Guide
How directional drilling is priced
Directional drilling in Sydney is priced per job from bore length, pipe size, ground, pit setup, drilling fluid disposal, traffic control and access. This Spot On Excavations guide explains each driver and per-metre versus lump-sum pricing, without publishing rates.
What drives the price of a directional bore
Directional drilling is quoted per job, because two bores of the same length can need very different effort. These are the factors that move the number, roughly in the order estimators ask about them.
- Bore length. More metres mean more drilling, reaming and pull-back time.
- Pipe diameter and number of pipes. A large PE main needs a bigger reamed hole and a bigger rig than a single small conduit. A multi-conduit bundle changes the hole size and the pull.
- Ground. Sand, clay and rock drill at different rates, and rock calls for the dual-rod rig.
- Entry and exit pit setup. Pit size, shoring, access for the rig and space to lay out the pipe string.
- Depth and obstacles. Existing services, trees, footings and the clearance the asset owner requires.
- Drilling fluid handling and disposal. Mixing, containing, removing and disposing of the fluid and cuttings.
- Locating and potholing. Exposing services ahead of the bore with vacuum excavation and potholing.
- Traffic control. Needed for road work, and priced in the plan.
- Site access and mobilisation distance. Getting the rig, trucks and crew to the job, which matters for Canberra and the South Coast.
- Permits and approvals. Council, road occupancy or asset-owner requirements that affect timing and method.
- Reinstatement. Restoring pits, paving, turf or road surface to the owner’s requirement.
Per metre or lump sum
A rate per metre is a convenient way to compare bores, but it only holds when length, product, ground and setup are alike. Short crossings carry mobilisation, pit work and set-up that do not shrink with the length. A lump sum for the job states the price for a defined scope and is usually easier to approve.
Use a per-metre rate for repeated bores of similar length on similar ground, and a lump sum for a single, defined crossing. If conditions are uncertain, ask for the unknowns to be written down as assumptions with a stated variation process, rather than hidden inside the rate.
What a good quote includes
- The scope: route, bore length and number of bores, product type and size.
- Which rig is planned and why it suits the ground.
- Locating and potholing, and who is responsible for them.
- Pit work, drilling fluid handling and disposal, and reinstatement.
- Traffic control and permits, and who supplies each.
- Assumptions about ground and services, exclusions and how variations are handled.
- Mobilisation, working hours and access conditions.
We do not publish dollar rates because they would mislead. The right figure depends on the factors above, so we quote each job on its own.
Quote request checklist
Send these with your enquiry and we can price faster and more accurately.
- Site address, or a marked-up route with start and end points.
- Product: pipe or conduit type, diameter, number of pipes and material.
- Approximate bore length and what is being crossed.
- Known services, BYDA plans and any survey or geotechnical information.
- Who owns the road, creek or corridor, and which permits are in hand.
- Access for a rig, water supply and a place to put drilling fluid.
- Required start date, working hours and any reinstatement standard.
- Whether you want locating, potholing or traffic support included.
Our horizontal directional drilling page lists the rigs, and the pipe and conduit installation page covers products. Ready to start? Contact us.
Questions
Pricing questions, answered
Do you charge per metre or per job?
We quote per job. A metre rate only compares fairly when length, pipe, ground and setup match, so we price the scope and show what it includes.
Why do two bores of the same length cost different amounts?
Pipe size, ground, pit setup, fluid disposal, traffic control and access all change the work. A short crossing under a busy road can cost more than a longer rural bore.
Is potholing included in a directional drilling quote?
It is priced as part of the plan whenever services near the line need to be exposed. The quote should say who does it and what it covers.
Can you give a ballpark before a site visit?
We prefer to price from a route, the product and the known services. Send the checklist details and we will say what is missing before committing to a figure.
Does rock make a bore more expensive?
Rock needs the dual-rod rig and usually takes longer, so it affects the price. If you have a geotechnical report, send it with the enquiry.
Related
Next step
Ready for a quote?
Send the checklist items above and we will price your bore.