A horizontal directional drilling method includes operation of a HDD machine to power a drill string terminating at a drill head to create an underground borehole extending at least partially horizontally between an entry point and an exit point. A utility line and a pair of insulated wires are attached to the drill string at the exit point. An observation device is also attached to the drill string, and the observation device is connected with an uphole module via power line communication (PLC) over the pair of insulated wires. The horizontal directional drilling machine performs a pullback of the drill string, with the utility line, the pair of insulated wires, and the observation device connected thereto, back toward the entry point. Data from the observation device are displayed on the uphole module during pullback of the drill string.

A cutting head has a mounting bracket for attachment to a pipe and a cutter wheel. A double tapered bearing is connected between the mounting bracket and the cutter wheel. The bearing allows the cutter wheel to be rotated without rotation of the pipe. A drive shaft connector on the cutter wheel is connectable to a pilot hole drive shaft for rotating the cutter wheel and pulling it and the pipe. A pilot hole is drilled in a conventional manner. The pipe is attached to the mounting bracket and an end of the pilot hole drive shaft is then connected to the cutter wheel. Simultaneously the pilot hole is enlarged and the pipe and cutter wheel are pulled along the enlarged hole by the drive shaft. The cutter wheel advances along the pilot hole and the pipe is simultaneously advanced through the enlarged hole immediately behind the cutter wheel.

A cutting head has a mounting bracket for attachment to a pipe and a cutter wheel. A double tapered bearing is connected between the mounting bracket and the cutter wheel. The bearing allows the cutter wheel to be rotated without rotation of the pipe. A drive shaft connector on the cutter wheel is connectable to a pilot hole drive shaft for rotating the cutter wheel and pulling it and the pipe. A pilot hole is drilled in a conventional manner. The pipe is attached to the mounting bracket and an end of the pilot hole drive shaft is then connected to the cutter wheel. Simultaneously the pilot hole is enlarged and the pipe and cutter wheel are pulled along the enlarged hole by the drive shaft. The cutter wheel advances along the pilot hole and the pipe is simultaneously advanced through the enlarged hole immediately behind the cutter wheel.

A reaming tool for use in a wellbore has an elongated tubular body with an outer surface. There are at least first and second reamer sections formed on the tubular body, with the first and second reamer sections (i) being positioned circumferentially opposite one another, and (ii) each having at least two blades. The first reamer section includes at least one rounded dome insert and a majority of cutting tooth inserts, while the second reamer section includes a majority of rounded dome inserts.

A reaming tool for use in a wellbore has an elongated tubular body with an outer surface. There are at least first and second reamer sections formed on the tubular body, with the first and second reamer sections (i) being positioned circumferentially opposite one another, and (ii) each having at least two blades. The first reamer section includes at least one rounded dome insert and a majority of cutting tooth inserts, while the second reamer section includes a majority of rounded dome inserts.

A control system for a raise boring machine drilling a pilot hole and related methods are disclosed. The control system includes a cuttings box for receiving and weighing cuttings ejected from the pilot hole during drilling. The cuttings box is configured to retain an amount of cuttings indicative of advancing the pilot hole substantially the length of a drill rod. A controller in communication with the cuttings box is configured to receive a signal reflective of a weight of cuttings in the cuttings box. The controller is further configured to compare the received signal to an expected weight criteria associated with the drill rod length, and to in response to the signal satisfying the expected cutting weight criteria, have cuttings ejected from the cuttings box.

A horizontal directional drilling method includes operation of a HDD machine to power a drill string terminating at a drill head to create an underground borehole extending at least partially horizontally between an entry point and an exit point. A utility line and a pair of insulated wires are attached to the drill string at the exit point. An observation device is also attached to the drill string, and the observation device is connected with an uphole module via power line communication (PLC) over the pair of insulated wires. The horizontal directional drilling machine performs a pullback of the drill string, with the utility line, the pair of insulated wires, and the observation device connected thereto, back toward the entry point. Data from the observation device are displayed on the uphole module during pullback of the drill string.

A new system for and a method of deploying a heat exchanger pipe. A bore hole is drilled from an access ditch location to a terminal ditch location using a piloted drill head powered via an umbilical attached to the piloted drill head. A casing is attached to the piloted drill head and disposed about the umbilical into the bore hole from the access ditch location to the terminal ditch location. At the terminal ditch location, the piloted drill head is removed from the casing and the umbilical and a heat exchanger pipe is attached to the umbilical. The umbilical is withdrawn from within the casing deployed in the bore hole to pull the heat exchanger pipe into the casing. The casing is then withdrawn from the bore hole leaving the heat exchanger pipe in the bore hole.

A system includes a drill pipe, a fiber optic housing, a laser housing, a conduit, and a fiber optic cable. The drill pipe extends from a surface location into the wellbore. The fiber optic housing is connected to the drill pipe. The laser housing is connected to the fiber optic housing and houses a laser. The drill bit, the laser housing, the fiber optic housing, and the drill pipe are configured to rotate. The conduit extends through the drill pipe, the fiber optic housing, the laser housing, and the drill bit. The fiber optic cable is housed in the fiber optic housing, is disposed within the conduit, and extends from the surface location to the laser located in the laser housing. The laser emits a laser beam into the wellbore. Rotation of the laser housing rotates the laser beam in a circular plane perpendicular to the wellbore.

A system includes a drill pipe, a fiber optic housing, a laser housing, a conduit, and a fiber optic cable. The drill pipe extends from a surface location into the wellbore. The fiber optic housing is connected to the drill pipe. The laser housing is connected to the fiber optic housing and houses a laser. The drill bit, the laser housing, the fiber optic housing, and the drill pipe are configured to rotate. The conduit extends through the drill pipe, the fiber optic housing, the laser housing, and the drill bit. The fiber optic cable is housed in the fiber optic housing, is disposed within the conduit, and extends from the surface location to the laser located in the laser housing. The laser emits a laser beam into the wellbore. Rotation of the laser housing rotates the laser beam in a circular plane perpendicular to the wellbore.