Electricity
Gas
Pipelines:
- Millennium Pipeline, Phase 1 2007, Tuxedo, NY
- Millennium Pipeline, Phase 2, 2008, Tuxedo, NY
- Spectra Energy Pipeline, Ramapo, NY
- Iroquois Pipeline, Newton, CT
- UNH/Turnkey Landfill Bio Gas Line, Durham, NH
Compressor Stations:
Southern Loop, VELCO Transmission Line, VT
SCOPE OF WORK:
The Southern Loop is a 50-mile project stretching from Vernon to Ludlow, VT, along an existing transmission line corridor. The project includes approximately 400 structures that will require blasting up to 17 feet deep for the 245kV line.
CHALLENGES:
The transmission contractor, Cianbro, requested all drilling, blasting and guy anchor holes be performed within a full-service program. As such, Maine Drilling & Blasting is providing excavators, dump trucks, track vehicles for explosive product and people, and crushed stone. As a full service subcontractor, Maine Drilling & Blasting is performing all tasks normally undertaken by the contractor, including setting mats, etc. We work directly behind the clearing crew. Weekly planning balances our resources in a linear fashion based on the accessible terrain. Mobilization and de-mobilization is predicated on MD&B’s schedule compared to the needs of the project, but holes are always ready for the pole crew. Services include safe, controlled blasting next to existing and operational power lines, and daily productions to meet the aggressive schedule of Cianbro.
STATUS:
The project, currently well underway, is targeted for completion in early 2010.
345kV Substation, So. Gorham, ME
SCOPE OF WORK:
May 2009 work started on the 345kV substation for a major upgrade. The initial phase involves 2,000 cubic yards of drilling and blasting for the first group of foundations outside the original fence. In conjunction with these foundations, Maine Drilling &
Blasting used a hoe ram, aided by a percussion drill, to mechanically remove rock near the existing relay building.
CHALLENGE:
The rock removal subcontract limits blast energy to .5 inches per second at the relays. The unit price combines mechanical and blasting, depending on the method that will achieve the protection of the relays. Power Engineers are the design build GC. Maine Drilling & Blasting worked with them to offer a rock anchor alternative for site conditions where anchors are more cost effective than blasting.
SCHEDULE:
The schedule has demolition and blasting in each of the multiple phases over a period beyond one year. As a local blaster, Maine Drilling & Blasting mobilizes whenever rock removal is needed within 24 hours. As soon as that work is done, we are off the site.
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Electrical Transmission Line, Rutland, VT
SCOPE OF WORK:
Drill and blast for new transmission poles immediately adjacent to existing and energized poles.
CHALLENGE:
To have all drills and explosives productive, along a 30-miles access road within the woods.
OUTCOME:
25% more poles per day than the general contractor anticipated. No call-backs for partially blasted rock. No power outages.
SCHEDULE:
The work was completed ahead of schedule.
SUMMARY:
Power line work is successful when the planning and execution understand the access constraints.
Millennium Pipeline, Phase I 2007, Tuxedo, NY
SCOPE OF WORK:
12 miles of 36-inch gas line was installed by Precision Pipeline with MD Drilling & Blasting performing all blasting. The work connected Tuxedo, NY to Ramapo, NY.
CHALLENGE:
- This is very rugged terrain near I-87 through the hills just below the Catskill Area. Many areas need to be preblasted above the trench to allow access for construction traffic.
- The ROW width and environmental constraints were significant. Many times we worked inside the pipe laying crew so we had no access by them back to the road.
- Material planning for a productive day was essential.
OUTCOME:
The pipe contractor needed 1,000 running feet per day. It was ready for them, while we adhered to the environmental constraints as well as traffic requirements along the busy interstate highway.
SCHEDULE:
We needed from one to eight drills with appropriate blasting crews to meet the productions. Our Project Superintendent had access to whatever he needed to keep up.
SUMMARY:
The pipeline contractor is now planning the next 75 miles. We are looking forward to keeping them as another repeat customer.
Millennium Pipeline, Phase II, Tuxedo, NY
SCOPE OF WORK :
75 miles of 36-inch gas line from Tuxedo, NY to Hancock, NY. Pipeline installation by Precision Pipeline Company with MD Drilling and Blasting performing all blasting for the right-of-way and the trench line. The project has been divided into two spreads; 28 miles in the south and 47 miles in the north.
