Industry News, trenchless people
Mr. Denis Pellerin’s role will be to develop CCI’s Engineering and EPC capabilities outside the North American market. He will be based out of Paris, France. Denis Pellerin is a Civil Engineer from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (1983) and has received his MBA from INSEAD (1990). He has 35 years of experience in the trenchless crossings industry.
In 1985, he joined the start-up company, HDI, as a field engineer. HDI became one of the world’s foremost HDD contractors, introducing Horizontal Directional Drilling into Europe, Australia and several countries in Africa, South East Asia and South America. During those pioneering years, Denis and his HDI colleagues introduced new HDD techniques, such as buoyancy control systems for large diameter pipelines, entry casings for pilot holes and gravel shield reamers.
After serving as Site Engineer, Project Manager, Operations Manager and Commercial Manager, Denis was appointed Managing Director of HDI SA in 1991. Throughout his career, Denis has implemented Horizontal Directional Drilling, Direct Pipe®, Microtunneling, Pipe Ramming and Auger Drilling
technologies, sometimes combining technics in order to gain optimal efficiency.
His career with HDI has taken him on more than 2200 trenchless crossings projects, spanning more than 40 different countries worldwide, all safely concluded. Together with HDI, Denis received several industry recognitions, in Australia (1987), USA (1999), Europe (2011) and France (2012, 2015 and 2018), for innovative HDD projects onshore, as well as marine based. He was a founding member and the first treasurer of the professional organization DCA Europe in 1994 and served as its Vice-President from 2008 to 2016.
The CCI Group of Companies are pleased to have Denis join their team.
Industry News, trenchless people, trenchless products, trenchless projects
In the trenchless excavation, horizontal directional drilling, and underground manufacturing industries, one family stands out as leaders in this close-knit community: The Barberas. Family Patriarch, James S. Barbera founded Barbco, Incorporated, a world class capital equipment manufacturer in these industries. In fact, his status is so renown and legendary, that in April, he will be posthumously inducted as a member of the Class of 2020 into the North America Society for Trenchless Technology’s Hall of Fame, joining a very elite and highly esteemed society of industry ground breakers. James S. Barbera has passed the torch onto his three sons, Anthony, David, and James A., who now own the family business, Barbco. The Barbera clan continues to drive the industry forward and now have brought the third generation of the family into this exciting field.
On January 2nd, grandsons Drake Barbera (son of Anthony) and James V. Barbera (son of James A.) along with co-owner Clay Gillian successfully completed their very first horizontal bore with their new company AccuLine Underground at an urban work site in Metuchen, New Jersey. AccuLine partnered with project General Contractor J. Fletcher Creamer & Son, Inc. to complete a 250 foot long crossing that was at a depth of 20 feet under the length of a busy city road skillfully avoiding numerous very critical city main utilities. To say that this 3,000 man hour project was challenging is a complete understatement.
The AccuLine team’s years of experience and deep knowledge of the industry was readily apparent before the first shovelful of dirt was removed from the job site. In his initial meeting with the job owners, Drake made a strong and convincing counter-proposal to the microtunneling option with his recommended approach using a conventional auger boring machine pushing a BMTA (boring machine tunnel attachment). Drake’s proposal proved to the winning combination, securing AccuLine this very prestigious and highly visible contract.
The crew faced numerous job site challenges ranging from old and forgotten infrastructure to rocky and sandy soils. Their expertise allowed them to make on site equipment modifications and adjustments coupled with some new to the field innovations to keep the job on line and on grade, dramatically saving the job owners both time and money. This highly successful initial foray into the Barbera family business as proven that the third generation of Barberas and their company, AccuLine Underground is a force to be reckoned with! Grandfather Barbera must be very proudly watching over his progeny!
Industry News, trenchless products, trenchless projects
Adaptable machine will begin bore at 11.6 m then size down to 9.9 m
In December 2019, the City of Dallas, Texas, USA unveiled the largest hard rock TBM ever to bore in the U.S. The 11.6 m (38.1 ft) diameter Robbins Main Beam TBM will excavate the 8 km (5 mi) Mill Creek Drainage Relief tunnel, and its size is not its only distinction. The adaptable machine will change size partway through the bore, to a more compact 9.9 m (32.5 ft).
The unique Robbins TBM will be used to dig a tunnel designed to provide 100-year flood protection for east and southeast Dallas, areas affected in recent years by severe storms. The tunnel will protect 2,200 commercial and residential properties, including Baylor Medical Center. The current drainage system in these areas was constructed 50 to 70 years ago, and only provides two to five years of flood protection. “The completion of the TBM assembly marks a major milestone in the Mill Creek Tunnel Project,” said Council Member Lee Kleinman, chair of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee for the City of Dallas. “I’m thrilled to see this type of engineering marvel happening right here in Dallas.”
