CASE STUDIES
Buckinghorse River
Environmentally Sensitive Crossing
PROJECT SUMMARY
In Canada, oil and gas pipelines are regulated, planned and built to the highest standards in the world. In environmentally sensitive areas, companies work with all stakeholders to mitigate risks and protect against spills.
The Buckinghorse River HDD was a large intersect project, completed over 108 days in a remote area of northern British Columbia. One 203 mm (8 in) line and two 254 mm (10 in) lines were installed. To address environmental concerns, the project design called for the pipeline to be placed at a depth of 160 m (525 ft). This created a 114 m (374 ft) buffer (or “overburden”) between the pipeline and the riverbed. The design also required extensive casing at the entry and exit location.
The Crossing Company was able to maximize efficiency and minimize costs by collaborating with The Tunneling Company (TTC) to install a portion of the surface casing on the entry location.
KEY CHALLENGES
This project was challenging on many levels. Rigs were placed on both the entry and exit locations to drill the pilot hole, using an intersect method. Due to the depth of the bore profile, careful planning and technical expertise were required to execute the intersect. To add to the complexity of the crossing, the entry and exit angles were extremely steep (26° and 18° respectively).
The Tunneling Company installed 78.05 m (256 ft) of 1,372 mm (54 in) surface casing at entry. The Crossing Company then took over, completing the 1,372 mm surface casing install to 90.5 m (297 ft). Then a proprietary pre-reaming tool (we call “The Durango”) was used to telescope 1,219 mm (48 in) surface casing the final distance to a depth of 102 m (335 ft). The exit side rig installed 47 m (154 ft) of 1,219 mm (4 ft) casing.
On top of this, sound attenuation was required at the exit location, which was in close proximity to a local campground.
This project exemplifies the Crossing Group’s commitment of going to greater lengths (and depths) to ensure pipelines remain the safest and most economical way to transport the petroleum products we all rely upon.
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