MORRISON was contracted to install an anchoring system on the 40-in Capline pipeline at 4 locations spanning 17 miles.
Prior to reversal, the pipeline needed to be prepped in order to accept bi-directional flow. One segment of the pipeline, located in a marshy area near St. James, Louisiana, required the installation of anchors in various sections to further secure it during the purging of the systems. The terrain posed particularly challenging working conditions with the ground varying in sediment types, ranging from solid, more compact areas to a mixture of water and mud. Specialized marsh equipment was used to access the locations and drive the required helical piles. Achieving the negative elevation of 20-ft and designated foot pound of torque was challenging given the various sediment conditions. To mitigate these challenges, MORRISON provided alternative methodology on-site in relatively quick fashion to achieve acceptable production rate for installation of the anchoring system.
MORRISON’s four-man Dive Spread and Shallow Air Dive Package was required to assist in uncovering the 40-in pipeline. Dive crews worked in five to eight feet of muddy water to locate the pipeline and position the anchor and saddle over the line in preparation for the installation of 224 anchors. The dive team and four fully equipped anchoring spreads worked simultaneous operations in various locations in order to maintain project schedule.
The anchoring project is the first of three phases required to complete the reverse flow of the Capline system. The Capline is the largest northbound crude oil pipeline in the U.S. and extends over 600 miles traversing numerous states along its route. Once the pipeline is purged, work will begin along the route to prepare for final reverse flow of the line.
- Anchor Excavation, Installation and Backfill
- 224 anchors were installed at an average target depth of -20’ elevation.
- Specialized Marsh Equipment
- 4-man Dive Spread and Shallow Air Dive Package
- Challenging terrain
MORRISON completed the project on time and incident-free.
