Drilling & boring
Gas line directional drilling
Natural gas distribution is one of the largest users of directional drilling, and the most regulated. Here is how new gas mains and services are bored and what the gas utility requires of the crew.
Gas pipe and the bore
Distribution mains and services are medium-density polyethylene (MDPE) gas pipe, yellow and marked, in sizes from 3/4 inch for a service to 8 inches and larger for mains, with steel for higher-pressure lines. Polyethylene is fused by qualified operators and pulled through a bore the same way as water pipe. The utility specifies cover, commonly 24 to 36 inches for services and deeper for mains and crossings, plus tracer wire and warning tape where required.
Operator qualification
Federal pipeline-safety rules require that anyone performing covered tasks on a gas system, including fusion, installation and inspection, be operator-qualified under the utility's program. A drilling contractor working on gas lines carries OQ records for its crew and works under the utility's inspection. If a contractor cannot show OQ for your utility, the utility will not accept the work.
Who hires the driller
Most gas distribution is installed by the utility or its contractors, who bore services and mains along streets as part of expansion and replacement programs. Developers hire drilling contractors to install gas mains and services within a subdivision to the utility's specification, then turn them over. Commercial and industrial customers bore service lines from the main to the meter under driveways and parking lots. In every case the utility's standards govern and the utility makes the final connection.
Clearances and crossings
Gas lines keep specified separation from other utilities and structures and are potholed at crossings with electric and other gas lines. Highway crossings are bored at the DOT's required depth, often in a casing; railroad crossings have their own requirements. Pressure testing and inspection precede any tie-in, and the line is purged and placed in service by the utility.
Contractors by area
Gas line drilling contractors are listed here by state and city. In the Southeast the listed contractor is Davis Underground Solutions, which installs gas mains and services for developers and utility programs across the region. Elsewhere, the national line routes your project to a contractor working your area. Estimates are free.
Estimates are free. Call now: (855) 804-1434 — or pick your state below to reach the contractor covering your area.
Find a gas line drilling contractor by state
Other drilling and boring services
Directional Drilling
Horizontal directional drilling (HDD) for new underground utilities: steered bores under roads, driveways, parking lots, creeks and landscaping with no open trench.
Horizontal Boring
Horizontal boring for conduit, casing and carrier pipe where digging across a surface is not an option.
Auger Boring
Steel-cased auger bores for road, rail and railroad crossings that need a straight, on-grade casing.
Pipe Boring
Boring and pulling in HDPE or steel product pipe from a few inches up to large-diameter casings.
Fiber Optic Drilling
Directional drilling for fiber and communications duct: long bores, multiple ducts in one pull, tight easements.
Electrical Conduit Drilling
Bores for primary and secondary power conduit, lighting circuits and site electrical feeds.
Utility Drilling
Multi-utility installs for developers and utilities: power, gas, water, sewer and telecom on one site plan.
Sewer Line Drilling
Directional drilling and boring for new gravity-adjusted force mains, laterals and sewer crossings.
Water Main Drilling
HDD installation of new water mains and service lines, including creek and road crossings.
Questions about gas line drilling
Can a natural gas line be installed by directional drilling?+
Yes; most new gas distribution is bored. Polyethylene gas pipe is fused and pulled through the bore, and the utility inspects, tests and connects it.
Who is allowed to install gas pipe?+
Crews operator-qualified under the gas utility's program for fusion, installation and inspection. The contractor keeps OQ records and works under the utility's inspection.
How deep is a bored gas line?+
To the utility's standard, commonly 24 to 36 inches for services and deeper for mains and road crossings. Tracer wire and warning tape are installed where required.
Can I hire a drilling contractor to run a gas service to my building?+
Yes, if the utility allows customer-installed services to its specification; some utilities install all services themselves. Ask the utility first, then hire an operator-qualified contractor.
How is a bored gas line tested?+
Pressure-tested to the utility's requirement before tie-in, inspected by the utility, then purged and placed in service by the utility. Testing and inspection should be part of the quote.