| It took just
fifteen days to put in the pilot hole, install wash over
pipe, back ream twice, and pull in the product line. A 16" steel pipeline is now in place under
the Yangtze River at the San Jiang Kou Harbor near Nanjing
City. For twenty-five years experts have been studying this
project and have always concluded that crossing the Yangtze
River using the directional drilling method was impractical.
A pipeline on the river bottom would be susceptible to
damage by anchors, and placing a pipeline on a bridge
spanning the river would be equally problematic. With
technical support from Robbins, Sinopec was willing to
reconsider the HDD method for this project.
Before undertaking the project, Robbins dispatched
several of its own experts to China. These experts
systematically and thoroughly studied the HDD crossing
together with the technicians and management of East China
Pipeline Construction Co. Ltd. In the final analysis the HDD
method was chosen as the least risky and most cost
efficient.
Sinopec purchased a Robbins HDD model 55030TLMSC
directional drill after negotiating with several drill
manufacturers in early 2001. The drill has 550,000 lb of
thrust and pullback, and 68,000 ft-lbs of rotary torque. The
rig is configured as a trailer mounted system with the drill
located on one trailer and the power unit on second trailer.
Along with the rig, Robbins also supplied the down hole
tooling, the steering tools, a 350 gpm mud pump, and a
containerized control house. Robbins also provided
engineering drawings for a mud mixing system, which Sinopec
then built.
As part of the equipment purchase, Robbins provided
training for Sinopec’s personnel in both the U.S. and China.
In the summer of 2001, Robbins technicians were on site from
start to finish during Sinopec’s first 800 meter crossing
under the Yellow River. Subsequent to that first crossing,
and to gain experience before the Yangtze River Crossing was
attempted, Sinopec successfully completed four more
crossings beneath other major Chinese rivers.
Robbins fully supported Sinopec to insure the success of
the Yangtze Crossing by making eight trips to China for
technical consultation, equipment tune-up and an urgent hand
carried spare parts delivery.
The success on this first large and complex project is
opening up many opportunities for Sinopec and their Robbins
drill. In China there are many river crossings required for
gas, petroleum, electric and communications pipelines.
Having completed this historical river crossing in China,
our customers know Sinopec and Robbins HDD can do the job! |
