Pipeline Contractors’ Directory (part 1)

With 25 years of experience, Baker Hughes Process and Pipeline Services’ (PPS) inline inspection (ILI) services help operators meet integrity programme objectives, whether the pipeline is onshore or offshore, or if it transports liquid or gas.

The ILI tools identify threats, such as third party pipeline damage, metal loss from pipeline corrosion, and pipeline mechanical damage. Speed control tools optimise product throughput; inertial measurement units locate pipeline anomalies and bending strain solutions; triaxial technology detects metal loss; and adaptable tools allow for difficult-to-inspect pipelines.

Some major projects recently completed by Baker Hughes include:

• Baker Hughes successfully developed a subsea remote flooding and hydrotesting module (RFHM) unit for precommissioning pipelines without the use of an extensive vessel-based equipment spread or the risks associated with downline operations. The unique RFHM unit is totally self-contained, and allows a pipeline to be flooded and tested with a single deployment. The RFHM unit has been used recently in southeast Asia to fill and test pipelines in water depths up to 4900 ft (1494 m).
• The company inspected a 37 mile (60 km), 12 in. (304 mm) crude oil pipeline in the southern part of the US. After assessing the performance of the existing cathodic protection (CP) system within 12 hrs, the Baker Hughes cathodic protection current measurement ILI tool confirmed two significant anomalies that were impacting the protection of this pipeline.
• A multinational oil and gas exploration and production company had several offshore fields in Africa that presented significant challenges. Some of the lines have been in production for 25 years, so the offshore launch and receive facilities were only expected to handle very short, rigid body cleaning pigs. Using the CPIG™ MIKRO tool saved countless hours of mechanical retrofit to remove decking and install temporary launchers long enough to launch and receive longer standard inline inspection tools.
• Baker Hughes recently completed precommissioning the world’s largest submarine pipeline system comprising twin 760 mile (1223 km) 48 in. pipelines. This project set many precedents for long submarine pipelines, including the longest dewatering operations and largest offshore flooding and testing spreads.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Feasibility Studies; Terminals; Maintenance; Pipeline Rehabilitation

Founded in 1942 as a one-man operation, The Bayou Companies, LLC provides protective coatings and insulations for oil and gas pipelines, along with the project management, welding, logistics support and other ancillary services needed to install them safely and efficiently.

A wholly owned subsidiary of Aegion Corporation, Bayou offers a wide range of solutions for the oil and gas industry including internal and external FBE coating, concrete weight coating, insulation and welding and field joint coating services.

Bayou delivers these products and services from strategically located facilities in the southern USA and Canada. The largest facility is Bayou’s complex in New Iberia, Louisiana, which houses internal and external pipe coating and insulation operations, portable concrete facilities and enough yard storage space to store more than 1600 km of its customers’ pipe.

Bayou offers a wide range of coatings, including fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE), concrete weight coatings, three-layer polyethylene, three-layer polypropylene and two-layer polyethylene. Bayou’s pre-insulated products are designed for subsea oil and gas gathering, LNG terminals and long distance petroleum pipeline transportation. Through a joint venture with Wasco Energy, Bayou also offers offshore insulation coating services to customers in the US, the Gulf of Mexico, Central America and the Caribbean.

Bayou is currently involved in a project coating approximately 700 000 ft of 24 in. pipeline for an offshore project in the Gulf of Mexico. The project also includes the installation of buckle arrestors for added structural integrity and anodes for corrosion prevention.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Welding

Bohlen & Doyen (BoDo) is one of the most experienced and successful pipeline constructors in Europe. For more than 60 years BoDo has been offering its services on the market. The company offers the implementation of turnkey projects within the field of pipeline construction, from the planning of required services over execution of drilling and civil works to the construction of major plants. The service portfolio ranges from pipeline construction, in all dimensions, pressure ranges and materials to civil works, HDD drillings up to 2000 m length, steel construction, welding engineering, plant construction and control – measuring – and regulation technology. This makes BoDo an ideal partner for energy suppliers and distributers.