CHALLENGE:
A very aggressive schedule, further complicated by permitting difficulty on the southern spread, has prevented the pipeline contractor from excavating through miles of onion fields. With a mobilized fleet of over 200 excavators and D-8 dozers, along with a 250 plus workforce, the only area available is in the rock zones. MD is tasked with producing enough open and trench blasting in extremely steep terrain to make the contractor efficient in a very congested section of the project with limited access. Add to this, strict environmental guidelines, high tension transmission lines, poisonous snakes … and the challenge requires the absolute best in the industry.
Concurrently the North spread has kicked off after similar permitting, terrain and conditions and the race is on to stay ahead of the equipment show in our rear view mirror. Resource planning is essential to meet the daily productions.
STATUS:
There are currently 9 drilling and blasting crews on the south spread working seven days a week and are successfully staying in front of Precision. There are 4 drilling and blasting crews on the north spread actually pushing Precision to clear and grub out in front of MD. Precision, at one point, requested 26 drills to perform at the current level MD is obtaining with 13. The project is scheduled for completion in October of this year. For more information, please see the Pipeliners Hall of Fame News (PDF).
Spectra Energy Pipeline, Ramapo, NY
SCOPE OF WORK:
Drill and blast adjacent to an existing (in service) high pressure gas line in Ramapo, NY, for a new line adjacent to the original one. Blasting occurred within 18 feet of the existing line. Contract was by-the-day for Otis Eastern Pipeline.
CHALLENGE:
MD’s initial challenge was to submit to the owner, Spectra Energy, well-defined blast plans using strict criteria so that blasting would be permitted. The majority of the work occurred within 15 feet of the existing line and, in some areas, within 12 feet. Access was difficult and resources had to be planned well as once we were in the site there was no going back until the end of the shift. Strict environmental constraints were also in place.
STATUS:
Spectra Energy approved all of the blast plan submittals and commencement of work. The project required full-time supervision by an MD Regional Superintendent to interface with the contractor and owner on a daily basis. MD exceeded Otis Eastern’s expectations for daily production. The project was completed successfully two months early.
Iroquois Pipeline, Newton, CT
SCOPE OF WORK:
Drill and blast within 25 feet of an existing high pressure gas line for the installation of a new line adjacent to the old one in Newtown, CT.
CHALLENGE:
Wetland protection was a major issue in this area, so blasting had to be very well controlled. Demanding, steep terrain necessitated right-of-way shooting for us to access the actual area of work. No rock could leave the right of way. And lastly, the customer required strict adherence to their challenging fragmentation specifications.
OUTCOME:
The customer was very happy with the fragmentation we achieved, and the fact that the project was completed ahead of the projected timetable.
UNH/Turnkey Landfill Bio Gas Line, Durham, NH
SCOPE OF WORK:
R.H. White installed 12.7 of miles Methane Gas Transmission Line with Maine Drilling & Blasting performing the drilling and blasting. The project connected the Turnkey Landfill in Rochester, NH with the University of New Hampshire Co-Generation Facility.
CHALLENGE:
The work was along a busy highway easement with several structures surrounding blast areas.
OUTCOME:
Maine Drilling & Blasting performed all the blasting on time and safely.
SUMMARY:
We participated in this innovative project using waste gas from a landfill as fuel for a power boiler at the University of New Hampshire. The gas is considered a “Greenhouse Gas” and previously it was collected and burned off as it was emitted from the decomposing landfill material. This project built the infrastructure that created the opportunity to collect and transmit this gas for use as fuel to make power and steam.
Spectra Energy, Brewster, NY
SCOPE OF WORK:
Drill and blast adjacent to an existing high pressure gas line and compressor station in Brewster, NY, for the installation of a new compressor station. Contract was with Ben Ciccone Excavating.
CHALLENGE:
The contractor had planned to hoe-ram the rock and the existing compressor station and pipeline were to be blown down. The rock proved to be too hard to hoe-ram and MD Drilling & Blasting was requested (at the 11th hour) to submit blast plans to the owner (Spectra Energy) for approval to blast within 15 feet of the station and the line while they were in service. The schedule had suffered delays prior to our mobilization. Get approvals and remove the rock safely and as quickly as possible to maintain schedule.
OUTCOME:
Blast plans received an accelerated approval due the comfort that Spectra had with the Ramapo project. MD mobilized a drill and blast crew within days, and completed the work within a week. The contractor is back on schedule and the owner is very pleased.
Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, Westbrook, ME
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Maritimes & Northeast Pipeline, Woodchopper’s Ridge, ME
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