WorldWide Drilling Resource

WorldWide Drilling Resource ® 16 AUGUST 2014 To Martha’s Vineyard, 30 Feet at a Time Adapted from an Article by Brian Morris at capeandislands.org Electric power and fiber-optic com- munications for television and cell phone service are provided to Martha’s Vineyard through a cable crossing from the main- land to the island. Since the existing cable has failed many times in recent years, Nstar and Comcast teamed up to install a new cable, a complex en- deavor two years in the making that finally won approval from various town, state, and federal officials. Coleman Gary, Nstar project man- ager said a 2900-foot hole is being drilled horizontally from the mainland to a barge in the Vineyard Sound, which will allow the cable to travel under crit- ical habitats such as clam beds with no environmental impact. “Things have changed, concern about the environment has changed over the years. The concern over the types of habitats that are out here have changed over the years. So this is in response to those concerns,” said Gary. Three wires and two fiber-optic cables will be contained inside a six- inch-diameter cable. A barge anchored in the sound has a winch that will pull the cable through a pipe from the shore to the sound. A barge will then pull a plow across the bottom, cutting a slot for the cable to be placed in. The cutting will have minimal envi- ronmental impact, and the sands and currents will swiftly remove any signs of disturbance. Burying the cable will keep it from moving during storms or being dragged by a boat anchor. To date, workers have drilled out 2000 feet, almost reaching the barge, and are getting ready to add the next section of pipe - each section is added 30 feet at a time. Horizontal drill rig advances the cable in 30-foot pipe sections. Photo courtesy of Brian Morris. The Falmouth drilling operation will wrap up soon, and by April, the cable will be ready to be fed into the pipe in Falmouth. The Nstar team will then re- peat the process, and bring the new cable on shore at Martha’s Vineyard. Gary predicts the new cable will be fully installed and in service by May 2014. October Issue In Progress! Deadlines: Space Reservation - August 25 th Ad Copy - Display & Classified - August 29 th