In December 2009, Nacap was awarded a contract for the construction of a natural gas pipeline between Swifterband and Emmeloord in the Netherlands. The new pipeline was to cross Lake Ketelmeer between both sides of the lake, and the fact that Nacap incorporated HDD was a key point of their tender.

After some initial problems, the 20 km long pipeline with a diameter of 16 inches was successfully pulled in during the night on 6 July. The drill was executed according to the ‘meeting in the middle’ principle. Rigs were placed on both sides of the lake and the drill heads met under the lake. Placing a work island in the middle of the lake would have proved impossible due to busy shipping traffic.

As well as drilling under Lake Ketelmeer, the HDD team will complete a further seven drillings on the route, including under the A6 motorway and a number of archaeological sites.