In June 2025, Brownline Canada provided steering services for the installation of two parallel drainage lines under a cheese factory in Calgary. The exceptional accuracy of the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool was crucial to install the drainage lines exactly as planned and with minimal disruption.
In the heart of Calgary, a local cheese factory faced the challenge of replacing its drainage system. The underground drain lines inside the factory had failed, which required a complete replacement. The conventional solution involved cutting trenches through the concrete slabs to lay down new drainage pipes. This approach would have been both highly disruptive and costly. It was also an impractical choice for a food-grade facility. The team sought an alternative solution: one that was less invasive, highly precise, and more efficient with the capability to be completed within a short timeframe.
Preparing the project
To accomplish this, the team explored using horizontal directional drilling to install the new pipes. They reached out to Brownline to assess the feasibility of completing this project during a planned factory shutdown period in the first week of June.
Following a site visit and detailed discussions, a comprehensive plan was developed to drill two parallel drainage lines, each approximately 40 m / 131 ft long and spaced 1.45 m / 4.75 ft apart. Crossroads Coring Ltd. provided drilling services using their 100,000 lbs. drill rig in collaboration with Brownline’s Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool, which enabled precise navigation within the constrained factory setting.
Drilling two parallel lines
The first drainage line, a 6-inch pipe, was drilled from the northern side of the factory and then connected to an existing drainage network at the southern side. The line had to be installed at a slight grade of 1% to ensure proper flow. The precision of the Drillguide GST was key to maintaining exact alignment and attitude of the drill bit throughout the span of the 40 m / 131 ft drill. It also allowed the installation to occur without disrupting the operational layout of the factory.
The second drainage line, a 4-inch pipe, had to also meet the same high standards for accuracy and minimal disruption. The Drillguide GST provided the required precision to drill the 4-inch line in close proximity to the 6-inch line while maintaining a consistent 1% slope. The success of this dual pipe installation underscores the Drillguide GST’s ability to accurately navigate the drill bit even in a highly confined and complex environment.
Results
The efficiency and precision of the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool proved to be an ideal fit for this project. It demonstrates how well-suited the Drillguide GST is for projects that need to be completed within tight timelines and with high precision.
Thanks to the combination of advanced drilling technology and expert collaboration, the project was completed efficiently, on time, and with minimal disruption to the factory’s operations. The result was a cost-effective, non-invasive solution that met the stringent sanitation and operational standards of the food production environment.
