For sixteen years J. D. Hair & Associates, Inc. (JDH&A) has been in the business of providing horizontal directional drilling (HDD) expertise to owners, contractors, and design firms. JDH&A has been a key member of design teams for some of the most significant and challenging HDD projects ever completed. Some of these projects are described below.

Alliance Pipeline Project
This high-pressure natural gas pipeline extending 1,900 miles from northern British Columbia to Chicago was designed and constructed to the highest environmental and safety standards required by regulatory bodies in both Canada and the United States. During the initial feasibility and permitting stage, JDH&A reviewed more than fifty major waterway crossings to determine the optimum crossing installation method. This was followed by design and construction monitoring for the HDD crossings in Canada and design consultation for the HDD crossings in the United States. All of the HDD crossings were completed by the summer of 2000.

View Photographs from the Alliance Pipeline Project

Colville River Pipeline Project
This project consisted of four 4,300-foot HDD installations through permafrost in the Alaskan Arctic. Subsurface conditions tested the limits of HDD technology while North Slope winter construction conditions required work to be carried out on ice work pads in temperatures ranging to -50 degrees Fahrenheit. JDH&A provided the initial feasibility analysis that demonstrated to the owner and permitting authorities that HDD could be applied at the Colville River. This initial work was followed by consultation relative to design and construction methods and field engineering for quality assurance. Construction began in early 1998 and all of the crossings were completed by the spring of 1999. This project was recognized in April of 2000 as one of five finalists for the American Society of Civil Engineers Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award.

View Photographs from the Colville River Crossing

Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline Project
This pipeline, which brings Canadian gas into the Boston Metropolitan area, is another Canadian-U.S. system where JDH&A held the HDD position on a large multidiscipline design team. JDH&A performed field reconnaissance at more than 50 potential HDD crossing sites in Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia to evaluate HDD feasibility. This was followed by implementation of a major geotechnical program for potential crossings in the State of Maine, production of design drawings for crossings in the U.S. and Canada, expert testimony before regulatory agencies, and consultation during the construction phase. All of the mainline crossings were completed in 1999.

York County South Carolina, Catawaba River Crossing
JDH&A provided design and consulting services relative to the installation of a 24-inch diameter sanitary sewer force main beneath the Catawaba River in York County, South Carolina. In an effort to minimize construction cost, this project was bid by both microtunneling and horizontal directional drilling contractors. JDH&A's services included preliminary feasibility analysis, HDD and microtunneling designs, production of technical specifications, and construction monitoring. Installation was completed in the summer of 1996.

Vermont Gas Systems, Missisquoi River Crossing
On this project JDH&A functioned as a consultant to Vermont Gas Systems for the installation of a 16-inch natural gas pipeline beneath the Missisquoi River. JDH&A's services included preliminary design and feasibility analysis, preparation of drawings and specifications, and construction management. This 1,900 foot crossing was the first horizontally directionally drilled crossing in the state of Vermont. Preliminary engineering work began in 1990 with installation completed in the fall of 1995.

Pipeline Research Committee at the American Gas Association
Under the sponsorship of the Pipeline Research Committee at the American Gas Association, JDH&A produced two manuals related to horizontally drilled pipeline river crossings. The first was an applications manual focused on drilling fluids and their function in drilled crossings. The second was an overall design guide covering engineering considerations in evaluating, designing, and installing a drilled river crossing. Work began in the fall of 1993 and both publications were completed by August of 1995.

Commonwealth Electric Company, Cape Cod Canal Crossing
JDH&A provided total design and construction management services involved with an 18-inch natural gas pipeline crossing of the Cape Cod Canal. This involved preliminary design and feasibility analysis, consultation during the permitting phase, production of specifications and design drawings, preparation of contract documents, and construction management. This 1,400 foot crossing was the first directionally drilled installation beneath the Cape Cod Canal. Preliminary engineering began in the fall of 1993 with installation completed in the summer of 1995.

San Antonio, S. A. Consulting and Operational Support
JDH&A provided consulting services relative to the purchase of a horizontal drilling rig, drilling fluid system, and downhole tooling for San Antonio, S. A., an Argentine contractor located in Buenos Aires. This support consisted of on-site operational training with the equipment as well as engineering support in the United States. Initial consulting services began in 1993 with the first crossing installation completed in the fall of 1994. Engineering support is currently ongoing.

Sunshine Pipeline Company, Proposed 30-inch Natural Gas Pipeline
JDH&A provided engineering services relative to preliminary design and permitting of waterway crossings on this proposed 30-inch natural gas pipeline extending approximately 600 miles from Pascagoula, Mississippi to Tampa, Florida. Evaluations were conducted at over 40 waterways to determine the optimum crossing method. Specific tasks undertaken relative to the proposed drilled crossings on this project included coordination of site surveys, feasibility and route analysis, production of drawings for permit applications, and production of plan & profile drawings. Preliminary engineering work began in late 1993. The project is currently on hold pending market developments.

Central Hudson Gas and Electric, Hudson River Crossing
On this project JDH&A functioned as design consultant to Central Hudson for the installation of a 16-inch natural gas pipeline beneath the Hudson River. This involved preliminary design and feasibility analysis, preparation of permit applications, geotechnical investigation, preparation of specifications and design drawings, and construction monitoring. The crossing, located near Poughkeepsie, New York, was approximately 4,500 feet in length. The geology at the site required a creative design involving a combination of cut and cover and trenchless techniques. Installation was completed in the spring of 1992. The crossing was recognized in 1993 as an Outstanding Engineering Achievement by the New York State Society of Professional Engineers.

Iroquois Gas Transmission System
JDH&A functioned as a consultant to Iroquois Gas Transmission for evaluation and design of drilled segments on this 369 mile cross-country natural gas transmission system extending from Iroquois, Ontario to South Commack, New York. Detailed drilled crossing designs and specifications were produced for the Hudson River, Housatonic River, Milford Shoreline, and Northport Shoreline crossings. Geologic conditions on all crossings presented state of the art challenges. Because of this, JDH&A recommended that the St. Lawrence River and Hudson River be installed by cut and cover construction. The shoreline crossings were installed by cut and cover construction at the contractor's option. The Housatonic was installed by horizontal directional drilling. JDH&A provided support during contract negotiations and construction monitoring assistance on this crossing. Installation was completed by late 1991.

These projects represent only a partial listing of JDH&A's experience. The collective experience of the practice since its inception in 1987 comprises over 50 miles of trenchless utility construction with an estimated construction contract value of well over 50 million dollars.