USING HDPE

IN HORIZONTAL
DIRECTIONAL
DRILLING
December 15, 2010

Richard G. Kraft VP Sales

Marketing
Endot Industries, Inc.

What is HDPE
It is not a definition of
conduit,
water pipe
or any other type of pipe
HDPE is a type of Plastic

PE Chemical abbreviation
for Polyethylene
One of the least expensive plastics
Almost Chemically Inert
No Know glue will stick to it
High ductility
Never brittle if quality material

HD = High Density
There are also Medium Density
(MDPE) &
Low Density (LDPE) PE products
available
Density is a indication of flexibility and
strength.
More Flexible also means Less Strong.

HDPE is the product of choice

for many piping applications
HDPE offers
Long term Durability - up to 100
years using PE4710 resin
Strength to handle pressure both
internal and external.
Flexibility Bends around object in
the pipe line path thus eliminates

HDPE Pipe Applications

Water Pipe
Pressure rated to over 300 psi
Will outlast copper in hot soil
Sewer Pipe
Takes advantage of Chemical
Inert property as well as Pressure
rated

Natural Gas & Propane Gas

Pipe
95% of the natural gas distribution
lines in the USA are HDPE or MDPE
Most Propane Gas Lines are HDPE or
MDPE
Well suited for gas:
Exceptionally long life
Chemically Inert

Telecommunications Conduit
non-pressure rated and often lower
tensile yield material.

Electrical Conduit Usually the

same material as Telecom Conduit.
HDPE has a very high dielectric strength
it does not conduct electricity.

Geothermal Pipe:
Most installations are not Directionally
Drilled
In areas with large open spaces where
horizontal installations are used HDD
is becoming more common

Properties of HDPE for Water Pipe,

Sewer Pipe, Geothermal Pipe and
Gas Pipe:
Resin Properties
Melt Index (I2) @190C/2.16 kg, g/10 min
ASTM D 1238
0.08
Flow Rate (I21) @190C/21.60 kg, g/10 min ASTM D 1238
7.0
Density (natural resin), g/cc
ASTM D 792
0.949
Density(2), g/cc
ASTM D 792
0.959
Thermal Stability, F (C)
ASTM D 3350
>428 (>220)
Mechanical Properties(4)
Tensile Strength at Yield, psi (MPa)
ASTM D 638
3600 (24.8)
Elongation at Break, %
ASTM D 638
740
Flexural Modulus, psi (MPa)
ASTM D 790, method 1,
150,000 (1034) procedure B
Notched Izod Impact @ 23C, ft lbf/in. (J/m) ASTM D 256, method A
9.1 (488)
Brittleness Temperature, F (C)
ASTM D 746, procedure A <-103 (<-75)
Slow Crack Growth PENT, hours
ASTM F 1473
>10,000
Cell Classification
ASTM D3350
445574C
Pipe Properties(2)
Hydrostatic Strength @ 20C/ 1798 psi (12.4 Mpa), hr.
Hydrostatic Strength @ 80C/ 798 psi (5.5 Mpa), hr.
Resistance to Rapid Crack Propagation(5), Pc, psi (bar)
Resistance to Rapid Crack Propagation(5), Tc, F (C)

ASTM 1598
ASTM 1598
SO 13477
ISO 13477

>100
>1000
>174 (>12)
<2 (<-17)

Types of HDPE
for Water, Sewer, Gas &
Geothermal
PE 2406 - MDPE
PE 2708 MDPE Newer Designation for 2406
PE 3408 - HDPE
PE 3608 HDPE Newer Designation for 3408
PE 4710 HDPE New to USA - High
Performance Material (used in Europe for over 30
years)
also called PE-100

Properties of HDPE for Conduit:

MINIMUM SPECIFICATION

APPLICABLE STANDARDS MATERIALS - PER CONDUIT STANDARD ASTM

F2160

ASTM Test Method

Property
Typical Values
ASTM D 4883Density
0.946 g/cc
ASTM D 1238Melt Index
0.25 g/10 min
ASTM D 638Tensile Strength @ Yield
3500 psi
ASTM D 638Elongation @ Break
> 800 %
ASTM D 790Flexural Modulus
120,000 psi
ASTM D 2240Hardness (Shore D)
68
ASTM D 648Deflection Temperature @ 66 psi
156oF
ASTM D 1693Environmental Stress Crack Resistance
Condition B
> 1000 hrs.
ASTM D 746Brittleness Temp
> - 180o F
ASTM D 3895
Modified OIT @ 200o C
>20 min.
ASTM D 3350
Cell Classification
335440A

Standards & Certifications

In Water and Sewer
Utilize a product with NSF Certification
Third Party Certification
Safe for Potable Water use
Meets ASTM Standards as advertised
Meets Pressure Rating advertised
What is AWWA ?
A self certifying standard .
A very good standard, but no third party
assurance of quality.

Standards & Certifications

Gas Pipe Currently no Third Party
Certification for gas pipe
Ask producer what gas utilities purchase their
products. This is a good sign of quality
products.

Standards & Certifications

Telecommunications & Electrical
Conduit
No Third Party Certification for Telecom
UL 651 is a Third Party Certification for
Electrical
Conduit
Do your own research.
TOO often price drives this market
Lower prices often mean lower quality.