Some examples of BoDo’s recently carried out projects are listed below:

• Wingas: Jemgum storage pipeline – This project entailed the construction of a high pressure, steel gas pipeline between Jemgum (Germany) and Oude Statenzijl (the Netherlands), with a total length of 14 km. Part of the scope of works is the installation of six HDDs with the following lengths: 410 m; 550 m; 1160 m; 1370 m; 1390 m; and 1850 m.
• EWE: Jemgum brine pipe – Rysumer Nacken – Construction of a brine pipe DN 900, overall length around 900 m. The project also included the extension of the gas pipeline (MIDAL) at Rysumer Nacken. BoDo’s main responsibilities included pipeline and horizontal drilling works.
• Gasunie: Preparation stringing pipeline (Ems-Dollart-Tunnel) – The project involved the construction and installation of a DN1200 gas pipeline and DN770 ballast pipe. With a length of 4015 m, the 3000 mm ID concrete tunnel was constructed using the tubular concrete shell section (‘Tübbinge’) material and was positioned at a maximum of -23 m below mean sea level. The DN 1200 48 in. high pressure gas pipeline’s dimensions are as follows: 22.7 mm wall thickness; 18 m pipe length; and 7 mm polypropylene coating. The dimensions of the GRP (PN 1) ballast pipe included: 17.5 mm wall thickness; and DN 770 diameter.
• EWE: Bunde-Landschaftspolder high pressure gas pipeline – BoDo was contracted for the laying of a 2.6 km high pressure gas pipeline (DN 200) in Bunde-Landschaftspolder. The company carried out pipeline and civil works.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Turnkey Construction; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Compressor Stations; Welding; Maintenance; Pipeline Rehabilitation

Consolidated Contractors Company (CCC), founded in 1952 is a globally diversified company specialising in engineering and construction. CCC has become the largest engineering and construction company in the Middle East with a workforce consisting of 110 000 qualified men and women embodying over 80 different nationalities.

CCC has also expanded to more than 40 countries through Africa, the Caribbean, CIS countries, Australia and Papua New Guinea, with related investments in Europe and the US. The company’s diverse portfolio captures all aspects of the engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) value chain, starting with feasibility studies, into design, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations and maintenance as well as project development (BOT, BOO, PPP).

Some recent projects carried out by CCC include:

• EPC services for APLNG Pipelines in Queensland, Australia. The project consisted of 575 km of 18 - 42 in. gas pipelines.
• EPC services for QCLNG Export Pipeline & Collection Header in Queensland, Australia. CCC worked on 528 km of 42 in. gas pipelines.
• EPC services on 64 km of a 42 in. pipeline for QCLNG Export Pipeline – Narrows Crossing, in Queensland, Australia.
• EPC services for New Export Transit Pipelines in Kuwait. The project incorporated 135 km of 8 - 24 in. gas pipelines.
• CCC was contracted to lay 286 km of 3 - 20 in. oil flowlines, gas transfer and injection lines at the Qusahwira Field (1.8 million bpd) Project, in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
• EPC services for Sahil, Asab & Shah (SAF) Full Fields Development in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The project comprised 107 km of a 16 in. main oil line, and 315 km 3 - 16 in. trunklines and flowlines. CCC also carried out the demolition of 31 km of 6 - 30 in. pipelines.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines and Turnkey Construction

Corrpro is a leading provider of cathodic protection systems, AC and DC interference mitigation systems and other long-term solutions for preserving pipes and other infrastructure. The company’s diverse experience enables it to take on the toughest challenges associated with existing and new underground, submerged and embedded structures.

Corrpro recently provided an AC interference solution for a group of pipeline operators in its south central region. To date, this project has been Corrpro’s largest turnkey AC mitigation project in the US. A number of adverse construction-related issues made this project a challenging accomplishment. The latest AC mitigation modeling techniques, software and materials were used to insure that Corrpro’s clients were provided the best possible solution for their AC corrosion problem. The demand for electricity and right-of-way to transport continues to make AC corrosion a concern for both pipeline operators and electricity providers worldwide. This project is a fundamental example of how Corrpro continues to stay on the cutting edge of technology and industry trends.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Turnkey Construction; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Research & Development; Maintenance; Pipeline Rehabilitation

For more than 30 years, CRTS has been an innovator in coating application technology and has pioneered the field application of fusion-bonded epoxy and liquid epoxy to the internal diameter of the field joint and cutback margin. Each piece of robotic equipment has live video feedback for real-time observation by specially-trained field technicians. This technology is used at each active jobsite for all projects. The cleaning and coating process represents decades of CRTS research, testing and field application.

The company provides corrosion control by performing an internal cleaning, coating and inspection regimen on each cutback and field joint on new construction pipelines. Currently, its robotic equipment can operate in pipe diameters ranging from 8 in. (0.625 W.T.) to 60+ in.

