- A phenomenal project completed in Canada by Robbins HDD machines became one of the longest HDD river crossings ever made in the world. The drill rig used was a Robbins HDD 500,000lb (2,222kN) unit. The project was the Northern Expansion Project oil product pipeline.
The crossing was significant for its 4,864 ft (1,473m) length requiring a pullback of three 8in. (200mm) steel lines in one bundle. Federated Pipeline, headquartered in Calgary, Alberta, called for bids in June of 1997 for two crossings under the Peace River: one at Taylor, British Columbia and the other near Dunvegan, Alberta. Loren Trueman, the project superintendent and Jess Briscoe, the project manager, decided to name the Robbins HDD rig "The Peacemaker", in honor of the crossing.
While the project was initially two crossings, 18 crossings were later added, bringing the total to 20. These added crossings ranged in length from 825 to 2,475ft, (250 to 750m) and the geology consisted of clay, gravel and rock.
The weather conditions were horribly cold, especially in January when for a period of three weeks, temperatures dipped to -43 F. High-pressure steam boilers were used on the rig to keep it warm and to keep components from freezing. Much of the equipment and site had to be enclosed.
The more difficult of the two initial crossings was the Peace River crossing at Taylor, on the Taylor to Beloy pipeline section. The deepest point of the river crossing was 250ft (75m) below river bottom. J.R. Jameson, of Entee Consulting Ltd. In Calgary, provided the design and technical engineering for the river crossing. Jameson said that to the best of his knowledge, this 5,660ft (1,725m) crossing of the Peace River is one of the top 10 crossings in the world.
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