Service 01 · Trenchless construction
Directional Drilling
Install pipe and conduit beneath roads, yards, rail lines and waterways without digging an open trench across the full route.
What it does
Steerable installations with less surface disturbance.
Horizontal directional drilling gives the operator control over the underground route. A pilot bore is steered from the entry point to the exit, then enlarged as needed before the product pipe is pulled into place.
Syncore has completed thousands of bores across Alberta, British Columbia and Saskatchewan. The team installs water, sewer, gas, oil and pipeline products, plus conduits for power and telecom work.
Because the surface stays largely intact, drilling is often a practical fit below roads, rivers, landscaped areas and other places where an open trench would cause too much disruption.
600 mPublished bore length capability
36 inPublished maximum drilled pipe size
3 provincesAlberta, BC and Saskatchewan
Good fit for
Where directional drilling earns its keep.
- Water, sewer, gas and pipeline installations
- Power and telecommunications conduit
- Road, rail and waterway crossings
- Residential and acreage water services
- Pipe slitting for selected replacement work
- Remediation and environmental casings
Plan the work
Three things that shape the plan.
- 01
Share the proposed route, product size and material, target depth, schedule and any available utility information.
- 02
Ground conditions, entry and exit space, drilling-fluid management and the required bend radius all affect the final plan.
- 03
Syncore can combine drilling with hydrovac support and HDPE fusion when the work calls for it.
Directional drilling FAQ
Questions to answer before the crew arrives.
These are the questions that help determine whether this is the right method for the job.
01What can directional drilling install?+
Common products include water, sewer, gas and pipeline pipe, plus power and telecom conduit. The route, diameter, material and bend radius need to be reviewed for every crossing.
02Can drilling be done in winter?+
Yes. Syncore works in subzero conditions. The crew plans for frozen ground, water handling, equipment protection and safe access before mobilizing.
03How is drilling fluid handled?+
Drilling fluid can be contained and recovered with hydrovac support. Syncore also operates a Vermeer R250C reclaimer, which can clean and reuse fluid on suitable projects.
04Can you work where access is tight?+
Often, yes. Equipment choice depends on the space available. Syncore's published fleet includes a compact Vermeer 6x6 that can pass through an opening about 36 inches wide.
05How long and how large can a bore be?+
Syncore publishes bores up to roughly 600 metres and drilled pipe up to 36 inches. Those are not automatic limits for every site; geology, route, equipment access and product design determine what is practical.
06How much does directional drilling cost?+
A site-specific quote is the only useful answer. Length, diameter, ground conditions, access, traffic control, drilling-fluid handling and restoration can all change the price.
Start with the crossing
Planning a directional drilling project?
Send the route, pipe size, location and timing. Syncore will help work out a practical next step.