The dual-diameter aspect of the Robbins TBM will be a first-of-its-kind conversion process. The contractor, Southland/Mole Joint Venture (SMJV), will make the conversion underground about 2.8 km (1.8 mi) into the bore. The two diameters are needed as the upstream section of the tunnel is designed with a circular cross section and peak flow rate of 42 m3/sec (15,000 ft3/sec), while the downstream 2.8 km (1.8 mi) portion has a higher peak flow of 565 m3/sec (20,000 ft3/sec) and was initially designed as a horseshoe cross section. Using the TBM for the entire tunnel is less time consuming and costly. “Robbins and SMJV are working closely to create the safest and most efficient sequence for completing this conversion within the limits of the bore. The City of Dallas (Owner) and our Project Team are very excited to embark on this unique challenge,” said Nick Jencopale, Project Manager for Southland Holdings.
The Robbins TBM, named “Big Tex” with permission of the State Fair of Texas, has been designed with a specialized cutterhead including removable spacers and adjustable bucket lips to convert to a smaller diameter. The TBM will first complete its 11.6 m (38.1 ft) diameter section of the alignment, then back up about 21 m (75 ft) to a transition area for the conversion, which is expected to take six to eight weeks.
As the TBM bores, it will pass through Austin Chalk between 12 to 30 MPa (1,800 to 4,400 at depths from 31 to 46 m (100 to 150 ft) below the city. The route is potentially gassy, so probe drilling is mandatory throughout the project. Crews will utilize ground support including eight 3.9 m (13 ft) long rock bolts every 1.5m (5 ft) with wire mesh and channel straps as needed. The finished tunnel will be lined with a 380 mm (15 in) thick cast-in-place concrete lining.
“Big Tex will work 24 hours a day to excavate the tunnel with crews ranging in size depending on activities,” said Rachel Sackett, marketing and communications director for Southland Holdings. Based on previous work through similar geology, the project team expects TBM excavation to progress rapidly to an average of 25m (80 ft) per day, allowing the project to be completed on schedule in 2023.
Image 1: The 11.6 m (38.1 ft) Robbins Main Beam TBM is the largest hard rock TBM ever to be used in the U.S.
Image 2: A ceremony was held in December 2019 to mark the impending launch of the unique Robbins TBM, which will undergo a first-of-its-kind diameter conversion approximately 2.8 km (1.8 mi) into the bore.
Image 3: The 8 km (5 mi) Mill Creek Drainage Relief tunnel will provide 100-year flood protection for east and southeast Dallas, areas affected in recent years by severe storms.
Image 4: The adaptable Robbins machine will change size partway through the bore, to a more compact 9.9 m (32.5 ft).
Photos by Shannon Faulk
For more information/questions please contact:
Desiree Willis
Technical Writer
Email: willisd@robbinstbm.com
Direct: 253.872.4490
The Robbins Company
29100 Hall Street
Solon, OH 44139
USA
Industry News, trenchless people
CDM Smith environmental engineer Ajay Shrivastav, P.E., ENV SP, is the winner of Trenchless Technology’s World Trenchless Day (WTD) Sweepstakes.
The WTD Sweepstakes was hosted by Trenchless Technology and was generously sponsored by Akkerman, Applied Felts, Michels Corp., Maxliner, NASTT and Vortex Companies. The Sweepstakes generated more than 400 entries throughout the year, with the drawing held on World Trenchless Day.
Shrivastav’s prize package includes: one free conference registration to the NASTT 2020 No-Dig Show, April 5-9; a ticket to attend the annual No-Dig Show Gala Awards Banquet Dinner on April 7; standard room accommodations at the host hotel for up to four nights and up to $500 for airfare to Denver.
Congratulations Ajay and we’ll see you in Denver!
Want to join him? Register today and save before early discounted registration ends.
Industry News, trenchless products
January 2020 – Pipe Lining Supply introduced its Quik‐Coating System in 2017. Today we are happy to announce the Quik‐Coating 2020 System. This system has the exact same core functionality as the initial model with a few exterior changes that have been requested from our customers. These items include a
shorter unit (to fit in a standard cargo van), a stainless steel control plate, a scale shelf, a 4‐plug power strip, a powder‐coated (painted) frame and a tablet with important documentation pre‐loaded (no WiFi necessary).
Pipe Lining Supply is dedicated to research & development of all equipment and materials. This equipment improvement comes from many test trials and customer feedback. Being a leader in the industry is Pipe Lining Supply’s top priority.
About Pipe Lining Supply:
Pipe Lining Supply is a leader in the distribution of materials and equipment used in the lateral sewer lining and DWV rehabilitation businesses. The company was formed to support customers who need training and support as well as the equipment and materials to rehabilitate aging sewer laterals. Our
goal is to serve the industry with a complete warehouse stocked with the best products at the lowest delivered cost on a timely basis.
