A SMART APPROACH TO PIPE REPLACEMENT: LESS DISRUPTION AND FASTER RESULTS EQUALS HAPPIER RESIDENTS.
Wellington’s water network is one of the oldest in the country, and like many urban centres, faces the tough task of balancing aging infrastructure with growing demand. With over 2,500km of pipework, Wellington Water and local councils face a significant challenge to manage urgent repairs and long-term upgrades.
That’s where Construction Contracts Limited (CCL) steps in.
We spoke with Daniel Burns, Drill Division Manager at CCL, about their recent work replacing water pipes in Naenae’s Rata Street, and how the Blick team, and new Blick Fluids range supported them to get the job done well.
ABOUT CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS LIMITED
Founded in 1991, CCL is a Wellington-based civil construction company specialising in water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. With a team of nearly 50, they’ve contributed to major projects like the Arras Tunnel and Transmission Gully, and supported recovery efforts after the Christchurch earthquakes.
Since 2018, they’ve developed their Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) capability, enabling them to complete pipe replacement projects with significantly less disruption to people and the environment.
THE RATA STREET PROJECT
Rata Street in Naenae is a key route for commuters, buses, and school traffic, making it a complex location for pipe replacement. The CCL team had to juggle safety risks, traffic, and environmental factors, to get the job done safely.
After a detailed site assessment, they chose a mix of methods: open cut to cross a small stream, and their preferred method, HDD for the rest.
Using 120-metre drill shots the team was able to replace sections of pipe efficiently without the need to dig up large sections of the footpath or road. This meant they could minimise the impact on residents and road users throughout the project.
DRILLING INTO RATA STREET: HOW CCL TACKLED A COMPLEX URBAN PIPE UPGRADE
Below ground, Rata Street proved more complex than it first looked. As Dan explained, Wellington soil often shifts dramatically within a single drill shot, from clay to sand to gravel and topsoil, which can challenge even the most experienced crew. Progress slowed when the team hit unexpectedly sticky clay that clogged the drills and risked project delays. For a community-focused company like CCL, mitigating disruption to residents was a big priority, so they turned to long-term partners Blick for a fast solution.
With the recent launch of Blick’s new fluids range, the timing was perfect to test it on Rata Street.
Lulu loves the new Blick Fluids as much as we do
THE SOLUTION
The CCL team were pleased to see the new Blick Fluids range performing as well as the previous products, when used in the same recipes. And it didn’t stop there. The new range provided the option to refine the mix further and get even better results.
Blick and CCL worked closely together throughout the project, and by tweaking the recipes and adjusting flow rates of four of the Blick Fluids range: Carry Flow, Clay Control, Clay Dissolve and Torque Down, they were able to fix the sticky clay problem and achieve the perfect level of viscosity to complete the job efficiently.
“The Blick team really knows their mud. We get a lot of reactive clay around here and they give us recipes that work perfectly, and that enables us to drill way more efficiently.”
The new fluids not only helped maintain low pressure and avoid frac-outs, they also created enough stability to allow CCL to pause drilling overnight, returning the next day to pick up right where they left off without any hassle.
The cost savings were also significant. By using less fluid and generating less waste, Dan estimates they’re saving $400–$500 per drill shot in product costs, and around $3,500 per shot in disposal fees. A bonus for the pocket, and the environment.
RESULTS THE COMMUNITY CAN SEE
The first phase of the Rata Street project wrapped up ahead of schedule in December 2024, much to the satisfaction of locals and the CCL team alike.
This commitment was clear when the CCL crew saw residents slipping on a nearby footpath. Although unrelated to the water project, they contacted Hutt City Council, offered to fund and build a better path, and installed a safer, sloped section up to the bus stop.
“CCL are the kind of partner you want. They’re focused on quality, always open to learning, and committed to doing the right thing by their clients and their community.”
WHAT’S NEXT?
CCL have invested heavily in their HDD capability to become leaders in the field. Not only investing in the drilling tools and equipment, they’ve also invested in their people - hiring and training a strong local team, committed to delivering the best possible results. Like most Wellingtonians, they too look forward to increased investment to bring water pipes to standard, and to working closely with the local councils and Wellington Water to plan out an ongoing programme to improve the region’s water pipes.
As strong advocates for HDD, and the drilling industry as a whole, the Blick team are also in regular discussions with councils and utility providers, advocating for investment and providing expert guidance. We continue to work closely with these organisations, and look forward to seeing more projects utilising the benefits of HDD to get the best results in future.
If you would like a PDF copy please download here