Five years ago, an old pipeline under the Detroit River transporting ethane needed to be replaced. Brownline USA and Brownline Canada collaborated on this complex drilling project, using our advanced Gyro Steering Tool and Radar to navigate through the challenging underground conditions and cross under the border. That is what we call teamwork! Together we look back on this special project.
Renewing a 61-year-old pipeline
In 2018, US energy infrastructure company Kinder Morgan made plans to replace the pipeline under the Detroit River. The then 61-year-old pipes were part of the Utopia Pipeline, spanning 270 miles / 431 km through Ohio and Michigan. At the time, it was only 13 ft / 4 m below the riverbed. The new pipeline was placed 39 ft / 12 m deep in the bedrock, which would be safer.
Collaboration between Brownline USA and Brownline Canada
To renew this pipeline, drilling was carried out under the Detroit River on the border between Canada and the United States by Southeast Directional Drilling. To survey this 3940 ft / 1200 m crossing, our experienced personnel from both sides of the border teamed up. With a complex 80° S-Curve and tight radius specifications, the designed trajectory had very little room for deviation and required the most advanced steering tools. Therefore, we used the Gyro Steering Tool and Radar for this intersect.
Drilling under the Detroit River presented a number of challenges. For instance, parts of the soil consisted of formations of cobbles which created fluid circulation issues as well as steering issues. Close monitoring of annular pressures provided by the Gyro Steering Tool became an integral part of the drilling operations. Moreover, there was limited space between the horizontal curve sections where the planned intersect was completed. The point of intersection was surveyed, which proved the accuracy of the Gyro Steering Tool with a mere 2 ft / 0.61 m offset from the anticipated locations.
Once the connection between the two boreholes was made, the Canadian side continued taking surveys until it reached the USA side entry point. Instead of disassembling the tools from the drill string there, the crew added drill pipes to the front side of the GST. The GST and Radar were then tripped back to the Canadian side. This prevented the need for transporting the tools across the border.
Thanks to our accurate steering tools and the smooth cooperation between our Brownline USA and Brownline Canada personnel, we were able to successfully perform this HDD intersect with the highest accuracy.
In 2020, the two offices collaborated on another intersect, this time crossing the border under the St. Clair River.
