Horizontal directional drilling technology in offshore pipeline crossing projects

In this paper, the application status of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) technology in offshore pipeline crossing projects at home and abroad was introduced. According to drilling direction of rig, offshore pipeline HDD crossing were classified and three patterns (i.e., land-to-sea, sea-to-sea and sea-to-land) were illustrated. The construction process and equipments for each crossing pattern were listed. It is necessary to calculate pullback force of offshore HDD crossing. It is recommended to take into consideration the bending deformation of pipeline when the calculation is performed. The suggestion on type selection of rig operation platform is proposed. The considerations and countermeasures on crossing mud control and the considerations of pullback risk control were also proposed. By virtue of pipe-laying vessels, offshore operation platform and other equipments, offshore pipeline HDD crossing technology will be applied more widely.