Horizontal Directional Drilling Tools
HDD Bits and Steering Tools
Slanted-face jetting bits, tricone bits and rock housings used to cut and steer the pilot bore. Bit choice follows the ground and the steering accuracy required.
Features
- Slanted-face jetting bits steer by rotating the asymmetric face to a chosen orientation and pushing without rotation.
- Rock formations need a mechanically cutting bit in a housing, usually driven by a mud motor rather than by string rotation.
- Nozzle configuration sets jetting energy, and too much jetting in soft ground causes washout and frac-out risk.
- Steering capability is judged by achievable bend radius, and that has to suit both the design path and the product pipe's own bend limit.
- Transmitter housings have to be positioned and shielded so the tracking system reads reliably at depth.
Specifications
| Figure | Typical range | Unit | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bit diameter | 90 - 200 | mm | Sets pilot bore size and the first reaming step. |
| Bit type | slanted face / tricone / rock housing | Follows ground classification directly. |