Directional drilling eases ship channel pipeline crossings
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The Houston Ship Channel is one of the world's busiest waterways. Much of its traffic is related to the many refineries and petrochemical plants that line its banks from Galveston Bay to the turning basin. Nearly all of the pipeline crossings of the Houston Ship Channel installed since 1976 have been by horizontal directional drilling. Since this short but extremely busy waterway has a multitude of pipeline crossings installed by dredging or other methods, this new development takes on added significance. Today's preference for directionally drilled crossings is based on several factors. They can be installed within the confines of existing pipeline corridors, there is no disruption of traffic, an important consideration on this heavily used waterway, and environmental impact is minimal, since neither the channel nor its banks are disturbed