Installation of a gas pipes with the - TERRA MINI-JET MJ 1600

TERRA MINI-JET MJ 1600 lays an HDPE gas line DA 75 mm.

Gas pipe installations for new house connections

A contractor from Germany had to lay several gas pipes made out of HDPE OD 75 mm (3“) over a length of 45 m (150 ft). The gas pipes were used for new house connections in the southern part of Germany. At the first jobsite there was a mixed ground condition made out of clay and gravel. There was a channel crossing the drill path. The minimum distance to the channel had to be 0,5 m (1,5 ft). Therefore the inclination of the drill path was set to minus 2 – 3 % to reach the target pit. For the localisation of the drilling head the contractor used the Falcon F5 locating system from DCI, which makes it possible to safe the datas of your drill path.

Pit Launch Machine MJ 1600, highest productivity and fast installation

After the preparation of the starting and target pit, the pit launch machine MJ 1600 was installed into the pit. The cradle of the machine was connected to the hydraulic houses and the bentonite was prepared in the mixing and pumping station in a 2,000 ltr (530 gal) tanc. The drilling head was placed at a level of 1,1 m (3,5 ft) of depth and an inclination of minus 2 %. The installation was done fast and easy. For the pilot bore the contractor only used 2 hours, which shows the high productivity of the machine. After the pilot bore the backreaming procedure was started. The contractor used a TERRA reamer with OD 115 mm (4,5”). The high rotation speed of 150 rpm and the high drilling volume of 52 ltr/min (14 gpm) makes it easy to operate the machine and it guarantees a continuous flow of the bentonite during the backreaming procedure.

Satisfied client and contractor, more jobs to come

After the jobsite the client and his contractor were very satisfied with the pit launch machine TERRA MINI-JET MJ 1600. The pit launcher is the ideal machine for house connections, road crossings or bores with narrow and limited space.

Pic 1: TERRA MINI-JET MJ 1600 lays an HDPE gas line DA 75 mm.

Pic 2: Drilling path and starting pit for the MJ 1600

Pic 3: Drill rods with bending radius of 15 m (45 ft).

Pic 4: The bentonite is prepared in the 2,000 ltr (530 gpm) Tanc.

Pic 5: Arrival of the sonde housing and drilling head C/60 after 2 hours.

Pic 6: Installation of the reamer OD 115 mm (4,5“) and the gas pipe OD 75 mm (3“).

Pic 7: The scraper DA 115 mm for HDPE gas pipe DA 75 mm in use.