Niagara Directional Drilling

Niagara Directional Drilling – Jordan and Vineland 2006

From May to July 2006, Gary supervised a significant directional drilling project completed by Avertex Utility Solutions. The overall project was for the installation of 3.9 kilometres of trunk watermain for the Region of Niagara, the majority of which was specified as 450 mm PVC or CPP by open cut.

There were 3 directional drilled sections that required the installation of 500 mm OD HDPE pipe. All bores were drilled with a 12 inch pilot hole and subsequent 16 inch, 24 inch, and 30 inch reams.

The descriptions of the individual bores are as follow:

Escarpment Bore in Vineland (157 m)
This bore was required to bring the watermain up the escarpment through the environmentally sensitive slope controlled by the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority. The bore was drilled through limestone, sandstone, a talus section and clay till. Due to the variable materials to be drilled through, and the unknown talus configuration, this bore was considered risky.

Twenty Mile Valley Bore in Jordan (140 m)
This bore was required to bring the watermain from Jordan village down into the Twenty Mile Creek Valley. The bore was drilled through clayey silt till in its entirety.

Twenty Mile Creek Crossing (329 m)
This bore was required to cross the Twenty Mile Creek and bring the watermain up the west side of the Twenty Mile Creek valley. The creek crossing was drilled in Queenston Shale and the valley slope was drilled in silty clay till.

All three bores were completed without any significant technical issues.