JDH&A occupies a leadership position in the application of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) to obstacles such as waterways and roads, therefore the majority of our projects are related to HDD. We also provide services related to other technologies, such as microtunneling, conventional boring/jacking, and open cut construction methods.

The services that we provide our clients fall into three general categories:

1. Engineering Design
2. Construction Management
3. Contractor Support

Listed below are engineering and construction related tasks which JDH&A routinely undertakes on projects involving HDD river crossings. This scope of services can be revised based upon the specific requirements and proposed construction method for any given project.

Engineering Design

• Initial Site Evaluation - A representative of JDH&A will visit the crossing site to review existing conditions, determine the optimum HDD crossing configuration, and define specific requirements with respect to survey and geotechnical information.
  
  
• Feasibility Assessment - Based upon the initial site evaluation and other available information, JDH&A will produce a preliminary design, construction cost estimate, and construction schedule. This preliminary information will be used to assess the technical and contractual feasibility of the proposed crossing. HDD can also be compared against alternate construction methods in order to assess economic feasibility.
  
  
• Site Survey - JDH&A personnel or a local survey firm engaged by JDH&A will perform topographic and hydrographic surveys at the proposed crossing site. The river and its banks will be surveyed in detail necessary to describe work areas and accurately define the drilled path. Control for construction will be established and significant features will be tied in.
  
  
• Geotechnical Investigation - JDH&A will engage a local geotechnical firm to conduct exploratory borings at the crossing site as needed to define subsurface conditions. The geotechnical consultant's results will be presented in a report consisting of a general geologic review, boring logs, laboratory test data, etc.
  
  
• Permitting - JDH&A will prepare permit applications and assemble techical data as required for submission to federal, state, and local authorities. Engineering drawings will be produced where required for permits.
  
  
• Design - JDH&A will produce a complete design for the crossing. The design will be presented on a plan & profile drawing produced using AutoCad or MicroStation. A detailed cost estimate and will be produced and pipe and coating specifications will be reviewed.
  
  
• Construction Contracting - JDH&A will produce technical specifications covering specialized HDD activites to complement the design presented on the plan & profile drawing. If requested, these specifications can be integrated into a complete contract document using the client's standard contract conditions and specifications. Solicitation of bids from contractors and attendance at a pre-bid meeting are also included in this task.

Construction Management

• Specialized HDD Inspection - JDH&A will provide an engineer at the crossing site during HDD activities to monitor compliance with contract documents and permits. This quality assurance effort will focus on communication and documentation using two primary documents - progress reports and spot check reports. Progress reports will provide a summary of HDD operations and other general information about the crossing. Specific information relative to HDD operations will be docuemented in random spot check reports. Progress and spot check reports will generally be distributed to appropriate parties by electronic mail or facsimile on a daily basis from the site.
  
  Two of the key elements in JDH&A's specialized HDD inspection program are described below.
  
  1. Confirmation of Pilot Hole Position and Curvature - JDH&A's representative will have an understanding of the downhole survey system being used by the contractor and will be able to interpret its readings. Using these readings, independent calculations will be performed to determine the position and curvature of the pilot hole. Progress will be monitored on a daily basis and any problems addressed with the contractor so that remedial action can be taken immediately. At the end of pilot hole drilling, the actual exit point location will be independently confirmed and compared with the anticipated exit point location to give an indication of the error contained in the downhole survey readings.
  
  2. Drilling Fluid Impact and Disposal - Drilling fluid returns at the entry and exit point will be monitored throughout the course of the installation and the drilled alignment will be closely observed for signs of flow to the surface. If a disposal site has been designated, it will be periodically checked to insure compliance with specifications and permits.
  
  
• Standard Construction Inspection - JDH&A will provide an engineer or senior technician at the crossing site during pull section fabrication to monitor compliance with the contract documents and permit conditions.
  
  The primary elements in JDH&A's standard construction inspection program are described below.
  
  1. Qualification of Welding Procedure and Welders - Prior to beginning pull section fabrication, JDH&A's representative will supervise the qualification of the contractor's welding procedure and individual welders based upon the requirements of API 1104 and the appropriate specifications.
  
  2. Pull Section Fabrication Inspection - Welding, coating, and hydrostatic testing operations will be monitored and documented to insure compliance with the specifications.
  
  3. Work Site Mainenance Inspection - Maintenance of the work site and operations such as disposal of hydrostatic testing water will be monitored to insure compliance with the contract documents and permit conditions.

Contractor Support