Underground Construction - June 2018 - 17

exclusive industry research was
conducted during March and
April. It surveyed contractors
and organizations that actively
own and operate HDD units to
enable a statistical portrayal of
the market.

timent was repeated by many
respondents, who credit much of
their market growth to the faith
owners/utilities have in HDD
technology.
This faith has been hardearned by contractors or, in
some cases, re-earned. During
the first telecom boom in the
late '90s, HDD started out as the
answer to a construction prayer.
Owners were quickly sold on the
efficiency and speed of the new
technology. But, as the market
exploded, inevitably late-comers
flocked to what was perceived as
an "easy-money" business.
That level of trust was sometimes sabotaged by "cowboy"
contractors who had no experience in drilling and the construc-

Customer faith
While there were some disparaging remarks from survey respondents such as "the HDD market
is declining in our area," and one
believes that it "is less stable this
year," the vast majority of contractors believe the strength of
the HDD market in 2018 ranges
from "good" to "great."
"There continues to be growing acceptance by customers,"
said one contractor. That sen-

Average Bore Length (in feet)

2012

tion business in general, including pricing profitable jobs. All
kinds of problems were created
both at the time and into the future, with poor installations and
a multitude of what has become
legacy crossbores. Some cities
even banned HDD for a time.
Of course, the telecom bust
hit shortly after the industry
moved into the new millennium and the HDD market
shrunk considerably in a flash.
The good news was that most
of the disreputable contractors
were forced out of the business;
unfortunately some of the good
contractors couldn't survive, as
well.
Still, as tough as the early 2000s proved to be for the

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2500
2302

2221
2000

2029

2125
1998

growth of HDD, markets did
start to recover, contractors
found new markets and equipment manufacturers adjusted to
real-world, sustainable numbers.
There were some lean years for
all, but the long-term effect resulted in contractors learning
how to survive through efficiency and enhanced production
levels.
By 2004, the HDD market
started trending upwards with
strong growth as contractors diversified into other markets, such
as gas distribution, which has
become a mainstay of HDD work
today. Along with this diversification came a strong, new demand
for mid-sized rigs. Even large rigs,
traditionally used primarily for
oil and gas pipelines, found many
new opportunities in gas/electric
utilities and fiber optic installations, and in the water and sewer pressure pipe markets. Large
HDD work is now a mainstay for
many markets.

1917

Upward trend
1500

1000
632 607
500

640 636
569 588
279 263 260

Large

Mid

389 390 378

Small

With the exception of a one-year
blip during the Great Recession
in 2009, HDD has climbed to a
strong market position driven
not only by telecommunications,
but a plethora of other applications. Smaller rig work thrives
with telecom, electric and gas
distribution work; contractors

Age Of HDD Fleet (% of total)
50
40
30

28.4
22.1

20

31.7 31.9 31.0

31.3
28.4 29.3

33.0

22.7

20.3
14.0

12.8

36.8
26.2
22.8 23.2

21.1
18.7

14.3

10

10 years or greater

5 - 10 years

2 - 5 years

< 2 years
UConOnline.com | JUNE 2018

17


http://www.UConOnline.com

Underground Construction - June 2018

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Underground Construction - June 2018

Underground Construction - June 2018
Editor’s Log
Newsline
Washington Watch
Pipeline Projects
The Role of Smart Gas in the Smart City
HDD Market Growing, but Challenges Abound
Workforce Issues Dominate HDD Roundtable
Pipe Selection Chart
UTA Literature Research Chemical Emissions of Styrenated CIPP Non-conclusive
NASSCO Convention Addresses Industry Needs, Concerns
Rehab Technology News
NASSCO Tech Tips
Business
New Products
Business Cards
Sales Reps
Events
Ad Index
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Underground Construction - June 2018
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Cover2
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 1
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Editor’s Log
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 3
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Newsline
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 5
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 6
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 7
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Washington Watch
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 9
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Pipeline Projects
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 11
Underground Construction - June 2018 - The Role of Smart Gas in the Smart City
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 13
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 14
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 15
Underground Construction - June 2018 - HDD Market Growing, but Challenges Abound
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 17
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 18
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 19
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 20
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 21
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 22
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 23
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 24
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 25
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Workforce Issues Dominate HDD Roundtable
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 27
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Pipe Selection Chart
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 29
Underground Construction - June 2018 - UTA Literature Research Chemical Emissions of Styrenated CIPP Non-conclusive
Underground Construction - June 2018 - NASSCO Convention Addresses Industry Needs, Concerns
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 32
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Rehab Technology News
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 34
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 35
Underground Construction - June 2018 - NASSCO Tech Tips
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 37
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 38
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 39
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 40
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 41
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 42
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 43
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 44
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 45
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 46
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 47
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 48
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 49
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 50
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 51
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 52
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 53
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Business
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 55
Underground Construction - June 2018 - New Products
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 57
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 58
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Business Cards
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 60
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 61
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 62
Underground Construction - June 2018 - 63
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Ad Index
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Cover3
Underground Construction - June 2018 - Cover4
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