Regions: Sahtu Settlement Area
Tags: environmental impact, engineering, industrial development, pipeline corridor, geophysics
| Principal Investigator: | Hawkins, Jim R. (10) |
| Licence Number: | 14090 |
| Organization: | Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited |
| Licensed Year(s): |
2007
|
| Issued: | Dec 13, 2006 |
| Project Team: | Construction Manager (planning of Program, Imperial), Field Operations Manager (responsible for implementing the Program, Imperial), Field Superintendent (supervising all field activities, Imperial), Project Engineer (direct activities of Geotechnical Consulant , Imperial), Safety Advisor (ensure safety procedures are followed, Contractor - TBD), Environmental Inspector (ensure enviornmental requirements are met, Contractor - TBD), Geotechnical Consultant (directing all technical aspects of Program, Contractor - TBD), Geotechnical Drilling Subcontractor (responsible for drilling boreholes , Contractor - TBD), Topographic Surveyor (locating access and investigation sites, Contractor - TBD), Geophysical Surveyor (executing geophysical surveys, Contractor - TBD), General Contractor (clearing and maintaining access and sites , Contractor - TBD), Camp and Catering Subcontractor (supplying the camp and meals, Contractor - TBD), Emergency Medical Technician (provide first aid and determine medical treatment, Contractor - TBD), Telecommunications Contractor (providing local and long distance communications, Contractor - TBD), Fixed Wing Aircraft Subcontractor (providing emergency and routine services, Contractor - TBD), Helicopter Contractor (providing emergency and routine services, Contractor - TBD), Environmental Monitor (local community rep. providing environmental info, Contractor - TBD), Wildlife Monitor (local person providing wildlife encounter mgmt., Contractor - TBD) |
Objective(s): The objective of the 2007 winter field geotechnical program is to gather information on the soil and ground conditions on or adjacent to a potential pipeline right-of-way in the Mackenzie Valley and for the preparation of subsequent regulatory applications. Included in the proposed investigations are four borrow sources, three infrastructure sites and one geotechnical campsite. Information gathered from the investigations will be used to determine the availability if suitable granular materials for pipeline construction, and to facilitate the design of the pipeline and pilings and foundations of structures.
Project Description: Primary access to the field is the winter road that extends north of Wrigley to Fort Good Hope and the C.N.T. Trail, north of Fort Good Hope. A temporary rig camp will be established near the Town of Fort Good Hope. The camp will be able to accommodate up to 60 people. Secondary access to the investigation sites and potential water sources will follow existing cutlines, rights-of-way, and trails where possible. New access will be constructed, as required, to reach sites with no pre-existing access. Care will be taken to reduce the potential for site disturbance. The geotechnical investigation program involves drilling or excavating holes to collect soil samples at specific sites, installing devices to measure ground temperature, and using non-intrusive geophysical survey equipment to augment the borehole test pit information. The drilling of test holes and excavating of test pits will occur at four borrow sources, three infrastructure sites and one geotechnical campsite. Equipment will include a backhoe (on tracks), cat/bulldozers, a grader/Delta 3 (with water tank sprayer), hydro-axe/brush cutter, snow cat, personnel carriers, ¾ ton trucks, highboy with envirotank, mechanic's truck, front end loader, drill rigs (on tracks), profiler, snowmobiles, 4x4 pickups, fuel truck, fuel sloop, five-ton fuel plow truck, helicopter, tractor trailer/float, tandem axle trucks, tandem axle fuel truck, water truck, hydrovac truck, flood truck, mechanic/welding rig. The researchers have set up procedures to restore access routes and investigation sites, methods of fuel spill prevention and containment, and methods to avoid or minimize disturbance to wildlife, cultural resources, surface vegetation, soils, streams, and permafrost. Local environmental and wildlife monitors will provide input to ensure that sensitive areas, harvesting activities, and wildlife are avoided. The study will be conducted within the pipeline study corridor of the K'asho Gotine District of the Sahtu Settlement Area from February 1 to April 15, 2007.