CRTS is also dedicated to high standards of quality and is ISO 9001:2008 certified. This certification demonstrates the focus of the organisation on customer satisfaction and continuous improvements to products and processes.

CRTS is involved in Brazil for the third time in four years at a project near Recife. At the conclusion of this project CRTS will have internally coated approximately 600 field joints in 10 in. water injection lines for oil production and approximately 60 field joints in 46 in. pipelines. CRTS expects to mobilise soon to the final project phase of the Uburana project in Brazil, where a beach pull will tie in the offshore work completed in 2012 to the onshore work completed in 2009 to complete the entire 12 in. pipeline.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines and Offshore Pipelines

Founded in 1922, DENSO GmbH Germany is an inventor and quality leader of anti-corrosion coatings for joints and pipelines. Its core business consist of the development and production of co-extruded 3-ply PE, butyl-tapes and heat shrinkable sleeves with innovative hotmelt and mastic technology, petrolatum tapes, polyurethane coatings, as well as bitumen profiles.

The multinational Group is able to look back on a successful corporate history. Following the founding of the company in Germany, DENSO’s success story commenced with the world’s first anti-corrosion product for pipelines, the petrolatum tape, which was patented in 1927. Continuous research and development has resulted in many patents and innovative products for road construction and protection against corrosion.

Due to several proven long-term experiences with DENSO’s self amalgamating tapes, they are in demand for rehabilitation projects and new pipeline constructions worldwide.

Recently, DENSO GmbH was contracted to perform quality coating services for large international clients around the world, such as Techint (Chile), SUI Southern Gas Company Ltd (Pakistan) and State Company Oil Projects (Iraq). The projects required the supply of the company’s DENSOLEN® tape systems and DEKOTEC® heat shrink sleeves, as well as instruction training and technical consulting.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Research & Development; Pipeline Rehabilitation

Denys is a multi-specialist construction group, active in underground services since 1923 and building pipelines since 1955. Denys is one of the major pipeline contractors in Europe and its pipeline division is responsible for approximately 25% of the overall turnover.

Denys can assure the engineering, procurement, construction and, where required, the financing of pipeline projects. The company has the in-house expertise, personnel and plant for all the main activities, be it civil or mechanical. This includes the trenchless crossing of highways, rivers, or any other obstacles by tunnelling or HDD. It is thus possible to build a pipeline with a minimum of subcontracting or, when circumstances require, Denys can act as a general contractor.

With exceptional technological know-how and an impressive fleet of equipment, Denys currently builds pipelines in Europe, Africa and the Middle East. In the near future, Denys will also be able to make a difference in other regions of the world.

Some examples of recent projects completed in 2012 - 2013 are highlighted below:

• Net4Gas Gazelle Project: Construction of 106 km ND 1400 natural gas pipeline in the Czech Republic.
• SNH: EPCC of the natural gas pipeline Bipaga 1 - Mpolongwe 2 in Kribi, Cameroon.
• Total: EPRS readiness, emergency pipeline repairs and personnel mobilisation on Balhaf Site, Yemen.

Some ongoing projects include:

• GRTgaz: The construction of a ND 900 natural gas pipeline between Loon-Plage and Pitgam, and construction of a ND 1200 natural gas pipeline between Nédon and Corbie, in France. The project includes microtunnels and HDDs.
• Griffiths/Petrochad (Mangara) Ltd: Pipeline construction management on Mangara pipeline in Chad.
• Fluxys: Construction of the Ben-Ahin-Bras pipeline, a ND 500 high pressure natural gas pipeline in Belgium.
• Gaznat: Construction of a natural gas pipeline between Trélex and Colovrex, Switzerland.
• Gasunie: Framework agreements (LSC and RAP) for the construction of natural gas pipelines in the Netherlands.
• Gasunie: Braakman Z-551-03 and Z-551-08 for the broadening of the N-61, the Netherlands.
• Gasunie: Replacement of the Stewarts & Lloyds pipelines north of Brabant, the Netherlands.
• Havenbedrijf Rotterdam/Gasunie: Maasvlakte: Replacement of the coating on the 36 in. Gasunie pipeline in the Netherlands.
• Ideta/NATO: Moving of a hydrocarbon high pressure pipeline in Province of Hainault/City of Peruwelz, Belgium.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Turnkey Construction; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Compressor Stations; Welding; Finance, Strategy & Analysis; Feasibility Studies; Terminals; Research & Development; Maintenance; Pipeline Rehabilitation

Dhatec specialises in developing and manufacturing products that prevent pipes from damaging during all logistics. The company shows pipeline operators how they can guarantee a safe, efficient and damage-free delivery of their pipes through the entire supply chain.