Our staff has many years of plumbing, excavating, pipe bursting, DWV coating, and, CIPP lining experience to share with its clients. Customer support is our #1 goal, we train and support installers throughout the USA to be the most knowledgeable and efficient in their goals.
For More Information:
Call: 888‐354‐6464
Visit: www.pipeliningsupply.com
Email: info@pipeliningsupply.com.
Quik‐Coating™ 2020 System shown with new improvements
Industry News, trenchless products, trenchless projects
40 Years after Original Tunnel, Robbins Returns to Russia
In 1979, a 4.56 m diameter Robbins Double Shield TBM was delivered to bore the Severomuysky Service Tunnel, a 15.3 km long railway through the remote mountains of Siberia. Now, 40 years after the original machine was delivered, Robbins is returning to the role. Two 10.37 m diameter Crossover (XRE) TBMs will bore the second Severomuysky Tunnel, clocking in at 15.5 km long and running through mixed ground and fault zones. The new rail line is needed due to limitations on carrying capacity on the current Baikal-Amur Mainline (BAM) railway through the area. Currently 16 million tonnes of cargo are carried through the existing Severomuysky tunnel but the Russian Government wants to increase cargo carrying capacity by more than six times in the region.
The largest global anthracite producer, Sibanthracite Group, is taking on the tunnel construction with management by VostokCoal Management Company. The companies, owned by Dmitry Bosov, aim to increase coal transport by up to 100 million tonnes per year through the addition of the second tunnel. “Robbins has established itself on the market as the best manufacturer of hard rock machines, which are able to provide the maximum penetration rate in hard rock. This is one of the determining factors in connection with the tight deadlines for the implementation of our project. Also, Robbins is the only manufacturer to build the Crossover TBM,” said a representative of Sibanthracite Group. Other aspects of the supply include a continuous conveyor for muck removal, rolling stock, spare parts, and cutting tools.
Sibanthracite Group chose Crossover technology for a number of reasons, geology being chief among them. “A Crossover type tunnel boring machine was selected for tunneling due to the fact that the construction of the tunnel will be carried out in difficult heterogeneous geological conditions (from unstable waterlogged soils to hard rock). The Crossover is able to operate in two modes: Open mode, used while boring in hard rock formations, and closed mode (with earth pressure balance), used when boring in unstable water-logged soils,” said the Sibanthracite representative.
The lessons learned during the first Severomuysky tunnel—the importance of probe drilling, consolidation grouting, and preventing a shielded machine from becoming stuck in fault zones or squeezing ground—are all part of the Crossover TBM solution. “I was a young engineer working at Robbins when the Double Shield TBM was delivered for the first tunnel, so it is a special honor to bring this new technology to the second Severomuysky Tunnel in Siberia,” said Robbins President Lok Home. “Per the contract Robbins is supplying Crossover TBMs for the new parallel rail tunnel—these machines are made to bore in highly variable ground conditions while maintaining good advance rates. With our latest technology we hope to again prove TBMs are the better choice over Drill and Blast when difficult ground conditions are to be encountered.”
The machines will be designed for varying water pressures, ranging from 5 to 20 bar. They will feature Water Inflow Control, a system that seals off the face and periphery and creates a safe working environment in which to dewater and consolidate ground. The machines will feature probe drill ports and capabilities for 360-degree probe drilling and grouting ahead of the excavation face, while the Robbins Torque-Shift System will enable the machines to bore through collapsing ground and other situations that demand high torque. The machines will also be designed with a belt conveyor in hard rock mode that can be switched out with a screw conveyor when crossing into soft ground.
Crews will bore through the Severomuysky Ridge, a mountain range in Buryatia and part of the Stanovoy Highlands, which separates the basins of the Upper Angara and Muya Rivers. “The second Severomuysky tunnel is located in one of the most geologically active areas of our planet—on the north-eastern flank of the Baikal rift zone. The region is characterized by high seismic activity, difficult geological and hydrogeological conditions against the backdrop of a harsh climate (the summer period lasts only 80-100 days, temperatures from + 39°C in summer to -58°C in winter). The construction work on the portals is complicated by the presence of permafrost as well,” said the Sibanthracite representative. Construction of the new tunnel is expected to begin in 2020 and take five years.
Image 1: The original 4.56 m diameter Double Shield machine was supplied for the Severomuysky Service Tunnel in 1979.
Image 2: The new 10.37 m Robbins Crossover (XRE) TBMs are designed for highly variable geology and will have a belt conveyor that can be switched out with a screw conveyor in challenging conditions.
Mr. Denis Pellerin’s role will be to develop CCI’s Engineering and EPC capabilities outside the North American market. He will be based out of Paris, France. Denis Pellerin is a Civil Engineer from Ecole Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées (1983) and has received his MBA from INSEAD (1990). He has 35 years of experience in the trenchless crossings industry.
