Pilot Hole Drilling in HDD
In Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), the first stage is drilling the pilot hole. This phase involves carefully guiding the drill bit from the entry point to the exit point while maintaining the planned path. The pilot hole is tracked using electronic or magnetic signals, allowing the operator to adjust the drill’s direction as needed. Steering is achieved using tools like spade bits or bent head assemblies. Once the pilot hole reaches the predefined exit point, the reaming phase begins.