WHITE MOUNTAIN

HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING

Meehan Drilling Ltd was awarded the project to install PE storm sewers under a taxi way and main runway using directional drilling at Belfast International Airport.

Taxi crossing

The taxi way gravity sewer crossing was a 450mm PE pipe over a distance of 84m. Challenges were met due to difficult geological conditions and restricted working hours due to weather conditions. The pilot bore was drilled to tolerances of 0.4% per 4.5m drill rod. The entry and exit points were exactly on target. The drilling was completed within 9 days.

Main runway crossing

This main runway gravity sewer was a 315 mm pipe over a distance of 138m. The drilling could only be executed at night as per air traffic control restrictions. The drilling was completed within 10 days, at the same tolerances as the taxi way crossing. The working window averaged at 4 hours per night. Our client was delighted upon the completion of the crossing and the main runway was handed back to the airport on schedule.