WorldWide Drilling Resource

Using HDD to Cross the Yellowstone River Compiled by Bonnie Love, Editor, WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Texas-based NorthStar Midstream is proposing a 23-mile pipeline in North Dakota. The NST Express, which would run from theAlexander Hub to the NorthStar Transloading Bakken terminal in East Fairview, will need to cross the Yellowstone River which is where horizontal directional drilling (HDD) will come into play. HDD will be used to bore at least 50 feet below the riverbed, and the company will do additional surveys of the bottom of the river every five years to monitor poten- tial changes. The 12-inch steel pipe will be equipped with automated valves on either side of the river which could be shut down remotely from a control center in Texas. There will also be five mainland valves throughout the pipeline. The company is also planning to construct three aboveground stor- age tanks with a capacity of 50,000 barrels each; a pump station; and a pig (pipeline inspection gauge) launcher at the Alexander facility as well as pig receiver at the Fairview facility. Pig launchers are used to launch the pig into the pipeline, and pig receivers are used to receive the pigs after they have made a successful run. The pipeline would be able to transport a maximum capacity of 100,000 barrels per day and will have access to several major pipeline interconnects at the Alexander facility. These interconnects will allow NST Express to gather and col lect volumes faster and more efficiently from McKenzie and adjacent counties. Buckeye Partners designed the project and are currently in negoti- ations to construct and operate the pipeline. The company, which owns and operates approximately 6000 miles of underground pipelines serving about 100 delivery locations, has obtained easements from 65% of landowners along the route, which is about 1/3 cropland and 2/3 grazing land. The North Dakota Public Service Commission is considering the proposal and complimented Buckeye for making several changes to the pipeline route to accommodate landowner concerns, in- cluding avoiding cutting across fields. “That goes a long way to decreasing the fatigue that landowners are feel ing in this area,” said Chairwoman Julie Fedorchak. The pipeline needs additional per- mits, including approval from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and McKenzie County. If approved, the pipeline portion of the $60-$80 mi l l ion project could begin next spring. 9 %15).' 3(% $1),,).' ).$42318 2).#% : 9 (%. )3 #/-%2 3/ ; < 6% +./6 3(% : %23 1!.+&/13 ,,)./)2 /#!3)/. -!), 3%%*!8 -)$6%23 .%3 !7 /,, 1%% 2%!,%$ "%!1).' 1%3)0 &/1 47 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® NOVEMBER 2015 Quantity is what you count; quality is what you count on.