[en] The purpose of this study is to determine the existing state of the art for small diameter, horizontal pilot hole drilling. The data were collected by contacting worldwide owners of raise or slant hole drill equipment, manufacturers of drills and bits, and manufacturers of survey tools. The study was limited to existing equipment and completed trials. Most attempts at directional pilot hole drilling, and most survey tools are designed for near vertical, downward drilling. Several types of controllable bits are available which depend upon in-hole motors and bent or wedged assemblies to bias the direction of drilling. Accurate horizontal drilling can be achieved in this way by alternately drilling and surveying at frequent intervals. This procedure is impractical, however, from both a production and a cost standpoint. A few attempts at directional drilling have been made using ordinary drilling tools, a rotary drill string and a tricone bit. Good equipment and a well trained drill crew appeared to be the most significant factor in practical, accurate drilling, whether horizontal or vertical. Because of the cost, no one uses steerable bit drilling except for correction, and then only for short portions of an overall drill program. No satisfactory continuous readout surveying tool, coupled with a remotely controlled bit capable of direction correction, exists. An industry need exists for a high speed, directional drill bit, coupled with a continuously monitored survey tool. 2 tables