which are designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) or areas of natural beauty. HDD is often the preferred method for installation of utilities or infrastructure in these regions because it reduces the surface disruption and minimizes the environmental impact. By using HDD to install pipes, utilities, or cables, the natural landscape can be preserved, preventing damage to wetlands or habitats for wildlife. This is crucial in areas near rivers, wetlands, or conservation zones in Medway.
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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