CEO Insights India

Despite its unparalleled benefits like no excavations, less underground space, minimal interference with existing utilities, non-disruptive methods, safer working areas and many more, the trenchless techniques in India remained underutilised for many years and were scarcely deployed for pipe installations. To enliven these techniques, Vipin Gupta (Chairman & Managing Director) holding vast experience in the construction, having worked with innovators of technology & founded Trenchless Engineering Services Private Limited (TESPL) in Year 2000. Unlike other contractors who just own 4-5 rig spreads, this firm is furnished with 17 Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD)rig spreads ranging from 50 to 400 tons with all supporting equipment and requisite manpower. While being engaged in leveraging its expertise in technology, extensive experience and passion to adapt to the emerging challenges, TESPL also deploys a fleet of laser guided tunnel boring & auger boring machines for installing casing pipes under roads and pipe ramming, pipe jacking & box pushing systems for railways. The following are the excerpts of an exclusive conversation of Vipin with CEO Insights which illustrates TESPL’s role in transforming the upcoming challenges of the trenchless industry into extraordinary engineering solutions.

What were your firm’s strategies to overcome obstacles during the time of establishment?
During the times when the trenchless technology market gradually transformed into a full-fledged one, TESPL outclassed as the leader amidst burgeoning competition by diligently tackling the dearth of proper infrastructure in India and executing critical jobs in poor soil conditions, difficult terrains and low budget projects with major reduction in costs. Since then, our team of engineers have been ceaselessly executing projects on oil and gas(laying pipes), water and sewer, power and telecommunications(OFC cabling)

and other sectors by deploying the best of breed engineering practices and innovations. To eventually build a better infrastructure, we ensure to instil the nuances of value engineering into each of our solutions, thereby hold an extensive reputation for accomplishing many challenging tasks across India and entire Asian subcontinent.


How unique are your HDD services from other companies in the trenchless industry?
Leveraging our strong international presence, we have executed over 200 river crossings of oil and gas and also continue to perform contracts which include line pipe supply, welding, NDT, installation, hydro testing and commissioning on a turnkey basis. Under the HDD realm, we are transforming our experience and equipment to design the most rugged crossings into tailor-made solutions for HDD Installations. Also, we design many HDD tools like pipe roller, rock reamers, and barrel reamers and fly cutters besides providing HDD technical consultations on right from job planning, selection of equipment, selection of tooling, complete drawing, design and engineering till provision of skilled manpower to execute any type of HDD work. To quote an example, we removed the rigs, bentonite slurry and cuttings by an appropriate drilling rig and support equipment and circulated the bentonite drilling fluid by a high pressure head mud pump at a depth of 140 meters below ground level for the mammoth Chambal river project in 2015.

What other pipe installation services do you proffer?
During the laser tunnel boring process, we continuously monitor bore alignment by shooting tunnel bore with laser and adjust it accordingly using steerable hydraulic cylinders. We ensure to install shield in the upper part of

tunnel bores to avoid excavations and subsidence and further install casing pipes up to 68 inches in diameter and 150 meters in length.

On the other hand, to install pipe casing under railroads, highways, airport runways, lined drains and many others especially in places with a dearth of sub-soil water, auger boring machines are deployed extensively which simultaneously jacks the casing pipe(via jack) and removes the excavated soil (via rotating auger). Exclusively for railways, the conventional methods are replaced with box pushing techniques to make an underpass for canal crossing /rail under bridges and widen the exiting railway culverts without interrupting the rail traffic.

How do you incorporate the latest innovations &developments in the industry into your services?
Comprehending the key benefits of a Pipe thruster in the installation of pipelines, we have manufactured this powerful device which aids in thrusting longer pipelines with larger diameters even under difficult geological conditions and also in pulling jammed/defective pipelines via two axially arranged hydraulic cylinders and clamping cylinder. Infused with a deep-rooted passion for innovation, developments and changes in the trenchless industry, we meticulously invest in R&D to install pipe lines in a safe and advanced way to our reputed client base that entails GAIL India Limited, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Oil India Limited, ONGC Ltd, INGL, Petro Bangla, Fernas Ltd., Mears Inc. and many more. The company’s projects are regularly covered & acknowledged by both National and International Magazines, i.e. Taiwan World, Trenchless Magazine (No Dig Media Services 2017)/Trenchless Works UKSTT in UK.

Key Management:
Vipin Gupta, Chairman & Managing Director
Previously heading the Asian Operations of Cherrington Inc. and procuring a whopping two decades of experience in the trenchless industry, Vipin, pre-eminent as pioneer of HDD industry, established Trenchless Engineering Services to serve customers with innovative and high quality services.

Offerings:
• Horizontal Directional Drilling
• Horizontal Directional Consultancy
• Laser Guided Tunnelling Boring
• Horizontal Auger Boring
• Box Pushing
• HDD Tooling

Office: New Delhi