To assist its customers and support its products, Dhatec provides product application onsite, instructions and technical support to people on the work floor, as well as quality control and monitoring of the products during projects.

Dhatec’s strengths are quality, flexibility, R&D and customer’s satisfaction. Existing products are continuously being customised to comply with the latest demands and specifications. Special sizes and extreme conditions are daily work. In addition, Dhatec offers rental and recycling possibilities of its products to stimulate sustainability.

Dhatec offers over 3000 products in the following categories: pipe closure; pipe-end protection; pipe storage; pipe transport; pipe coating; pipe handling; and pipeline construction.

Some recent projects include:

• Dhatec supplied pipe closure, pipe-end production solutions and pipe transport systems for clad pipes for the Gorgon and Wheatstone projects in Australia.
• Dhatec supplied coating couplings and blasting plugs to coating companies for major pipeline projects in Russia, USA, Malaysia, Mozambique and many other countries.
• Dhatec developed stalk joining clamps for clad pipes to spoolbases.
• Dhatec supplied pipe storage systems and transport systems for a new harbour in Iraq.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Feasibility Studies; Terminals

ERCIAS Steel Pipe Co. was founded with the vision to develop, manufacture and export cutting-edge steel pipes for oil and gas pipelines and other projects. ERCIYAS manufactures steel line pipes (spirally welded – HSAW), with all types of specified coatings and linings with diameters ranging from Ø10 in. (273.1 mm) to Ø160 in. (4064 mm) and wall thickness ranging from 0.157 in. (4 mm) to 1.38 in. (35 mm), using steel grades from St. 37 up to API 5L X100. With its technically advanced machinery, the company specialises in heavy grade wall thickness and high steel graded projects, thus, playing a big role in huge international pipeline projects such as TAP, TANAP, Nabucco West and others as well.

Some ongoing gas pipeline projects include:

• Sonatrach Gas Gazoduc Project (API 5L X70 steel grade).
• Cameg Gas Pipeline Project (API 5L X52 steel grade).

Some recently completed gas pipeline projects include:

• Gas Pipeline Project (L485MB steel grade).
• GR4 Gas Pipeline Project (API 5L X70 steel grade).
• Kesan-Edirne Gas Pipeline Project (API 5L X65 steel grade).
• Sonatrach GK 1 Gas Pipeline Project API 5L X70 steel grade).
• GREO Gas Pipeline Project (API 5L X70 steel grade).
• Adiyaman Faz II Gas Pipeline Project (API 5L X65 steel grade).
• Cameg Gas Pipeline Project (API 5L X70 and API 5L X60 steel grades).
• Natural Gas Pipeline Project (L485MB steel grade).

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Turnkey Construction; Welding

The Essar Group is a global conglomerate and a leading player in the sectors of steel, energy (oil, gas and power), infrastructure (ports, projects and concessions), and services (shipping, telecom, realty and business process outsourcing).

Essar Projects Limited (EPL) is an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) company headquartered in Dubai. EPL has capabilities across diverse verticals such as oil and gas, cross-country pipelines, power, iron and steel, ports and marine, and offshore.

EPL has built a refining capacity of 20 million tpy, laid more than 4000 km of onshore and offshore pipelines and erected refurbished platforms offshore.

Some of the company’s major recently completed projects are listed below.

Gas pipeline projects:

• Bharuch Jamnagar pipeline (India) – 190 km x 30 in. EPL carried out this project on an EPC basis for Gujarat State Petronet Limited (GSPL).
• Vijaipur Dadri pipeline (India) – 330 km x 48 in. Essar carried out this project on a construction basis for GAIL India Limited.

Product line projects:

• Vadinar Bina crude oil pipeline (India) – 503 km x 24 in. Essar carried out this project on a complete EPC basis for Bharat Oman Refineries Limited (BORL).
• Mundra Delhi product pipeline (India) – 550 km x 18 in. This project was carried out on a construction basis for Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited.
• Chennai Trichy Madurai product pipeline (India) – 683 km x 10/12/14 in. Essar carried out this project on a construction basis for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).

