July 2023 Vol. 78 No. 7
Features
HDDA Mud School provides vital information to drillers
Drilling fluid has been called the life blood of horizontal directional drilling. Specifically, bentonite (mud) is the core for virtually all drilling fluids. But understanding how mud operates, testing for proper mix and a plethora of other considerations are often overlooked in today’s rush to get pipe or conduit in the ground.
With that in mind, the Horizontal Directional Drilling Association recently held a complimentary, hands-on Mud School to share vital information for new drillers and provide a refresher course for veteran operators. More than 60 people attended the May 18 event held at the Doubletree Hotel near Love Field in Dallas, Texas.
The day was split into two parts. The morning session was held inside and included a business session and safety update. After lunch, attendees moved to a tent-city type of set-up in the hotel parking lot where in a rotating fashion, three different instructors went over different aspects of mud testing and prep. Participants were able to use donated supplies to perform their own testing and receive pointers from the instructors.
“No matter if your focus is on FTTH or large transmission pipelines, the HDDA needs your energy and participation to protect our industry,” said HDDA President Don Riggs, Future Infrastructure. “Our goal is to educate the public, customers, municipalities and other government agencies as to the benefits of directional drilling.
“This Mud School is just one of several training programs we have planned,” Riggs added.
Among the topics covered were Mud Testing 101, Marsh Funnel Vis Cup, Mud Balance/Mud Weight Test and pH Testing, and Sand Content Testing.
“Drilling mud and fluid additives continue to be an underappreciated and underutilized tool for the HDD process,” explained Clint Pitman of Drilling Mud Direct, who coordinated the school’s content. “Testing your mud, and knowing the mud properties, is the first step toward improving their utilization. Just as there are different drill bits and reamers for varying soil conditions, so too are their different viscosities and different additives.
Further, Pitman added that “the HDDA’s mission of training and educating its membership is raising the competency bar, and that’s good for the future of HDD.”
As part of its industry support outreach, the HDDA will be holding two more specialty HDD Schools in 2023. The next one is scheduled for Houston in September and will focus on walkover and wireline tracking along with utility locating. Also, yet another HDD School is in development for the San Antonio later in the fall.
The HDDA was established to promote horizontal directional drilling for the utility and pipeline industry. It is structured to support operators of all rig sizes whether their focus is FTTH (fiber to the home) or large transmission pipelines. The HDDA’s goals include:
- Promote the HDD industry
- Educate entities on the benefits of HDD
- Fight regulations that hinder the industry
- Improve the HDD industry through safety and education
- Elevating this trenchless construction method to new heights
For more information about the HDDA, call (713) 830-2184 or on the web at hdda.us
Comments