Study and Application of the Directional Drilling Technique in Long-Distance Crude Oil Pipeline River-Crossing Engineering

The long-distance oil pipeline has characteristics of big pipe diameter and long transportation distance. It has gradually become the main method of long-distance crude oil transportation of oil industry in the world because of its advantages, such as high safety, low energy consumption, great throughput, low cost and good economic benefit. It is inevitable to cross some rivers, lakes and swamps when the long-distance pipeline is constructed. But long-distance crude oil pipeline river-crossing is a technical problem all the times. So using the safe, advanced, easy to operate and manage, and low cost design project for river-crossing is directly related to the management and safe running of the pipe network. Recently, the directional drilling crossing technique is applied to the engineering of long-distance pipeline river-crossing widely. In 1970s, the technique starts to be used, with the unceasing construction and development of long-distance pipeline, the technique has obtained a further consummation. The directional drilling crossing is an advanced pipe laying technique without excavation and backfill. During the construction period, the river channel will not be excavated, so the waterborne traffic is not influenced and the structures of dike and riverbed are not destroyed. And the crossing project can be constructed in any seasons and with short construction period, few floorage, small investment, quick speed and high safety. This paper takes Qing-Tie long-distance crude oil pipeline as the real background. The basic natural situations and production running problems of the pipeline and Chai River are introduced. The feasibility of using the directional drilling crossing technique to cross Chai River is studied seriously. And the laying route and operating technique parameters are worked out. In addition, the directional drilling crossing method is compared with heavy excavation, shield pushing and drilling blasting from the technique degree of ripeness, constr uction period and engineering investment.