Pipeline projects under execution:

• Inter Refinery product pipeline (Abu Dhabi) – 189 km x 28 in. This project is currently ongoing on a construction basis for GS Engineering & Construction.
• Salaya Mathura product line (India) – 416 km x 28 in. Essar is doing this project on construction basis for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
• Paradip Ranchi Sambhalpur product pipeline (India) – 800 km x 18/16/12 in. This construction basis project is being executed for Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL).
• Habshan-Ruwais condensate pipeline – 110 km x 24 in. This project is currently ongoing on an EPC basis for Abu Dhabi Gas Industries Ltd (GASCO).
• Essar Projects Limited (EPL) is also certified for ISO 9001:2000, ISO 14001:2004 and OHSAS 18001:2007.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Turnkey Construction; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Compressor Stations; Welding; Finance, Strategy & Analysis; Terminals

Fugro is one of the world’s leading service providers for the collection and interpretation of data relating to the Earth’s surface and sub-surface and for associated services in support of land and subsea pipeline developments. Fugro has worldwide capabilities to analyse satellite imagery, perform aerial, land and marine surveys using the latest measurements and mapping technologies, and provide meteocean and geoconsultancy services for the selection of the safest and most cost-effective pipeline routes. The company also operates a large and modern fleet of purpose-built construction support vessels, work-class ROV systems and trenching equipment to support construction, operation, maintenance and monitoring of subsea pipelines.

A selection of ongoing or completed Fugro projects are described below:

• Fugro was recently consulted for the analysis of several complex pipe-soil interaction problems. In February 2013 for example, the company performed a pipeline-spudcan interaction assessment to verify the structural integrity of an existing 16 in. OD gas pipeline (UK Sector, Central North Sea) during the installation of a jack-up drilling rig near the pipeline. Pipeline’s response was evaluated using Fugro’s proprietary software SAGE Profile 3D (Finite Element software for the analysis of subsea pipelines).
• In March 2013, Chevron required a complete marine site and route survey for the routing and engineering of a 12 in. pipeline from the future A18 platform to the existing A12CPP platform in the Dutch Sector, North Sea. The complex scope involved a multi-vessel operation with multi-channel seismic, shallow geophysical mapping, environmental sampling, geotechnical drilling, cone penetration tests (CPTs), and down-hole geotechnical sampling.
• In February 2013, Fugro performed a pipeline route optimisation study for the Lake Albert Development Project (LADP) consortium (Tullow, CNOOC and Total) using advanced geographic information system (GIS) risk-based approach for the 1200 km export pipeline running from Lake Albert (Uganda) to the east coast.
• In February 2012, Fugro undertook a survey to assist in the initial planning of an 80 km onshore pipeline as part of the Weze Oil Field Development Project in Gabon for Sinopec. The project combined topographic surveys using airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR), geodetic surveying and bathymetric surveys.
• During 2012, Fugro performed a detailed marine survey for the offshore section (210 km) of the Italy-Greece Interconnector (IGI) pipeline for the identification of a suitable pipeline route between the Greek and Italian landfalls. The survey included hydrographic, geophysical and geotechnical surveys to provide an accurate digital terrain model and seabed mapping, and sub-seabed information to support the pipeline’s design and installation.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Feasibility Studies; Terminals; Research & Development; Maintenance

Gasstroymontaj, Bulgaria, is a pipeline construction company with more than 40 years’ extensive experience home and abroad, qualified staff and considerable machinery fleet.

In the gas business Gasstroymontaj provides the following services: construction and installation of onshore high pressure gas pipelines and related facilities; construction of natural gas compressor stations; rents out pipeline equipment, accompanied or not by operators and technicians; as well as NDT services (BDS EN ISO/IEC17020).

The company maintains a wide range of own machinery and equipment for automatic (CRC-Evans automatic welding spreads, including 40 in. and 48 in. IWM, PFM, IPLC, etc.), semi-automatic and manual welding works, and lowering (CAT pipelayers – 12 - 105 t lifting capacity), etc. The company has over 300 units mainly in pipeline construction.

The company’s pipeline equipment was rented out and participated in the implementation of pipeline projects in Kazakhstan, Hungary, Greece, Poland, Turkey, Croatia, such as in the BTC Project, Lot C, Turkey, in the 42 in. Kazakhstan-China Pipeline Project, and in the NPS 40 in. HPNG Pipeline Construction Project Beregdaróc-Algyö, Hungary, etc.

