The directional boring technology is an adaptation of existing hardware from various underground industries, primarily from the underground utilities industry. Hydraulically activated thrust equipment capable of exerting more than 40 tons of thrust is used to push the directional boring heads into the earth.
Directional control is obtained by proper positioning of the face of the nonsymmetric boring head.
Slow rotation of the boring head will cut and compact the geologic material into the borehole wall. Thrusting a boring head that is not rotating will cause a directional change. The machinery is capable of initiating a borehole, steering down to a desired horizontal depth, continuing at that depth, and then steering back to the surface at a down-range location. This directional boring technology is desirable for environmental applications because the access method requires very minimal addition of fluids and very little soil removal during the drilling process. In addition, various methods to emplace monitoring equipment could be developed including a pneumatic hammer technology for sleeve emplacement.