Herrenknecht wins IPLOCA new technologies prize

Herrenknecht received the ‘IPLOCA New Technologies Award’ for the newly developed semi-trenchless Pipe Express® method in Washington DC, USA, during the annual International Pipeline and Offshore Contractors Association (IPLOCA) convention.

IPLOCA, based in Geneva, Switzerland, represents major companies in the onshore and offshore pipeline industry worldwide. Every two years, as part of its annual meeting, IPLOCA awards the IPLOCA Award for significant innovations in the pipeline industry, which is sponsored by BP.

Environmental protection in pipeline projects
Doug Evans, President of the IPLOCA and CEO of Gulf Interstate Engineering, emphasised in his speech that Herrenknecht Pipe Express® can make a key contribution to environmental protection in pipeline projects. Near-surface pipelines can be laid economically and in an environmentally friendly manner with the Pipe Express® method.

This aspect was decisive for the jury as protection of the environment is of major importance in the development of large-scale projects.

Ulrich Schaffhauser, Chairman of the Executive Board of the Business Unit Utility Tunnelling, Herrenknecht, received the award during the event. He thanked the IPLOCA President Doug Evans, John Attrill, Project General Manager of BP and the international experts: "We are very pleased with this recognition. We were already honoured once by IPLOCA with the Direct Pipe® technology in 2009. It fills us with pride that we were able to win this year against 18 competitors from around the world. It demonstrates the achievements and commitment of our engineers and project managers”.

How the pipeline installation method works
Pipe Express® is an innovative mechanised method for the near-surface installation of pipelines. Pipelines of up to 2000 m in length and with diameters of 900 - 1500 mm (36 – 60 in.) can thus be installed in a single-step procedure. A tunnel boring machine loosens the soil, which is then directly conveyed aboveground using a milling unit that is carried along. At the same time, the pipeline is installed underground. The significantly narrower route enables the earthwork to be reduced to a minimum with this construction method and no groundwater lowering is necessary. This means that Pipe Express® has a far lower impact on the environment compared with the conventional, open-cut construction method.

The development of the system
The development of Pipe Express® was funded by the Federal Ministry of Environment with the aim of developing a particularly environmentally friendly and cost-efficient method for pipeline installation.

Used in North-South gas pipeline (the Netherlands; Fourth Transmission pipeline (Thailand)
The new technology has shown its usefulness already. As the first reference project, the method demonstrated its efficiency in the construction of the ‘North-South Gas Pipeline’ in the Netherlands, where the technology achieved top tunnelling performances of up to 1.20 m/min. Currently, the machine is in operation near Bangkok in Thailand for the ‘Fourth Transmission Pipeline’. Despite the monsoon season, the 42 in. gas pipeline is to be installed in several sections with overburdens of 1.20 - 2.30 m. With the heavy rainfall this could not be realised efficiently using conventional construction methods with long and wide open construction pits.

Adapted from press release by Elizabeth Corner

Read the article online at: https://www.worldpipelines.com/business-news/14102013/herrenknecht_wins_iploca_new_technologies_prize/