What Happens When You chose

The Wrong Product?
Ovalization
Stretching and Necking Down
Possible Break of the Pipe

So What HDPE product do you

use?
It Depends on the Application

For Water Sewer Geothermal

The End User Usually Specifies

t will be a PE 4710 or PE 3608 material

With a Specified Pressure Rating or SDR

For Gas
There are two consideration:
1) HDPE or MDPE? - What is approved
by the Local Utility ?
2) What Size? - What BTU requirement
does the Equipment you are
connecting Require?

So What HDPE product do you

use?
High PE Tensile = Higher Pipe Tensile
Thicker Walls = Higher Pipe Tensile
Thicker Walls = Less likely to have
reduced
Strength due to Scratching in HDD
placement
Typical PE Tensile Strength @ Yield is 3500 psi

Adjust for Temperature

PE is a Thermo Plastic - The hotter it gets the softer
it gets.
TENSILE YIELD STRENGTHS
Adjusted for Temperature
Temperature (F)
PE3408
73
3,500 psi
100
2,800 psi
120
2,300 psi
140
1,800 psi

MINIMUM BENDING RADIUS

DR Ratio
Factor
32.5
26
21
17
15.5
11

Minimum Radius

40
36
32
26
24
or lower 20

Diameter x MRF = inches bend radius

required
1.315 x 20 = 26.3 (2.19 ft.)

SDR
Another Way to Look at Tensile
Strength
SDR = Standard Dimension Ratio
Controlling Dimension divided by Wall
Thickness
The Larger the Number the Thinner the Wall
4 SDR 11 = OD of 4.5 & Wall of 0.409 = 7200 psi
4 SDR 13.5 = OD of 4.5 & Wall of 0.333 = 6000 psi
4 Schd 80 = OD of 4.5 & Wall of .337 = 6000 psi
4 Schd 40 = OD of 4.5 & Wall of .237 = 4300 psi

Table 5 From Chapter 12 ofthe PPI

PE H andbook H orizontalD irectionalD rilling

IPS Size
1.25
1.5
2
3
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30

Nom. OD
1.66
1.9
2.375
3.5
4.5
6.625
8.625
10.75
12.75
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30

Lbs. Force Allowed on Pull Back

SDR 9
SDR 11
SDR 13.5
SDR 17
983
823
683
551
1288
1078
895
722
2013
1684
1398
1128
4371
3658
3035
2450
7226
6046
5018
4050
15661
13105
10876
8779
26544
22212
18434
14880
41235
34505
28636
23115
58006
48538
40282
32516
69937
58522
48568
39204
91347
76437
63435
51205
115611
96741
80285
64806
142729
119433
99118
80008
172703
144514
119932
96809
205530
171983
142729
115211
241213
201841
167509
135213
279750
234088
194271
156815
321141
268724
223015
180017

Tools to Assist in Selecting the

Correct Pipe
Web Information:
www.plasticpipe.org - PPI Plastic Pipe
Institute
PE Handbook Chapter 12 - HDD
Bore Aid - http://ppi.boreaid.com/
Simplified Pipe Calculations for HDD
PPI TR-46 - Guidelines for Use of MiniHorizontal Directional Drilling for Placement of
High Density Polyethylene Pipe
www.boreaid.com A very detailed calculator for
Pipe Selection
Requires a paid Subscription to Use

Quick and Easy

HORIZONTAL DIRECTIONAL DRILLING
(HDD)
PIPE CALCULATIONS
PPI.BOREAID.COM

A web and desktop tool that:

Completes preliminary
Horizontal Directional Drilling
pipe calculations in accordance with
Chapter 12 of the PPI Handbook
and ASTM F1962

Online (webtool) available at:

PPI.BOREAID.COM
Easy and quick to use
Guides users through the pipe design process
Provides a Preliminary Analysis of PE pipe Suitability
for HDD Projects
Helps to ensure that successful HDD projects are
completed with PE pipes

 PPI.BOREAID.COM
This tool is geared to higher end

Pressure Pipe products.

If you use this tool for conduit

installations be conservative and use

the PE2708 resin (vs. PE4710 or
PE3608) to compensate for lower
tensile yield resin.

PPI.BOREAID.COM

Link will be available for free use

and download
in late 2010
http://ppi.boreaid.com/

Paper on this new tool has been

accepted for presentation at NoDig

2011 in Washington DC

Failed analysis highlighted

W hen In D oubt!
Chose a Low SDR (11 or 9)
For Water or Sewer Chose a Higher pressure

rating than you need. Higher pressure = thicker

walls.
For Gas Chose a lower SDR than is called for (9
vs. 11)
For Conduit Chose
a Lower SDR
A Larger vs. a Smaller ID
When pulling cables into a Directionally Drilled
Conduit a larger conduit offers lower friction
than a smaller conduit. Never less than 1-1/2.

W hen you are Finished

Leave Extra Pipe Sticking out of the Ground
HDPE is elastic It will stretch during a pull

and will contract when left to relax.

HDPE shrinks as it gets colder
If you dont pay attention to this The next

morning you may not have any pipe

showing above ground.

Questions?

Thank you for your attention this

afternoon. If you have any
questions after you leave feel
free to contact me.
rkraft@endot.com
Office 800-44ENDOT (800443-6368)