Drilling under a forest for carbon capture pipeline

This horizontal directional drill is part of infrastructure for a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project. At a gas facility, CO₂ emissions will be captured and permanently stored in salt water inside rock formations, roughly 2 km / 6,500 ft below the surface. To transport the CO₂ to a nearby injection site, a new pipeline was required under a wooded swamp near the gas facility.

Contractor Double M Construction Group Ltd. carried out the trenchless works for the installation of this pipeline. The pilot bore was surveyed by Brownline Canada using the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool in combination with GPS track.

The drill had a length of 945 m / 3100 ft and crossed a wooded swamp. Roughly three-quarters of the total trajectory was located below the woods, where there was no surface access.

The second vertical curve, steering upwards towards the surface, was combined with a 20° horizontal curve, creating a combined curve. Drilling this curve in challenging soil conditions required a highly accurate and independently reliable steering solution. This solution was found in the Drillguide Gyro Steering Tool.

Using the Drillguide GST, Brownline Canada surveyed the position of the drill head in real-time and with extreme accuracy. The curves were followed with minimal deviations, despite the soil changing between hard and soft in some areas.

The final 61 m / 200 ft were drilled as a reverse vertical curve. GPS track was deployed near exit, where surface access was available. These extra checks during the final vertical curve confirmed the drill head’s position, which resulted in a highly accurate punch-out.

One of our staff on site created this great drone video, showing the drill site and surroundings. Click below to watch!