INNOVATION May-June 2019

2O18 ♦ 2O19 PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

BC HYDRO SITE C DAM: GEOTECHNICAL EXPLORATORY DRILLING AND TESTING

The Site C Clean Energy project is a third dam and hydroelectric generating station located on the Peace River in northeast BC. Once complete, Site C will provide 1,100 megawatts of capacity, and produce about 5,100 gigawatt-hours of electricity each year—enough energy to power the equivalent of about 450,000 homes. Foundex Explorations Ltd. has had involvement with the project development over the years through direct contracts with BC Hydro to perform geotechnical exploratory drilling and testing. The project specification mandated instrumentation contractor qualifications, instrumentation drill hole sizes, deviation tolerances, deviation surveys and televiewer surveys. Instrumentation installations are performed from surface grade locations, and from underground locations inside drainage and diversion tunnels. Drilling methodologies include mud rotary drilling, full-face rotary, rotary percussion conventional DHH and RCC drilling, core drilling and sonic drilling. Participants: Mike Hadzariga and Kevin Payne, P.Eng.

DOW CHEMICAL COMPANY SULFUR DIOXIDE CONVERTER UPGRADE The Dow Chemical Company selected Chemetics Inc. to design and supply a replacement SO 2 converter and heat-recovery exchangers in Texas, based on its proprietary sulphuric acid plant technology. In addition, Chemetics provided technical site construction advisory services, operator training, and commissioning support leading to a successful startup in December 2018. Chemetics’ compact design and modular approach to converter fabrication minimized turnaround duration while the new technology increases conversion, provides for advanced operating control throughout the production range, enables consistent heat recovery and lower tailgas scrubbing cost, and reduces downtime and maintenance costs. Participants: Benedict Duenas, P. Eng., Donald Mah, P.Eng., Thomas Wacker, P.Eng., Anish Trikha, P.Eng., David Thomson, P.Eng., Keith Tabbert, Matthew Mayhead, Nguyen Vinh, George Law ROSS RIVER PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE REHABILITATION The 310-metre-long historic Ross River Suspension Bridge crosses the Pelly River in Yukon Territory, and was constructed in 1944 by the US army as part of the CANOL pipeline project. It was eventually abandoned and converted into a pedestrian bridge. Needing significant repairs, the bridge was scheduled for demolition. However, a protest was held by the Ross River Dena Council and the Government of Yukon opted for rehabilitation instead. Phase 1 involved an innovative method of stabilizing the bridge by lifting and transferring the main suspension cables to new towers. Phase 2 consisted of replacement of the deck truss, wind cables, vertical suspenders, and construction of new anchorages. Selection and design of new components reflected the bridge heritage and preservation of the original appearance. Owner: Government of Yukon. Project Consultant: All-Span Engineering & Construction Ltd. Anchorage Foundation Design: Associated Engineering Ltd. Geotechnical: Tetra Tech. Contractors: Klondike Welding Ltd., Surespan Construction Ltd.

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