Underground Construction - June 2017 - 26

HDD Survey
tors with large rigs that have seen
a dramatic slow-down in their
energy related work over the past
three years.
Indeed, large rig work has
spread far outside the boundaries

of energy pipelines. Water, electric
transmission, fiber optic conduit
- even sewer force mains - have
all become increasingly popular
markets for HDD installation,
frequently requiring larger equip-

ment to cover project scopes and
logistics.
For several years, large HDD
contractors were in high demand
as the energy pipeline construction
boom necessitated tremendous

What is the most common type of pipe installed via HDD?
50

44.9

43.2

43.0

49.9

49.7 HDPE

22.3

22.5 PVC

42.4

40

30

amounts of directional drilling.
Those "wild west" days with project backlogs of a year or longer
experienced a dramatic slowdown
in 2015, along with the pipeline
projects. Still, work continued
into 2016 to complete pipeline
projects already underway. But by
the middle of 2016, those projects
were completed and new pipeline
work was slow to emerge. With the
business-friendly approach of the
President Trump administration,
there has been a renewed flurry of
recent pipeline activity and project
announcements. Regardless, 2017
is shaping up to be a much stronger year for HDD work in energy
than 2016.
HDD work for sewer force
mains continues to gain market
share, as well. While directional
drilling is utilized for some gravity
work, that still remains elusive.

Have job, will hire
21.7

20

15.3

22.0

22.1

16.2

16.2

22.4

15.6
14.2

12.5

12.4

12.4 Steel

12.3

11.8

10
6.2

7.8

2013

2014

6.3

5.7

2011

2012

Rig size by % of market
60

2013

2014

10.0 Ductile/
Iron

9.1

5.4

4.5

2015

2016

2015

2017*

*Estimated

Other

2016

60.6
55.4

53.2

50

51.6 51.9

40
31.0 30.6
30.2 30.4 30.5

30
20
12.0 12.3 12.5
9.2 10.1

10
4.1

26

4.3

5.1

5.0

Jumbo

Large

Mid

Mini

more than 300,000 pounds/pullback

100 -300,000 pounds/pullback

40,000-100,000 pounds/pullback

under 40,000 pounds/pullback

ucononline.com

Workforce issues continue to
plague drillers of all sizes. At the
Underground Construction HDD
Round Table held in conjunction
with UCT 2017 in Fort Worth, TX,
it was apparent just how strongly
the issue of hiring and retaining
quality personnel was impacting the HDD market - just like
much of the overall construction
workforce. Panel members and
audience alike cited examples of
extreme steps they were taking
to locate, train and retain quality
labor. "We are competing with a
lot of other companies for available labor in areas we work. It has
hindered our growth," commented
one audience member.
In the survey, several respondents from across the country
lamented a dearth of quality
operators. "We're having trouble
finding anyone who wants to work
in the construction industry, even
with something as cutting edge
as HDD," explained a West Coast
contractor.
The Distribution Contractors
Association, Power & Communication Contractors Association,
and other groups have organized
concerted workforce development
Underground Construction June 2017
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Underground Construction - June 2017

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