Pipeline

Pipeline Overview

North Americans rely heavily on the flow of natural gas and crude oil to provide the comforts and necessities of modern living. Natural gas heats our homes and is widely used to generate the electricity for residential, municipal, commercial and industrial use. It also fuels our vehicles and public transit systems. Oil is not only a fuel source and lubricant, it is the key ingredient behind the vast array of plastic products we use on a daily basis. It is all made possible thanks to the impressive network of pipelines that run across the continent.

Our Role

The Crossing Group plays an important role in helping producers and distributors to lay the network of pipeline required to safely transport these essential resources. From the wellhead to processing, storage and power generation facilities, then into homes and businesses from coast to coast.

Over the past 20 years, we have successfully completed thousands of pipeline crossings throughout North America, and have a firm understanding of the industry and the unique challenges involved.

Our comprehensive offering of trenchless construction services allows pipeline companies to safely cross a variety of obstacles and terrains along the pipeline route — with minimal impact to the environment and negligible inconvenience to people. This includes, but is not limited to:

  • Rivers, streams, lakes, bays and other water bodies
  • Roadways, highways, rail systems and pathways
  • Buildings, facilities, infrastructure and parkland
  • Active pipeline and utility crossings
  • Hills, ridges and mountainous terrain
  • Beneath sensitive environmental areas

The Crossing Group - Pipeline - Horizontal Directional Drilling - HDD - Tunneling - Application - Trenchless Construction

The Right Solutions

From small-diameter, low-pressure gathering lines to large-diameter, highly pressurized transportation mainlines, The Crossing Group works with our clients to suggest the most practical trenchless solution(s) for the job. Working from your stamped trenchless design blueprints, geotechnical investigation findings and RFP (if applicable), we will determine your needs. We will also ask detailed questions concerning timelines, project budget, pipe diameter, project parameters, regulatory requirements, ground/ environmental conditions and a variety of other factors. This allows us to accurately cost and schedule the project, propose the right equipment and choose the right crew.

The Crossing Group - Pipeline - Horizontal Directional Drilling - HDD - Tunneling - Application - Trenchless Construction

SAFELY INSTALLING NEW LINES BELOW LIVE LINES AT AN OIL AND GAS TERMINAL

This intricate horizontal directional drilling project demanded exceptional care and precision, as The Crossing Company was required to install four parallel 914 mm (36 in) lines beneath 31 active lines at this busy terminal…

Explore the Case Study |

Bringing Energy to Homes & Businesses

A mind boggling network of pipelines span the continent to deliver oil and gas products from the wellsite to processing facilities, then into homes and business. Compressor stations keep the product flowing, while regulating station control pipeline pressure. At many points along the route, the lines must cross natural and manmade obstacles: such as rivers, highways, railways, utilities… even other pipelines. The Crossing Group ensures these crossings are completed in a safe and efficient manner.

CASE STUDIES

SHAGANAPPI GOLF COURSE
SHAGANAPPI GOLF COURSE
ST. ALBERT SANITARY TRUNK
ST. ALBERT SANITARY TRUNK
EDMONTON/ HARDISTY PIPELINE
EDMONTON/ HARDISTY PIPELINE

TUNNEL BORING / PIPE JACKING

Tunnel Boring and Pipe Jacking Systems are used to hydraulically install underground pipelines up to 4.2 m (168 in) in OD range within strict alignment and grade tolerances. The likelihood of settling or sloughing is very low. Wheel machines are equipped with various cutter heads and sand shelves. A closed-face attachment is available for boring in unstable ground conditions. This versatile system can be easily adapted to work with any jacking pipe, in any pipe joint length. It can accommodate a wide range of pipe diameters.

Tunnel Boring Machines are used to excavate tunnels with a circular cross section through a variety of soil and rock strata. They can bore through hard rock, sand, and almost anything in between. Tunnel diameters can range from 1 m and exceed 15 m (3 ft to 49 ft).

The Crossing Group - The Tunneling Company - Tunnel Boring - Pipe Jacking - Trenchless Construction - Tunneling - Augering, Boring & Pipe Ramming

SLIP BORING

A boring technique commonly used for installing oil & gas pipelines ranging from 51 mm to 1067 mm (2 in to 42 in) in diameter without leaving casing in the ground. Product pipe is welded to steel casings and either pushed or pulled through the ground in sections. The casing is cut off and removed, leaving just the product pipe. Maximum installation length is 150 m (492 ft).

The Crossing Group - The Tunneling Company - Slip Boring - Trenchless Construction - Tunneling - Augering, Boring & Pipe Ramming

DOWN THE HOLE HAMMER

A pneumatic hammer is attached to the inside edge of the casing. The front of the DTH breaks cobles, boulders and even solid rock into small pebbles or dust. The spoil makes its way through the hammer and into the casing, where it is removed by airway augers.

The Crossing Group - The Tunneling Company - Down The Hole Hammer - DTH - Trenchless Construction - Tunneling - Augering, Boring & Pipe Ramming

GUIDED BORING

A Guided Boring Machine (GBM) is used to install 305 mm to 3.6 m diameter pipe (12 in to 144 in) with grade and alignment precision. It is commonly used for installations 50 m to 150 m in length (164 ft to 492 ft) or when line and grade accuracy is critical in displaceable soil. Our GBM is extremely versatile and our customers continually approach us with new applications.

The pipe installation involves a two-step process where launch and reception shafts are strategically located to minimize surface disruption. A pilot tube with a theodolite guidance system is then pushed through the ground at the precise grade and alignment specified in the design into the reception shaft. A reaming head is welded to the pilot tube and the casing and the pilot tube is used as a guide to install casing. The GBM can be used in conjunction with auger boring or pipe ramming methodologies.

The Crossing Group - The Tunneling Company - Guided Boring - Trenchless Construction - Tunneling - Augering, Boring & Pipe Ramming

PNEUMATIC PIPE RAMMING

Pipe Ramming is used in a wide variety of soil types including gravel, cobble or sand. A pneumatic hammer is attached to the back of the casing pipe and driven through the material at any angle: from horizontal to vertical. The material is cleaned out of the pipe using an auger boring machine. Pipe Ramming methods are used for pipe diameters of 305 mm to 3.6 m (12 in to 144 in).

The Crossing Group - The Tunneling Company - Pneumatic Pipe Ramming - Tunneling - Augering, Boring & Pipe Ramming