Application and development of numerical simulation for under- ground horizontal directional drilling

In coalmines of China, horizontal directional drilling （HDD） is an increasingly popular method for underground in-seam gas drainage. Numerical simulation, especially finite element analysis, is often used as an effective method to improve HDD operation. These improvements focus on rock-breaking efficiency, directional precision, stability of the borehole wall, and reliability of the drill equipment. On the basis of underground drilling characteristics, typical numerical simulation exam- ples in drilling techniques and equipment are summarized and analyzed. In the end, the future development trends of numerical simulation in underground in-seam drilling are proposed.

Surface settlement induced by horizontal directional drilling

Horizontal directional drilling(HDD)is a widely used trenchless method for underground utility connections.The associated ground settlement triggered by HDD depends on the size,types,and surface texture of pipe,diameter of borehole,and soil conditions.The pre-sent study investigates the surface settlement due to the construction of a 1067 mm diameter HDD,which will replace an existing sewer siphon under the SR-60 highway in Chino,California using empirical,and numerical methods.Based on the results obtained from the subsurface investigation,an empirical analysis was conducted first.followed by numerical modeling of the HDD using PLAXIS 2D soft-ware.A careful comparison between two different methods indicated closer values of surface settlement between the empirical method(7.3 mm)and the numerical modeling(4.6 mm).In addition,the shape of surface settlement and horizontal settlement curves for the empirical and numerical methods was found to be similar.The minor discrepancy between the two methods resulted as the numerical model can host several soil layers whereas the empirical equation can use only one type of soil.Finally,a parametric study was conducted to evaluate the effect of borehole cover depth,size,and soil parameters on surface settlement.It was observed that soil strength param-eters yielded a greater effect on surface movement,whereas modulus of elasticity has a relatively smaller influence with zero contribution from Poisson’s ratio.

Laboratory study of fluid properties owing to cutting intrusions during horizontal directional drilling

During horizontal directional drilling installations,a primary function of drilling fluids is to yield drill cuttings and lubricate the product pipe.This paper presents the results of a research study of drilling fluid parameters,and the filter cake properties associated with drill cutting intrusions.Different sand meshes and field cutting sizes were added to the drilling fluids.Based on the laboratory experiments of eighteen samples including testing drilling fluid rheology and filter cake properties,the influence of drill cuttings on low solid-phase drilling fluid systems were obtained.The results reveal that drilling fluid plastic viscosity values increase with sand content and particle size.The 100-mesh sand exhibits a larger plastic viscosity compared to the 200-mesh sand.This suggests that the coarser the sand,the greater is the plastic viscosity.By contrast,drilling fluids with 200-mesh sand exhibit greater shear forces than the 100-mesh sand.When the sand content is4%,the shear dilution ability of the drilling fluid begins to weaken.The thinnest filter cake is formed after 6 h with a 100-mesh cutting size and 4%sand content.However,when the cutting size changed to 150-mesh and 2%content,the largest filter cake toughness and strength after rolling for 12 h were obtained.Simultaneously,the combination of 200-mesh and 150-mesh with 2%–4%content rolling for 12–24 h indicate different results.For the filter cake thickness,cutting content is the primary influencing factor followed by particle size and gradation.The factor with the least influence is rolling time.We found that rolling time and gradation were the most significant factors affecting the toughness of the filter cake,followed by cutting content.Conversely,particle size exhibits the least influence on filter cake toughness.These results are important to better understand the solid-phase control of drilling fluids in the field.

BIM for the Underground-An enabler of trenchless construction

The subsurface space in urban areas is an important asset.However,the information available on this environment is relatively poor compared to above ground information.This paper proposes a Building Information Model(BIM)for underground applications as means to address this information gap.The creation and progressive update of BIM for a constructed artefact ensures that data on the structures is available and can be used throughout its lifetime.A BIM for underground applications integrates data on surface structures,such as buildings,and subsurface infrastructures,such as pipes,along with details of the surrounding ground,the associated soil and rock properties and groundwater regime into a single framework.This approach is demonstrated by applying it to trenchless construction operations,including a microtunnelling project for a new sewer.The data from this extended BIM concept can be interactively used with analysis packages to conduct risk assessments for new construction activities.It also shows how BIM for the Underground can be used throughout the planning,construction and post-construction stages of a project,and,importantly,how this information can be available for future projects.