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When Tempe, AZ-based Southeast Directional Drilling was invited to bid on a job in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, they knew they faced some challenges.
The purpose of the project was to move large quantities of gas from offshore to the Atlantic LNG Company of Trinidad and Tobago's newly built LNG plant at Point Fortin, on the Caribbean Island of Trinidad. From here, the LNG was to be loaded into vessels and shipped out for sale.
The $200 million, 56-inch diameter Cross Island Pipeline being built by Bechtel was considered unique because, once completed, it would be the largest diameter pipeline in the Western Hemisphere. Scheduled for completion later this year, the pipeline called for three horizontal directional drills (HDDs) requiring approximately 100 feet of cover.
Shortly after being invited to bid on the project, Steve Ugrich, president of Southeast Directional Drilling, Mark Osadchuk, a consultant for Southeast Directional Drilling and other company representatives flew to Trinidad during spring 2003 to visit the proposed directional drill sites.
Ultimately, Southeast Directional Drilling was awarded the project and installed 7,100 feet of 56-inch diameter pipe through directional drills to accommodate crossings beneath the Guapo River; a crossing near Point Fortin at the water's edge of the Gulf of Paria; and beneath the Oropouche River in a marshy wetland area. The three crossings had lengths ranging from 2,230 to 2,515 feet.
Pre-Planning
"Because of the size of the pipe being used on the project - 56-inch, .965 w.t. - a significant amount of pre-planning was needed to ensure that the proper equipment and tooling was mobilized to the island," Ugrich explained.
A significant...