24 OCTOBER 2024 WorldWide Drilling Resource® Laying Pipe through Wetlands Adapted from Information by AMERICAN and Ruby-Collins, Inc. When the Grand Strand Water and Sewer Authority (GSWSA) of South Carolina engaged contractor Ruby-Collins, Inc. to expand and upgrade its water and sewer system, Ruby-Collins President and CEO Scott Cline knew the job would be challenging because the line would pass through the federally protected Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge on both sides of the Waccamaw River. The tidal freshwater wetlands of the refuge were a vital corridor for wildlife and provided filtration for Grand Strand district’s primary source of drinking water. A temporary road with platforms to support the equipment would have to be put in place before any pipe could be laid. A key feature in the upgrade was the installation of a 48-inch spiralwelded steel pipe water main coated in polyurethane and five miles long. Because the pipe would pass under the Waccamaw River, 2500 feet of the large-diameter pipe would be installed using horizontal directional drilling. Moreover, for Ruby-Collins, the specification of spiral-welded steel pipe for the water main was a first. Cline said it was the first spiral-welded steel pipe project for the company. The GSWSA is a special purpose district serving unincorporated areas in the vicinity of Myrtle Beach. The new 48-inch water line, an upgrade from the existing 36-inch line, can accommodate an expansion of its existing water treatment plant. In addition, the project included converting the former water main into a new sewer force main. “We’re a fast-growing area, and with this, we’ll have additional capacity,” said Matt Minor, GSWSA chief of engineering and construction. Rig in action photo courtesy of Ruby-Collins, Inc. HDD The Alberta Drilling Accelerator Adapted from Information by the Government of Alberta and Eavor Technologies, Inc. Geothermal energy uses naturally occurring heat within the earth to heat water, buildings, and generate power, with few emissions or environmental impacts. Alberta has vast pockets of heat below ground, but testing and developing new technologies can be a barrier for many companies because Canada does not currently have an open-access test site to help spur innovation. The province is taking the first steps to create a new Alberta Drilling Accelerator (ADA), establishing Alberta as a global hub for geothermal technology. The ADA will represent a technology-driven geothermal test site, available for use by any geothermal company to enable novel drilling techniques and off-site technology development. This will drive new innovations in geothermal and other clean energy projects to reduce emissions and power communities around the world. To kick-start the project, the Alberta government is investing $750,000 to conduct a feasibility study led by Calgary-based Eavor Technologies and other stakeholders. The study is assessing the proposed facility and will include identifying a site, business planning, research on the governance model, an economic impact analysis, and stakeholder engagement that will lay groundwork for the initial planning stages of the project. “Alberta has been a global energy leader for more than a century, renowned for our skilled workforce, innovation, and one of the largest oil and gas reserves on the planet. The proposed Alberta Drilling Accelerator presents enormous potential to help our province lead the next wave of energy projects here at home and around the world that reduce emissions, create jobs, and enhance energy security.” said Rebecca Schulz, minister of environment and protected areas. If the feasibility study shows the facility is economically and environmentally viable, and is approved by the Alberta government, the facility will start taking shape at the selected site and drilling could begin as early as 2025. GEO Photos by Eavor Technologies, Inc.
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