Bulgaria is expected to court several new gas pipeline projects in the near future. South Stream, Nabucco and inter-connectors with neighbouring countries are considered to be projects of national and international importance. Gasstroymontaj, in its capacity as a Bulgarian construction company with comprehensive experience, qualified staff and specialised pipeline equipment for the construction of high pressure gas pipelines large diameter, intends to take part in their implementation. In this view, the company is taking measures to improve the qualification of its engineering and technical personnel and equipment fleet in the field of high pressure gas pipeline construction.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Turnkey Construction; Compressor Stations; Welding; Pipeline Rehabilitation

Founded in 1953 to finance, design, construct, own and operate a 1150 mile natural gas transmission system from Louisiana to Kentucky; Gulf Interstate Engineering (Gulf), today has designed more than 100 000 miles of pipeline and installed pump and compressor stations with more than 5 million hp.

Based in Houston, Texas, Gulf provides quality project management, engineering and design, GIS, procurement and construction management services to the worldwide oil and gas industry.

The company specialises in the project management and engineering of pipeline systems; a focus that covers onshore pipelines, gathering systems, production facilities, pump and compressor stations, storage terminals and loading facilities. Gulf’s experience and capabilities encompass all aspects of oil and gas production from the wellhead to the export terminal.

Gulf’s worldwide experience has led its project teams to complete projects in some of nature’s most extreme conditions, from the frozen tundra of Alaska to the searing deserts of the Middle East.

Gulf’s recent project work also includes multiple shale gas projects in the Eagle Ford, Marcellus and Haynesville areas. With the nation’s ageing pipeline systems, Gulf has seen an increase in rehabilitation and integrity projects, modernisation of critical pipeline infrastructure projects and extensive pipeline feature identification projects. The company has recently executed pipeline and facility projects for PG&E, Koch, Enterprise Products, Iroquois, NiSource, Williams, DCP, ExxonMobil, KinderMorgan, Peregrine Midstream, Centurion Pipeline, Spectra, Florida Gas Transmission, Panhandle Eastern Pipe Line Company, ROSPAN, TNK-BP, Enbridge, and Copano Energy, just to name a few.

Gulf’s international portfolio continues to grow with recent work in Russia, Peru, Turkey, Mexico, India, Canada, and the UAE.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Compressor Stations; Feasibility Studies; Terminals; Maintenance; Pipeline Rehabilitation

Horizontal Drilling International (HDI) is a specialised crossing contractor, operating 11 horizontal directional drilling spreads with capability up to 400 t of pulling force, as well as microtunneling and pipe ramming equipment.

HDI works as specialised subcontractor for the major pipeline and offshore contractors around the world, especially in Europe, South America, Africa and South East Asia; the company often works in partnership with local contractors, and it can also deliver turnkey projects on isolated crossings presenting unconventional challenges.

HDI has installed many drilled crossings for large diameter pipelines, including a 48 in. x 1760 m pipeline for Reliance in India, or over very long distances, in excess of 2000 m. HDI’s experience has been gained worldwide over 29 years of continuous activity, in the most varied soil configurations, from the Dutch sediments to the South African dolerite rock.

Recent projects for HDI include:

• Crossing of Le Havre harbour in France: 1500 m x 34 in. pipeline for Total, including two extremity casings installed with retractable microtunnel, drilling in between with intersect at 65 m depth below the harbour, pipestring prefabricated on top of 6.8 m high piles to accomodate the traffic of the harbour prior pulling in the drilled hole. HDI was awarded the Tytan award of the best European trenchless project in 2010 (completed).
• Shore crossing Sul Capixaba in Brazil: 1270 m x 12 in. shore crossing for Petrobras as subcontractor of Subsea 7, drilled through metamorphic rock (completed 2011).
• Twin shore crossings Marlin field in Ivory Coast: 850 m x 6 and 14 in. under the surf zone for Foxtrot, in partnership with Geocean (completed 2013).
• Multiple rivers and ridge crossings (32 in. and 8 in.) along the PNG-LNG pipeline in Papua New Guinea, for Exxon as subcontractor of Spiecapag (works ongoing).

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Offshore Pipelines; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Feasibility Studies

Herrenknecht AG is a technology and market leader in the area of mechanised tunnelling systems. The company delivers cutting-edge tunnel boring machines for all ground conditions and in all diameters – up to 19 m – worldwide. The product range includes tailor made machines for transport tunnels (traffic tunnelling), supply and disposal tunnels (utility tunnelling). The company also produces state-of-the-art deep drilling rigs that drill down to depths of 8000 m, as well as plants for the exploration of shallow geothermal energy and also provides precise pipeline laying solutions realised by innovative, efficient and awarded installation systems.

