Directional Drilling Industry Excepted to Double in 10 Years

 

Directional Drilling Growth: Not a Surprise — Still Worth Paying Attention To

This probably won’t surprise anyone working in the pipeline or trenchless construction world — but it’s still worth pausing to think about.

A recent study forecasts that the global horizontal directional drilling (HDD) market will grow at roughly 6.8% per year over the next decade. If that projection holds, the market will nearly double in size over the next 10 years.

That’s a big number. And honestly? It tracks exactly with what many of us have already been seeing in the field.

We’ve Seen This Trend Firsthand

At JSI, we firmly believe this growth isn’t just coming — it’s been happening for years already. Over the last decade, directional drilling and road bore projects have steadily increased, and so has the demand for products designed specifically to survive those harsh installations.

That steady market growth is reflected directly in the continued adoption of several of our core solutions that are routinely used on HDD and road bore projects.

Products Built for Directional Drilling Reality

Here are a few of the systems we see gaining the most traction as drilling activity increases:

Powercrete J
Widely regarded as a premier epoxy coating for directional drilling applications, Powercrete J offers excellent abrasion resistance and fast cure times — exactly what’s needed when pipe is being pulled through long, demanding bores.

DIRAX
When downtime matters (and when doesn’t it?), DIRAX stands out. This is a minimal-downtime coating system designed specifically for drill pipe and tooling — often allowing pull-in in as little as 30 minutes.

WCSM
A proven solution for lead wire protection and cable splice sealing, WCSM continues to be a go-to for HDD crews who need reliable, long-term environmental sealing in the field.

BBS Bumper System
As multi-pipe bundled pull-throughs become more common, the BBS system plays a critical role in protecting pipes during installation. Designed specifically for bundled HDD and road bore applications, it helps prevent coating damage and pipe-to-pipe contact during pullback.

Looking Ahead: 2026 and Beyond

For many in our industry, this time of year is traditionally a slower period. But it’s also the perfect window to prepare for what’s coming next.

If the directional drilling market truly is on track to nearly double over the next decade — and all signs suggest it is — then now is the time to make sure your coatings, protection systems, and installation practices are ready.

If you’d like to talk through any of these solutions, or discuss how to position your projects for a strong 2026 and beyond, let’s chat.

You can also review the market study referenced here:
Expert Market Research – Horizontal Directional Drilling Market