What Does
Target Shaft Mean?
A target shaft is an opening that has been dug at the destination point of a directional drilling project in order to receive the end of the drilling mechanism. The size of the shaft depends on the scope and scale of the drilling project. Safety regulations may require a trench box to protect workers from collapse. Entrance and target shafts are integral components of directional drilling technology. A target shaft is also known as an end shaft, exit pit, or receiving pit.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Target Shaft
In a directional drilling project, the basic procedure is that a drill head is introduced into the earth and it creates a pilothole until it leaves the ground. The length of this excavated hole could be anywhere from a few feet to hundreds of yards. Depending on the project, entrance and target shafts may be required.
The wonder of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) is that workers are able to guide the bore head toward its destination even though it is underground. There are a variety of technologies to help them do that. A major milestone from the project is when the drill head emerges from the earth at the target shaft.
The target shaft is a staging ground for HDD operations. Once the pilothole is completed, a larger drill head may be attached to ream the hole. When the hole is large enough, the pipe or casing will be introduced. Safety is of primary concern in any construction operation. The use of trench boxes and other safety measures may be required. A target shaft could be quite large for big projects.