Direct Pipe® is a solution to drill through soil formations where HDD is not applicable or too risky and opens up new application potentials by combining the advantages of microtunnelling and pipe thruster technology. A prefabricated pipeline is installed almost continuously in one step. At the same time is an excavating cutterhead in use which is adapted to the requirements of geology and a cone crusher removes possible obstacles.

With Pipe Express® Herrenknecht has developed a new semi-trenchless method for the laying of pipelines. It needs only a small route width, requires no groundwater lowering and has less impact on the environment. In semi-trenchless construction, over 1000 m pipelines with a diameter of 800 - 1500 mm (32 - 60 in.) can be laid underground at a speed up to 1.2 m/min. Pipe Express has received the bauma 2013 Innovation Award from a panel of experts.

After Herrenknecht had initially carried out test drillings on the company site at the Schwanau headquarters over one year, the Pipe Express technology could be applied in a first reference project in Svenum, the Netherlands at the end of 2012. The technology has exceeded all expectations. The machine worked with a tunnelling speed of up to 1 m/min, which means that 500 m of pipeline were installed in three days. The construction company Visser & Smit Hanab is currently building a new high pressure gas line between Odiliapeel and Melick for the Gasunie grid operator. On a section of this line, the Herrenknecht innovation was put to use.

Areas of focus: Onshore Pipelines; Horizontal Directional Drilling; Compressor Stations; Research & Development

HW Dewatering – Hölscher Wasserbau GmbH – is a long established company that was founded in 1959. Since then, the company has dedicated itself to become the best in the field of dewatering and groundwater control.

The company is committed to the success of its clients’ projects, which is achieved whilst generating and maintaining sustainable added value. In so doing, the ecological, social and economic needs of each project are balanced, whilst giving the highest priority to personal health, safety and wellbeing. The scope of service provided is: dewatering; groundwater control; groundwater management; well drilling; and water treatment.

Some recent projects carried out by HW Dewatering are listed below.

• OPAL Pipeline, Germany: The OPAL pipeline was constructed through Germany starting in 2009, and the project ran for two years. This line was 470 km long. It was split into 14 sections of which HW Dewatering was awarded 10 sections for the dewatering works. For this project the company supplied five deep well drilling rigs, two wellpoint drilling rigs, four trenchers for the installation of horizontal dewatering, 15 4x4 trucks, 10 maintenance vans, 30 pick-up trucks along with 100 of its employees. Over 5000 wellpoints, 95 000 m of horizontal dewatering and 1600 deep wells were installed to allow dry and safe excavation of the pipeline. This was the largest running construction site in Germany which required major dewatering resources.
• Angerlo-Beuningen Pipeline, the Netherlands: As part of the north-south pipeline route, the Angerlo-Beuningen section contained the most difficult requirements in terms of groundwater management. To attend to the high permeability and as consequence high flowrates of pumped groundwater, a double trenched horizontal pipe system of 72 000 m was installed. The groundwater contained a high iron content, and to avoid contaminating channels or rivers, de-ironing plants were required to treat the water. In areas where de-ironing would have been very expensive, the groundwater was transferred within a closed system to a re-infiltration system and then filtrated back into the aquifer. This was achieved by using the HW-DSI jet suction infiltration system. In total 16 million m3 of groundwater has been reinjected into the ground.
• Wormington-Sapperton Pipeline, UK: The company was called in by PPS Pipeline Services for the dewatering of a 1 km directional drill exit pit. HW Dewatering installed a deep well system to dewater and provide pressure relief in wetsand conditions. This was required due to the high water pressure between the rock and sand formation at the exit point of the drive. The system was installed using borehole pumps along with automatic water level sensors, switching the pumps off and
• Potenziamento Cremona-Sergnano Pipeline, Italy: HW Dewatering is currently executing the dewatering works for the pipeline trench of the Potenziamento Cremona-Sergnano Pipeline Section 3. The section to be dewatered is approximately 50 km long and located in the Brescia county. Dewatering is achieved through the installation of a horizontal drainage system connected to piston pumps together with drilled deep wells used inside of starting or reception pits of pipeline crossings.

Area of focus: Onshore Pipelines