HDD Flushing Workshops

Slurry Pipes in Trenchless Construction Technologies (HDD, Microtunneling, Direct Pipe) – Practical Basics for Contractors and Engineers

Level: Basic (practical)
Intended for: Contractors, operators, engineers, supervisors

 

Workshop objective:

After the workshop, participants:

  • understand the function of a flushing system in trenchless technologies (with a particular focus on HDD)
  • can select a flusher appropriate for the soil conditions
  • are familiar with the basic parameters and the principles for monitoring them
  • can identify and mitigate the most common problems on a construction site

 

Training program:

The Role of Flushing in Trenchless Technologies – A Practical Foundation

  • the functions of a flusher in HDD, microtunneling, and Direct Pipe
  • the effect of drilling fluid on borehole stability
  • Cuttings transport as a key factor in HDD drilling efficiency
  • The main differences between the fluids used in HDD, microtunneling, and Direct Pipe

Composition of the wash water and water quality

  • Bentonite – Properties and Uses
  • Polymers – Role, Types, and Limitations
  • supporting supplements
  • water quality parameters: pH, hardness (calcium and magnesium ions), salinity, and contaminants
  • the effect of water parameters on the efficiency of the scrubber

Basic specifications and on-site inspection

  • viscosity (Marsh funnel), rotational rheometers
  • drilling fluid density – specific gravity
  • filtration
  • pH
  • interpretation of measurement results
  • frequency of parameter checks
  • Common measurement errors and their consequences

Selecting a filter based on soil conditions

  • Soil characteristics in HDD
  • Identifying soil conditions based on observations during drilling
  • the effect of the drilling fluid’s properties on cuttings transport
  • selecting a filter based on soil conditions
  • consequences of improper filter selection
  • decision tree: problem – solution
  • Demonstration of the behavior of drill bits in fluids with different rheological properties

The most common lubrication problems in HDDs

  • loss of alveoli (atrophy)
  • cavity collapse
  • cable snag
  • decrease in drilling speed
  • analysis of the causes of problems
  • practical corrective measures

Organizing work with a scrubber – best practices

  • Preparing the scrubber before starting work
  • monitoring of parameters during drilling
  • critical moments requiring a response
  • Basics of slurry management on a construction site

Interactive session

  • analysis of short construction scenarios
  • making operational decisions in typical situations
  • answers to participants’ questions

 

Participants receive a certificate of attendance for the workshop.