Construction Contracts Limited tackled complex urban pipe replacement in Naenae using HDD and the new Blick Fluids range. The result: $400-500 saved per drill shot in product costs, plus $3,500 per shot in disposal fees.
The Challenge
Rata Street in Naenae is a key commuter and school route. Wellington's soil composition shifted dramatically within single drill shots — clay to sand to gravel — and unexpectedly sticky reactive clay created operational delays that threatened the project schedule. Open cut excavation would have caused unacceptable disruption to residents and traffic.
The Approach
CCL used a mixed-method approach: open cut to cross a small stream, and 120-metre HDD shots for remaining sections. When reactive clay slowed progress, CCL and Blick collaborated to refine fluid recipes using four targeted products: Carry Flow for suspension, Clay Control to inhibit swelling, Clay Dissolve to break down clay rapidly, and Torque Down to reduce adhesion on tooling. Recipes were fine-tuned to achieve ideal viscosity and allow overnight drilling pauses without bore instability.
The Outcome
Phase one completed ahead of schedule in December 2024. The refined fluid system saved $400–500 per drill shot in product costs, and around $3,500 per shot in disposal fees — a significant saving across the full programme. Zero frac-outs. Bore stable overnight. The crew also proactively improved nearby footpath safety beyond the project scope.