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

Wireline Splice with Heat Shrink Tubing

 

Why Raychem WCSM Is the Field-Proven Choice for Splicing HDD Drill Wire and Repairing Cable Jackets

In the world of horizontal directional drilling (HDD), you don’t always get ideal working conditions. Mud, weather, tight timelines, and constant mechanical stress are part of everyday life on a drill site. When it comes to wireline—also known as HDD drill wire—any splice or cable repair has to be fast, repeatable, and strong enough to survive the forces of going underground.

That’s exactly where Raychem’s WCSM heavy-wall heat shrink tubing has earned its reputation.

A Heavy-Wall Heat Shrink Designed for Tough Jobs

WCSM is built with a thick, rugged polyolefin heat-shrink sleeve and a fully bonded internal sealant layer. As it shrinks with heat, the material conforms tightly to the cable, and the sealant flows into every gap, creating a durable, watertight, dirt-tight seal.

This combination makes WCSM a go-to solution for two important HDD applications:

• Splicing HDD drill wire / wireline

• Repairing damage to cable jackets

These are high-consequence tasks. HDD wireline carries location data, communication signals, and power to the downhole tools. A weak splice or exposed jacket can lead to downtime, signal failure, or even full pullback interruptions—none of which anyone wants in the middle of a bore.

Fast Installs—With No Complicated Prep Work

One of the biggest advantages of WCSM is how quickly it can be installed. Crews don’t need specialty tools or extensive surface prep. A propane torch or industrial heat gun is all that’s required.

Once the sleeve is positioned over the splice or damaged jacket:

1. Apply heat evenly.

2. The sleeve shrinks and the sealant activates.

3. Within seconds, the splice is fully sealed and protected.

When the sleeve cools to ambient temperature, the cable can immediately handle the rigors of an HDD pullback. And if the job demands speed, the sleeve can be quench-cooled to get drilling operations moving even faster.

Built for High Voltage and Harsh Environments

WCSM is rated for use on electrical lines carrying 1,000 volts or more, which gives crews confidence when working on critical power-carrying cables and specialty drill wire. When used in jacket repair applications—without direct exposure to conductor voltage—the safe operating range increases even more.

This voltage rating, combined with the mechanical strength and environmental sealing of the product, makes WCSM suitable for a broad range of industries:

• HDD and trenchless construction

• Underground utilities

• Power and electrical contractors

• Industrial cable installers

• Field service and maintenance crews

Any Size. Any Length. Ready When You Are.

Another reason WCSM is such a widely used field solution is its flexibility. It comes in multiple diameters to match everything from small communication lines to larger power cables. And because it’s cut-to-length, crews can order exactly what they need:

• 6-inch sleeves

• 12-inch sleeves

• 24-inch sections

• 48-inch sections

• Or custom lengths beyond that

No wasted material. No improvising on site. Just the right size for the splice or repair.

A Simple Product That Solves a Big Problem

In HDD operations, small issues can quickly turn into big headaches—especially when underground cable integrity is at stake. Raychem WCSM is one of those straightforward, reliable products that saves time, reduces rework, and gives crews confidence that their splice or repair will hold up under pressure.

If your team regularly splices HDD wireline or repairs field-damaged cable jackets, adding WCSM to your standard toolkit is a smart investment. If you need help selecting the correct size or want lengths pre-cut for a particular project, we’re always here to help.

Joint Specialists - Committed to Stocking Material

JSI - Largest Stocking Distributor for (some) Seal for Life products

For those who haven't had the opportunity to tour our production facility in The Woodlands, reach out! We'd love to show you around.

Our 20,000 square foot warehouse still has plenty of room! Our current stock levels in case you're curious how seriously we take our roll as a value adding Distributor / Light Manufacturer:

Currently in stock:

- 150 pallets of Covalence material (and packaging support)

- 143 pallets of Powercrete material (and packaging support)

- 50 pallets of BBS Bumpers for Bundled Road Bores

- 16 pallets of Raychem / Tyco Electronics WCSM material (for sealing low voltage splices and jacket repairs)

- 8 pallets of Stopaq material (soon to be more)

We aren't full yet either! Plenty of room left to take on more. Many thanks to our partner Seal for Life Industries who we've been working closely with for more than 30 years now!

 Covalence Shrink Sleeves (formerly Raychem)

Seal For Life’s Covalence brand offers a comprehensive range of heat shrinkable products designed for corrosion prevention, mechanical protection, and sealing of pipelines, including field joints and pre-insulated pipe systems. Below is an overview of their main product offerings and applications:

• Covalence provides both 2-layer and 3-layer heat-shrinkable sleeves.

• These sleeves feature irradiation cross-linked polyethylene or polypropylene backings, combined with adhesive layers (either visco-elastic mastic or co-polymer hot melt) tailored for different pipeline operating temperatures and environments.

• The 3-layer systems often include an epoxy primer for enhanced adhesion and are compatible with modern multi-layer mainline coatings, creating a monolithic protection system.

• : A two-layer field-joint coating system designed for corrosion protection of pipelines operating at ambient temperatures. It is among the most widely used solutions for girth weld protection.

• : High-performance, three-layer sleeves with epoxy primer, designed for pipelines with higher operating temperatures and demanding environments. These sleeves offer excellent resistance to cathodic disbondment, hot water immersion, and soil/thermal movement stresses - HTLP60 & HTLP80

• : Specifically engineered for directional drilling and applications requiring extra mechanical strength - DIRAX & CCS Material used to make Caseals and Flangeseals.

• : Designed to provide durable sealing solutions for pre-insulated pipe joints, protecting against moisture ingress and maintaining thermal integrity.

• : Includes joint casings, foaming hole closures, primary joint foam seals, end caps, and sealants to support a wide range of pipeline configurations and field conditions.

• High electrical resistance and low permeability for optimal corrosion prevention.

• Designed for easy installation with minimal tools and surface preparation.

• Approved by major testing agencies worldwide, ensuring suitability for diverse field conditions and compliance with global standards such as ISO, EN, AWWA, NACE, and GOST.

• Proven performance record in major pipeline projects globally, including oil, gas, and water transmission lines.

Product Type	Layers	Key Application	Notable Features
WPCT	2	Field joint corrosion protection	Ambient temperature pipelines
HTLP Series	3	High-temp, high-stress environments	Epoxy primer, soil/thermal resistance
Fiberglass-Reinforced Sleeves	2–3	Directional drilling, mechanical stress	Extra strength, abrasion resistance
Pre-Insulated Pipe Sleeves	2–3	Pre-insulated pipe joints	Moisture and thermal protection

Covalence’s heat shrinkable products are trusted globally for their reliability, versatility, and ease of installation, making them a leading choice for pipeline protection and sealing needs.