How to handle a stuck drill bit in a horizontal directional drilling rig
Jun 24, 2026| 1. Targeted Classification and Handling:
Drill Bit Stuck in Underground Pipeline: Remove the drill bit, pull back the drill rod, relocate the drilling rig, and re-drill the pilot hole.
Small Brick/Stone Stuck: Loosen the torque, slowly enlarge the hole at low speed to free the drill bit.
Large Rock/Concrete Block Stuck: Remove the drill string, relocate and re-drill, or excavate to remove the obstacle before resuming work.
Stuck in Hard Clay Layers: Significantly slow down the enlargement speed, increase the mud injection volume, and extend the working time of a single drill rod.
Stuck with Tree Roots: Loosen the torque and slowly enlarge the hole. After passing through, enlarge again to crush the tree root and prevent subsequent pipe laying from being obstructed.
2. General Emergency Rescue: When the drill bit is stuck in long-distance, complex strata, a backup drilling rig at the exit point can be activated to assist in hole washing and retrieval from the opposite side, quickly resolving the stuck drill bit problem and reducing project losses.
