What Does
Exit Pit Mean?
An exit pit is an opening that has been dug at the destination point of directional drilling to receive the end of the drilling mechanism. The size of the pit depends on the scope and scale of the drilling project. Safety regulations may require a trench box to protect workers from collapse. Entrance and exit pits are integral components of directional drilling technology.
An exit pit is also known as a receiving pit.
Trenchlesspedia Explains Exit Pit
In a directional drilling project, the basic procedure is that a drill head is introduced into the earth and it creates a pilot hole 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 exit pits 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. A major milestone from the project is when the drill head emerges from the earth at the exit pit.
The exit pit is a staging ground for HDD operations. Once the pilot hole 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. An exit pit could be quite large for big projects.