Horizontal directional drilling (HDD)
Underground utilities installed without open trenching.
Island Utility installs pipelines, cables, and conduits beneath roads, boulevards, driveways, and waterways using horizontal directional drilling (HDD). Instead of digging an open trench, a steerable drill bores a path from an entry point to an exit point, so pavement, landscaping, and traffic are left largely undisturbed.
With a focus on safety, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness, we deliver tailored solutions for a wide range of industries, including telecommunications, utilities, oil and gas, and municipal infrastructure.
In a province as geographically diverse as British Columbia, HDD is often the only practical way to cross highways, rivers, and environmentally sensitive areas. Our crews work out of Duncan on Vancouver Island and Surrey in the Lower Mainland, and take on projects across BC and Alberta.
- Bore diameter
- Up to 300mm
- Drills
- Vermeer 23×30 and 24×40
- Offices
- Duncan and Surrey, BC
How it works
Three stages, from pilot hole to pullback.
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Pilot hole
A small pilot bore is steered along the planned path from the entry point to the exit, tracked the whole way so the drill head stays on line and clear of obstacles.
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Reaming
A reamer is pulled back through the pilot hole to widen it to the size the pipe or conduit needs. Drilling fluid carries the cuttings out and holds the bore open.
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Pullback
The pipe, cable or conduit is attached behind the reamer on a swivel and pulled back through the bore into its final position.
Capabilities
What we install with directional drilling.
- Conduit & fibre optic installation
- Water, sewer, and gas lines
- Power & communication infrastructure
- Crossings under roads, rivers, and railways
- Environmental & sensitive area bores
- Bores up to 300mm in diameter
Every project begins with detailed ground analysis, path design, and bore mapping, ensuring accuracy and minimizing environmental impact.
Why choose Island Utility
- BC-based and locally experienced
- We understand the permitting, soil, and weather conditions unique to each region.
- Modern HDD equipment fleet
- Capable of small service runs to large-scale municipal crossings.
- Locating and hydrovac in-house
- We locate buried utilities with Direct Connect, RF tracing and GPR, and run our own hydrovac trucks for daylighting.
- Environmentally responsible
- Trenchless methods minimize surface disruption and protect local ecosystems.
- Full project support
- From pre-planning and locates to restoration and documentation.
Across British Columbia
Every region drills differently. Our crews plan for it.
Vancouver Island & Gulf Islands
Rocky coastal soils and tight municipal right-of-ways demand precision equipment and experienced operators. Island Utility’s specialized HDD rigs and local crews are trained to navigate bedrock, mixed soils, and water crossings safely and efficiently.
Lower Mainland
Urban density and heavy traffic corridors make open trenching nearly impossible. Our team coordinates with city engineers, developers, and utility companies to perform trenchless installations under roads, rail lines, and critical infrastructure, all while keeping above-ground operations unobstructed.
Interior & Okanagan
Dry, compact soils and temperature extremes create unique drilling and backfill challenges. Island Utility uses advanced fluid management systems and ground-condition monitoring to ensure clean bores and accurate installations, regardless of terrain.
Northern BC
Remote locations, frost-susceptible soils, and seasonal access windows require robust planning and specialized rigs. Our mobile HDD units and experienced operators deliver dependable underground solutions for industrial and municipal projects, even in the most demanding environments.
Service area
Two offices, crews across BC and Alberta.
We take on directional drilling projects throughout British Columbia and Alberta, including these communities.
Offices
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Duncan
6129 Scott Road
Duncan, BC V9L 6Y8 Get directions to our Duncan office (opens in a new tab) -
Surrey
112-19425 Langley Bypass
Surrey, BC V3S 6K1 Get directions to our Surrey office (opens in a new tab)
Vancouver Island
- Victoria
- Duncan
- Nanaimo
- Parksville
- Courtenay
- Gulf Islands
Lower Mainland
- Vancouver
- Burnaby
- Surrey
- Delta
- Langley
- Coquitlam
- Abbotsford
- Mission
Interior & North
- Kelowna
- Kamloops
- Prince George
FAQ
Directional drilling questions, answered.
What is horizontal directional drilling (HDD)?
Horizontal directional drilling is a trenchless method for installing underground pipelines, cables, and conduits with minimal surface disruption. A steerable drill bores a pilot hole along a planned path, the hole is reamed to the size needed, and the pipe or conduit is pulled back through it.
What can you install with directional drilling?
Telecom and fibre optic conduit, water, sewer, and gas lines, and power and communication infrastructure. Our HDD crews drill bores up to 300mm in diameter.
When is directional drilling a better choice than trenching?
When a line has to cross a road, railway, river, driveway, or environmentally sensitive area, or run beneath pavement and landscaping that would be costly to dig up and restore. The surface stays largely undisturbed, so there is less traffic disruption and less reinstatement.
Do you locate existing utilities before drilling?
Yes. We locate buried cables, pipes, and conduits with Direct Connect, RF tracing, and ground penetrating radar before we drill, and can daylight crossings with our own hydrovac trucks.
Where do you offer directional drilling?
Our crews work out of offices in Duncan on Vancouver Island and Surrey in the Lower Mainland, and take on projects across British Columbia and Alberta.
How do I get an estimate?
Send us the project location, what you are installing, and the approximate bore length through our contact form or call 250-252-0044.
Planning a directional drilling project?
Get an estimate
Tell us where the line needs to go and what you’re installing. We work on Vancouver Island, in the Lower Mainland, and across BC and Alberta.