HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
This innovative approach provides a flexible and efficient solution for situations where conventional open-cut methods are not feasible, environmentally or economically viable, or not permitted. HDD is particularly advantageous in densely populated urban areas, or where various obstacles, and difficult terrains, such as shore approaches, swamps, and river crossings, lie along the proposed route.
With HDD, the pipeline or cable land disturbance is only required at the entry and exit points, and the pipeline or conduit is installed seamlessly underneath the obstacle, minimizing environmental impact and maximizing efficiency.
HDD ENGINEERING & CONSTRUCTABILITY
LIFCON supports EPC contractors and project owners from the tender and FEED stages through constructability assessment, preliminary HDD design, methodology development, rig selection, execution planning, and budgetary pricing.
Feasibility & Design
HDD feasibility assessment, constructability review, bore profile development, rig selection, and drilling methodology development for each crossing.
Geotechnical & Execution Planning
Geotechnical review, pilot-hole planning, reaming program design, pullback and pulling-force assessment, drilling-fluid planning, and hydraulic considerations.
Risk, Tender & Execution Support
Temporary works planning, execution methodology, risk assessment, tender-stage technical support, budgetary planning, and complete HDD execution through to handover.
MAJOR RIVER & ENVIRONMENTALLY SENSITIVE CROSSINGS
Water & Wetland Crossings
Major rivers, wetlands, wadis, and canals crossed without disturbing the waterway or surrounding ecosystem.
Infrastructure & Urban Crossings
Highways, railways, urban crossings, and existing infrastructure corridors, executed without disrupting surface traffic or operations.
Environmentally Sensitive Areas
Crossings planned and executed to minimize disturbance in environmentally sensitive areas, in line with project environmental requirements.
HARD ROCK HDD
Ground Conditions
Company-owned rigs suited to normal soil, hard soil, and hard/boulder rock formations, with rock-rated pilot bores from 3.5" (8.9 cm) minimum bore diameter.
Reaming & Steering Capability
Hole-opener and reaming capability across the fleet, with automated rod loading and drill rack angles up to 33% for hard-rock and boulder conditions.
Fleet Coverage
Hard-rock capable rigs across the full fleet range — from compact rigs for utility-scale rock crossings up to the 650-ton heavy/maxi rig for large-diameter rock crossings.
Completed Hard-Rock HDD Crossings
Confirmed rock-strength (UCS) data from completed LIFCON projects
| PROJECT | ROCK DATA | CLIENT |
|---|---|---|
| Construction of Malqa 132/13.8kV Underground Cable | Hard rock | UCS: 85 MPa | 381 m crossing | Saudi Electricity Company |
| OMPP Saudi Aramco Southern Area — SDGM | Hard rock | UCS: 90 MPa | 600 m crossing | Saudi Aramco |
| Dammam Crude & Gas Development Project | Hard rock | UCS: 80 MPa | 602 m crossing | Saudi Aramco |
APPLICATION
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OFFSHORE: INSTALLING ELECTRICAL CABLES FROM SEA TO SHORE.
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TRENCHLESS OIL AND GAS PIPELINES
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OVERHEAD POWER TRANSMISSION PROJECTS
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UNDERGROUND TELECOM AND CONNECTIVITY
2,000+
Pilot bores completed
across Saudi Arabia & the GCC
650-Ton
Heavy-duty HDD thrust/
pullback capability
1,200m
Longest single shot –
offshore to sea
Since 2009
Delivering HDD across
the GCC
Company-Owned HDD Fleet
Heavy / Maxi HDD Rigs (100+ Ton)
5 rigs — large-diameter pipeline crossings, major river and shore approach crossings. Manufacturer indicated in rig model name.
| Rig Model (Manufacturer) | Qty | Thrust/Pullback & Torque |
|---|---|---|
| VERMEER D1320x900 HDD Rig | 1 | 650 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 134,768 Nm |
| GOODENG GS 3000-LS | 1 | 300 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 100,000 Nm |
| GOODENG GS 2200-LS | 1 | 220 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 83,000 Nm |
| VERMEER D330x500 SERIES II HDD Rig | 1 | 151 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 67,791 Nm |
| VERMEER D220X300 SERIES 3 HDD Rig | 1 | 110 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 41,691 Nm |
Medium HDD Rigs (40–99 Ton)
4 rigs — mid-size pipeline and utility crossings, urban infrastructure works. Manufacturer indicated in rig model name.
