ELEMENT

PERFORMANCE CRITERIA

1. Plan and prepare for drilling

1.1. Access, interpret and apply compliance documentation relevant to horizontal directional drilling work activity

1.2. Obtain, confirm and apply work instructions for the allocated task

1.3. Identify, manage and report all potential hazards

1.4. Resolve coordination requirements with others at the site prior to commencing and during work activities

1.5. Wear all necessary personal protective equipment and protective clothing

2. Bore pilot hole

2.1. Select appropriate cutting tool and drilling rig/components

2.2. Confirm that all preliminary and safety checks have been done

2.3. Fit locating device to drill head and attach drill head to drill stem

2.4. Align drilling head with survey tool and survey control system

2.5. Drill pilot hole according to design alignment

2.6. Monitor drill path ensuring pilot hole meets conformance envelope and dogleg severity is within limits

2.7. Add drill stem sections as required

2.8. Steer drill head to achieve required pitch and direction

2.9. Monitor and interpret all gauge/dial readings

2.10. Monitor and interpret drill fluid return and drill spoil

2.11. Monitor and interpret drill head position and pitch

2.12. Maintain communication with all relevant personnel

2.13. Maintain drill log and reports as required

3. Maintain equipment

3.1. Monitor wear on drill stem, particularly threads

3.2. Carry out procedures to maintain down hole equipment

3.3. Dress damaged threads or replace drill stem as required

3.4. Check all equipment and hoses

3.5. Monitor wear on drill heads and take required action

3.6. Clean all equipment on completion of bore, ensuring environmental controls are followed

3.7. Ensure drill fluid is appropriately contained/disposed of

3.8. Keep site safe for all possible users for the total duration of the job

3.9. Leave site in a safe and tidy condition which complies with all relevant regulations

4. Respond to problems

4.1. Identify possible problems in equipment or process

4.2. Determine problems needing action

4.3. Determine possible fault causes

4.4. Rectify problem using appropriate solution within area of responsibility

4.5. Follow through items initiated until final resolution has occurred

4.6. Report problems outside area of responsibility to designated person

Required skills

Specific skills are required to achieve the performance criteria in this unit, particularly for the application in the various circumstances in which this unit may be applied. This includes the ability to carry out the following as required to conduct horizontal directional drilling:

apply legislative, organisation and site requirements and procedures

apply machine operating techniques

apply directional drilling equipment operating techniques

apply ancillary equipment operating techniques, for equipment such as communications equipment, locators and fluid mixers

maintain down hole equipment

Required knowledge

Specific knowledge is required to achieve the Performance Criteria of this unit, particularly its application in a variety of circumstances in which the unit may be used. This includes knowledge of the following, as required to conduct horizontal directional drilling:

basic rock/geology types and their impact on HDD operations

appropriate drill heads for different geology types

appropriate back reamers for different geology types

minimum radius of curvature for drill stem and for different products

methods of steering or tracking the drill head

principles of horizontal directional drilling

types of drill fluid, their uses and make up/adjustment procedures

relevant state regulations/codes, such as NSW WorkCover code of practice for excavation and similar requirements in other states

The evidence guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package.

Overview of assessment

Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit

The evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit must be relevant to worksite operations and satisfy all of the requirements of the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge and the range statement of this unit and include evidence of the following:

knowledge of the requirements, procedures and instructions for conducting horizontal directional drilling

implementation of requirements, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient completion of conducting horizontal directional drilling

working with others to undertake and complete the horizontal directional drilling that meets all of the required outcomes

consistent timely completion of horizontal directional drilling that safely, effectively and efficiently meets the required outcomes

Context of and specific resources for assessment

This unit must be assessed in the context of the work environment. Where personal safety or environmental damage are limiting factors, assessment may occur in a simulated environment provided it is realistic and sufficiently rigorous to cover all aspects of workplace performance, including task skills, task management skills, contingency management skills and job role environment skills.

The assessment environment should not disadvantage the participant. For example, language, literacy and numeracy demands of assessment should not be greater than those required on the job.

Customisation of assessment and delivery environment to sensitively accommodate cultural diversity.

Aboriginal people and other people from a non English speaking background may have second language issues.

Assessment of this competency requires typical resources normally used in the work environment. Selection and use of resources for particular worksites may differ due to site circumstances.

Where applicable, physical resources should include equipment modified for people with disabilities.

Access must be provided to appropriate learning and/or assessment support when required.

Method of assessment

This unit may be assessed in a holistic way with other units of competency. The assessment strategy for this unit must verify required knowledge and skill and practical application using more than one of the following assessment methods:

written and/or oral assessment of the candidate's required knowledge

observed, documented and/or first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

implementation of appropriate requirement, procedures and techniques for the safe, effective and efficient achievement of required outcomes

consistently achieving the required outcomes

first hand testimonial evidence of the candidate's:

working with others to undertake and complete horizontal directional drilling operations

Guidance information for assessment

Consult the SkillsDMC User Guide for further information on assessment including access and equity issues.

The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included.

Relevant compliance documentation

may include:

legislative, organisational and site requirements and procedures

manufacturer's guidelines and specifications

Australian standards

code of practice

Employment and workplace relations legislation

Equal Employment Opportunity and Disability Discrimination legislation

Work instructions may come from briefings, handovers, plans and work orders and may be written or verbal, formal or informal and may include:

nature and scope of tasks

specifications

quality of finished works

achievement targets

operational conditions

obtaining of permits required

site layout

out of bounds areas

worksite inspection requirements

lighting conditions,

plant or equipment defects

hazards and potential hazards

coordination requirements or issues

contamination control requirements

environmental control requirements

barricade and signage requirements

Hazards may include:

buried utilities in path of bore

electrical strike

spread of contaminants as a result of drilling or cleaning processes

working in proximity to drilling rig

use of high pressure air for drilling operations

entanglement in rotating pipes

Coordination requirements may include:

drillers assistant operators

maintenance personnel

supervisors

site personnel

Personal protective equipment includes:

steel-capped boots and hardhat

gloves

dust mask

eye and hearing protection

general protective and reflective clothing

Fluids may include:

bentonite clay

polymer

combination of clay and polymer mud

pH adjusting agents such as soda ash

Maintenance tasks may include:

checking threads with thread gauge

dressing threads

lubricating threads and other components

cleaning all equipment and checking for wear and damage

disassembling, cleaning, inspecting and reassembling cutting heads or directional drilling equipment

Equipment can be:

dual rod directional boring equipment

down hole fluid assisted directional boring equipment

directional down hole hammers

deflection and jetting bits

rotating nozzle water jet drilling equipment

bent sub systems

other down hole cutting tools

Problems may include:

buried utilities in path of bore, which could include:

electrical power lines (overhead or buried)

gas pipes

water pipes

waste pipes (including stormwater, trade waste and sewerage)

telephone cables

electrical strike

changing geological formations, particularly cobble, rock or unstable/porous formation

drill string sticking

drill string breaking

fluid breakout (to surface or cavities/services in proximity)

reliable communications with assistant(s)

loss of sensor information

selection of best drill head and back reamer