Due to public environmental awareness, smart trenchless installation methods are required for fast and safe installation of pipeline crossings and landfalls, with minimal impact on the surroundings.
As long as the ground conditions allow a safe drilling process, horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is still the preferred option.
New environmental tasks will create a bigger demand in work and construction volume and require safer and greener HDD operations.
Therefore, a fully electric HDD Rig concept is an indispensable step towards energy transition, making green energies usable in the drilling industry, while reducing emissions to a minimum.
A directly electrically driven rig allows the use of green electricity and assures high efficiency without the losses associated with hydraulic concepts.
Furthermore, features like the jet pump, weeper subs and tooling concepts have been developed to increase safety and application range in HDD.
This overall technological progress will most likely have a very positive impact on the reputation of HDD in the years to come.
Following this trend, UEA Pty Ltd has invested in Australia’s only operational hybrid electric HDD rig, the HK300 Special, developed in close collaboration with Herrenknecht AG and shaped by decades of drilling experience across major infrastructure projects.
The HK300 was selected to support future-focused infrastructure delivery, particularly in urban and sensitive environments, through quieter operation, lower emissions and reduced project impacts.
“The HK300 represents an exciting step forward for HDD in Australia. We see this as an investment in where the industry is heading with quieter drilling, lower emissions and smarter solutions for complex urban projects,” said Steven Hopkins General Manager at UEA.
Herrenknecht, a global leader in mechanized tunnelling technology, offers a comprehensive range of powerful Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) rigs.
Designed for the trenchless installation of pipelines, these rigs provide a fast, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly solutions.
These versatile rigs are suitable for installing a wide variety of pipelines, including those for oil and gas, hydrogen and CO², water and sewage, district heating, high-voltage power lines, cable bundles and much more.
Herrenknecht HDD rigs are defined primarily by their pulling force, which is selected based on project parameters like borehole length and diameter.
In its portfolio it offers units with pulling force that spans from 45 to 500 tonnes (100,000 to 1,125,000 lbs), a wide diameter range of between 0.2 to 2 metres.
The range covers power pack output from 278kw to over 1,000kW or in the old scale 370hp to well over 1,340hp.
The range caters to a mix of geological profiles for both soft ground and rock (provided relatively stable grounds are a prerequisite).
Drive options for different environments
Herrenknecht, to meet varied environmental and operational requirements, offers three drive system types.
The first is the All-Electric HDD Rig. By dispensing with hydraulic functions as far as possible, the all-electric drive is the lowest-emission and most efficient system on the market.
It impresses with its low maintenance requirements and high control precision.
The Electro-Hydraulic (Hybrid) HDD Rig is quieter and has lower emissions than diesel-powered systems. Thanks to the lower maintenance requirements, it is suitable for flexible use worldwide.
Then there’s the Diesel-Hydraulic HDD Rig. The diesel-hydraulic system is suitable for independent drilling operations. No larger generator systems are required to operate the rig.
“Helping design the HK300 Special has been a very rewarding experience — ensuring that the build meets the needs of our staff and clients not only now but into the future,” said Jonathan de Vos Operations Manager at UEA.
“The benefits that it will bring to UEA’s HDD fleet alongside our two other HK250 rigs and twin 800GPM electric mud pumps is something we are all really looking forward to.”
Upcoming projects, including pipeline networks for alternative fuels like hydrogen, are of public interest and successful, eco-friendly execution will be helpful for the whole industry.
For further information, visit herrenknecht.com/en/products/productdetail/hdd-rig/
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