| Rig Model (Manufacturer) | Qty | Thrust/Pullback & Torque |
|---|---|---|
| VERMEER D130X150 SERIES II HDD Rig | 1 | 65 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 20,337 Nm |
| VERMEER D100x120 SERIES II HDD Rig | 3 | 45 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 16,270 Nm |
Compact HDD Rigs (Under 40 Ton)
9 rigs — utility, cable, and small-diameter pipeline installations. Manufacturer indicated in rig model name.
| Rig Model (Manufacturer) | Qty | Thrust/Pullback & Torque |
|---|---|---|
| VERMEER D40x55 SERIES 3 HDD Rig | 1 | 18 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 8,135 Nm |
| VERMEER D40x55 DR SERIES 3 HDD Rig | 1 | 18 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 8,135 Nm |
| VERMEER D36x50 SERIES II HDD Rig | 6 | 16 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 6,772 Nm |
| VERMEER D36x50 DR HDD Rig | 1 | 16 ton thrust and pull back | Torque: 8,135 Nm |
Our HDD Equipment Fleet
Thrust/Pullback: 1,300,000 lbs (650 Ton):
Max spindle torque: 99,400 lb ((134,768.3Nm):
Max spindle speed at max engine rpm: 57 rpm:
Max Carriage Speed at Max Engine rpm: 15.8 m/min Number of Drive Motors: 6 Mud Swivel: 3” (7.6cm) Breakout: Torque: 147,500 ft-lb: Inside Diameter: 10” (25.3 cm)
Clamp Force: 176,000 lb: Gross Horsepower: 1200 hp (895 kw): Hydraulic tank capacity: 720 gal
Thrust/Pullback: 38,000 lb (169 KN)
Max carriage speed: 116 ft. /min (35.4 m/min):
Max spindle torque: 6000 ft-lb (8134.9 Nm):
Max spindle speed at max engine rpm: 210
rpm Min bore diameter (rock): 3.5" (8.9 cm)
Min bend radius 6" (15.2 cm) | Automated rod loader: Yes| Max drill rack angle: 17.5° ( 1.5 % )
Thrust/Pullback: 40,000
lb ( 18 ton ) Max
carriage speed: 188 ft. /min (57.3 m/min) Max spindle torque: 5500 ft-lb (7457 Nm)
Max spindle speed at max engine: 227 rpm, Min bore diameter: 6" (15.2 cm)
Min bend radius 145' (44.2 m) Automated rod loader: Yes
Max drill rack angle: 17.5° ( 31.5 % )
Thrust/Pullback: 242,100 lb (110 Ton) | Max spindle torque: 30,750 ft-lb (41,691.4 Nm) | Max spindle speed at max engine rpm: 164 rpm
Max ground drive speed: 1.8 mph (2.9 km/hr.) Min bore diameter: 9.5" (241 mm )
Max bore diameter: 54" (1371 mm ) Min bend radius
300' (135 m) Automated rod loader: Yes
Drill rack angle: 13–18degrees
Thrust/Pullback: 100,000 lb (45 Ton)
Max spindle torque: 12,000 ft-lb (16,269.8 Nm)
Max spindle speed at max engine rpm: 120 rpm
Max ground drive speed: 3.2 mph (5.15 km/hr.) Min bore diameter: 5 " (127 mm )
Max bore diameter: 44 " (1117 mm ) Min bend radius 197.4' (60.2 m) Automated rod loader: Yes | Drill rack angle: 22 – 33 degrees
Thrust/Pullback: 130,000 lb (65 Ton)
Max spindle torque: 15,000 ft-lb (20,337 Nm) | Max
spindle speed at max engine rpm: 150 rpm
Max ground drive speed: 3.2 mph (5.15 km/hr.)
Min bore diameter: 5 " (127
mm )
Max bore diameter: 44 " (1117 mm ) Min bend radius 197.4' (60.2 m) | Automated rod loader: Yes | Drill rack angle: 22 – 33 degrees
Thrust/Pullback: 340,000 lbs (151 Ton)
Max spindle torque: 50,800 lb (67,791 Nm) | Max spindle speed at max engine rpm: 89 rpm | Max ground drive speed: 2.98 mph (4.8 km/hr.)
Min bore diameter: 9.5 " (241 mm ) | Max bore diameter: 64 " (1625 mm ) | Min bend radius 300' (135 m)
Automated rod loader: Yes
Drill rack angle: 13 – 18 degrees
Thrust/Pullback: 40,000 lb ( 18 Ton )
Max carriage speed: 115 ft. /min (35.1 m/min) Max spindle torque: 5500 ft-lb (7458 Nm)
Max spindle speed at max engine rpm: 199 rpm | Min bore diameter (rock): 6"
(15.2 cm) | Min bend radius: 169' (52 m)
Automated rod loader: Yes
Max drill rack angle: 17.5° ( 31.5 % )
