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Horizontal Directional Drilling

Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) is the preferred method for installing underground utilities where minimal surface disruption is essential. It provides a safe, efficient, cost effective and environmentally responsible alternative to open-cut trenching, especially in complex or sensitive environments. 



OCU is a fully accredited trenchless construction contractor with over 20 years of experience delivering HDD and trenchless solutions across the UK and Ireland. 


Our in-house design and execution capabilities ensure that each project is managed safely, sustainably, and to the highest quality standards.


Roads, motorways, railways, canals, rivers, runways and a variety of other obstacles can be crossed accurately and efficiently with minimal environmental or operational impact.



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  1. HDD - Special Interest Areas

  2. HDD - Transport Links

  3. HDD - Cable Landing

  4. HDD - Bodies of Water / Rivers

Our range of HDD services includes:

  • Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)

  • Expert design and technical services

  • Trenchless installations beneath roads, rivers, and built-up areas 

  • Utility diversions and deep installations

  • Minimal surface disruption

  • Marine outfalls and landfalls

  • Environmental and protected area installations

  • Urban and industrial infrastructure

  • Design and technical services

  • Innovative machinery and resources

  • Installations under live motorways and railways

  • Estuary, sea loch and inter-island crossings

  • Consent negotiation for railway, trunk road, main river and canal crossings

  • Pipe pushing

  • Auger boring

  • Direct pipe

  • Pipe bursting

  • Microtunnelling

  • Tunnelling

  • Shaft construction

  • Rehabilitation of existing pipelines

What our clients say...

Featured Case Studies

Orkney-Caithness HVAC 220kV Landfall

OCU Group delivered two 1,200m parallel landfall crossings as part of SSEN’s 220MW high-voltage transmission project linking Finstown in Orkney to Dounreay in Caithness.

Cork Harbour Horizontal Directional Drilling

OCU was contracted to design and install twin 1,025 metre lengths of 500mm Diameter SDR-9 PE100 Foul Main under Cork Harbour using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD).

Dee-crossing Connah's Key

OCU was awarded the Dee Crossing contract, located in Connah’s Quay. Our teams designed and installed two 860m-long barrier pipelines under the River Dee using Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD). 

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