Innovation and Hard Work
You will never have to worry about safely completing your project on time and within budget. Because Pacifc Boring has a unique combination of experience and equipment, we have the capabilities to complete any scope of work required. From trenchless crossings in ground conditions ranging from wet unstable soils to soft rock formations.
From large diameter 168″ tunnels in poor soil conditions to 8″ auger bores, Pacific Boring has the technology for accurate installation of reinforced concrete pipe, steel casing, fiberglass reinforced pipe, or tunnel liner.
Services
We’ll Get Through It.
Pipe Jacking
For larger diameters (over 44″) requiring accuracy
Tunneling
For larger diameters (over 60″) with a long drive length requiring accuracy
Auger Boring
The most common and economical method for casing installations
Pilot Tube Auger Boring
Adding the pilot tube installation to the auger boring machine increased the accuracy
Hand Mining
Where mixed face ground conditions or obstructions are anticipated
Pipe Ramming
Best suited for difficult ground conditions where there is risk of settlement
Horizontal Direction Drilling
An economical solution for the installing small pipes, conduits, and cables
Grouting
Low Density Cellular, Contact, and Chemical
Vacuum Hydro Escavation
Vacuum Hydro Excavation
Pipe Bursting
Pipe Bursting
Pipe Jacking
TBM Pipe Jacking is the preferred method for larger outside diameters (over 44-inch) requiring a high level of accuracy.
A conventional Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) or Excavator Shield are used to excavate the ground. These machines are laser guided and fully steerable by an operator.
The TBM and pipe sections are jacked forward by hydraulic rams located in the jacking pit.
Spoils are loaded into a dirt bucket and removed using electric haul units.
TBM Pipejacking is best suited for soft earth, above the ground water table. Installations required below the ground water table, or under bodies of water, should be installed by microtunneling.
Pacific Boring owns a large fleet of Akkerman Wheel Tunnel Boring Machines and Excavator Shields ranging from 44-inch to 168-inch Steel.
Photo | (Above) Bird’s eye view of the TBM in the access pit
Project | 96″ Inside Diameter, 1,300 Linear Feet
Technology | 96″ Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Photo | (Background) Preparing to launch the TBM
Project | 96″ Inside Diameter, 1.300 Linear Feet Pipe Jacking Installation
Technology | 122″ Tunnel Boring Machine
Tunneling
Tunneling is the preferred method for larger diameters (over 60-inch) combined with a long drive length and requiring a high level of accuracy.
A conventional Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) or Excavator Shield are used to excavate the ground. These machines are laser guided and fully steerable by an operator. The TBM is jacked forward by hydraulic rams enclosed within a can behind the machine.
Within this same can, the tunnel support is erected. Tunnel support can be concrete segments, steel liner plate, or ring beam and wood lagging.
Spoils are loaded into a dirt bucket and removed using electric or diesel locomotives.
Conventional tunneling is best suited for soft earth, above the ground water table. Installations required below the ground water table, or under bodies of water, should be installed by Earth Pressure Balance Machines or Slurry Machines.
Photo | (Above) A crew rides the train into a tunnel
Project | 122-inch Outside Diameter Tunneling Installation
Technology | 122-inch Tunnel Boring Machine
Photo | (Background) Piloting the train into a tunnel curve
Project | 122″ Outside Diameter Tunneling Installation
Technology | 122″ Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM)
Auger Boring
Auger Boring is the most common and economical method for casing installations. The auger boring machine installs the casing using hydraulic rams to jack the casing forward while simultaneously turning augers to remove the spoils.
Auger boring is best suited for soft ground, above the water table, but can be performed in some soft rock formations where specialized cutterheads are required.
Line and grade accuracy is low. However, using the pilot tube method can improve the accuracy.
Pacific Boring has a large fleet of auger boring machines from 24-inch to 72-inch ready to deploy to your site.
Photo | (Above) Preparing another pipe section for the boring machine
Project | 30″ Outside Diameter Casing Installation
Technology | 30″ Auger Boring Machine
Photo | (Background) Workers pilot a boring machine
Project | 42-inch Outside Diameter Casing Installation
Technology | 48-inch Auger Boring Machine
Pilot Tube Auger Boring
Adding the pilot tube installation to the auger boring method increases the accuracy that traditional auger boring lacks. This process installs a 4-inch pilot tube to line and grade ahead of the casing.
Once the tubes are installed, the casing is attached to the tube and installed using standard auger boring techniques.
Pilot tube auger boring is best suited for soft (displaceable N= < 50) earth, above the ground water table.
We utilize Akkerman GBM 240A frames that can adapt to any of our auger boring machines, plus an all-in-one Akkerman GBM 4800.
Photo | (Above) A team makes adjustments to the boring machine
Project | 30″ Outside Diameter Casing Installation
Technology | 30″ Auger Boring Machine with Pilot Tube
Photo | (Background) Setting the pilot tube coordinates
Project | 30″ Diameter Steel Casing Installation
Technology | 30″ Auger Boring Machine with Pilot Tube
Hand Mining
Where mixed face conditions or obstructions are anticipated, hand mining is recommended.
Excavation is performed by hand within a protective shield and the casing is pushed in horizontally from the jacking pit.
Hand mining requires man entry so it must be sized accordingly.
Spoils are loaded into a dirt bucket and removed using electric.
Photo | (Above) Clearing heavy rocks by hand from a tunnel entrance
Project | 72″ Outside Diameter Hand Mining
Technology | 72″ Tunnel
Photo | (Background) Digging out the inside of a tunnel
Project | 60″ Steel Casing
Technology | Hand Mining
Pipe Ramming
Pipe ramming is best suited for difficult ground conditions where there is risk of settlement.
Casing is installed by percussive hammer that drives the casing horizontally into the ground.
To create an open casing, the spoils within the casing are removed after the drive is completed, or periodically during the drive using an auger boring machine.
We have a Hammerhead 24″ hammer with multiple adapters to accommodate several casing diameters.
Photo | (Above) Lowering the hammer into position
Project |
Technology | 24″ Hammer
Photo | (Background) Attaching the hammer behind the casing
Project |
Technology | 24″ Hammer
Horizontal Direction Drilling
Horizontal Direction Drilling (HDD) is another common, economical solution for the installation of small pipes, conduits, and cables.
HDD creates a pilot bore along the design pathway and reams the pilot bore in one or more passes to a diameter suitable for the product. In the final step of the process, the product is pulled into the prepared bore.
We have a Ditch Witch 2720 capable of installing HDPE carrier pipes with up to a 16″ diameter.
Photo | (Above) Pulling pipe with the horizontal directional drilling machine
Project |
Technology | Ditch Witch 2720
Photo | (Background) A crew preparing to pull pipe through the bore
Project |
Technology | Ditch Witch 2720
Grouting
Grouting is an important aspect of our work. Pacific Boring can perform a variety of grouting techniques including annular space grouting, permeation grouting, Contact Grouting, Chemical Grouting, and pipe abandonments.
Low Density Cellular Grouting
Cellular grouting is an ideal material for grouting the annular space between casing and carrier pipes as well as for abandonment. Since it is highly flowable, it can make its way through the tight spaces over long distances. The low density reduces buoyant forces, eliminating flotation concerns.
Photo | (Above) Pouring grouting solution into molds
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Technology |
Photo | (Background) Running grout through pipes into the tunnel wall
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Technology |