Northwest Technical Luncheon – Calgary, AB

Date: Thursday, March 13
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: ​Danish Canadian Club | Tivoli Room; 727 11 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2R 0E3
Cost: $20 for Members** | $40 for Non-Members**

Join us for an educational luncheon on how gyroscopic steering technology offers the best solutions specifically tailored for HDD projects in challenging environments where conventional guidance systems fall short.
 

HDD projects are increasingly becoming longer, deeper, and more complex. Traditional tracking methods face significant limitations in light of these developments. This presentation explores how gyroscopic steering technology offers the best solutions specifically tailored for HDD projects in challenging environments where conventional guidance systems fall short.

The speaker will present a series of case studies that demonstrate how gyroscopic steering has successfully navigated projects with complex geometry, tight right-of-way constraints, environmentally sensitive areas, and high-interference zones where magnetic guidance was unreliable.

Each case study will illustrate challenges, solutions, and lessons learned, providing attendees with practical insights into optimizing HDD pipeline installations through advanced steering technology. This presentation will also highlight emerging trends and how gyroscopic guidance is shaping the future of trenchless pipeline construction.

Presenter: Mohammed Alwazir

Mohammed Alwazir is a Project Manager at Brownline Canada, a leading global provider of advanced gyroscopic steering solutions for HDD projects. He has spent the past five years in the industry gaining hands-on experience in guiding complex pilot hole HDD crossings on various pipeline installations across North America. His project portfolio includes major infrastructure developments such as the Magellan East Houston-to-Hearne refined product pipeline, Sunoco Mariner East 2 and 2X pipelines in Pennsylvania, and the Trans Mountain Expansion Project in British Columbia. A Texas Tech University graduate with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, Mohammed approaches projects with both analytical precision and practical technical expertise.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION – If you are an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the differed $20 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check. If you are NOT an active member of NASTT, you will be asked to pay the differed $40 attendance fee at the door of this event using cash or check. Checkout will show a $0 balance, but this is simply because payment is differed

Northwest Technical Luncheon – Edmonton, AB

Date: Thursday, February 27
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: ​University Club of the University of Alberta 11435 Saskatchewan Dr, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G9
Cost: Free for Members | $20 for Non-Members**

Join us for an educational luncheon on the project background, design and tendering, and installation of ARROW Utilities’s 1350 mm diameter concrete sewer pipe.
 
ARROW Utilities (formerly Alberta Capital Region Wastewater Commission) identified 3.2 km of 1350 mm diameter concrete sewer pipe in need of repair or replacement. CIPP lining was selected as the rehabilitation method. The pipe alignment runs through an environmentally sensitive area and is close proximity to residences in other areas. The project was planned to minimize liner installations. A unique process, over the hole wetout (OTHW) was required to accommodate the overweight liners. For this process, the tube is transported to site dry, where a mobile wet out facility is constructed. This is one of few OTH installations in Western Canada.

This presentation describes the project background, design and tendering, and installation with the OTH system.

Presenter: Gregory Germain and George Bontus

Greg is a Municipal Engineer with more than twelve years of experience, specializing in water and wastewater projects. His areas of expertise include analysis and

documentation of design, preparation of contract drawings, and contract specifications and construction administration. He conducts field reviews for structural and civil installations, liaisons with contractors and reviews contractor submittals. Greg is responsible for administering progress meetings, and providing progress updates to clients and stakeholders.

George Bontus, P.Eng. is Director of Engineering with Insituform Technologies Limited. George is involved in all aspects of pressure pipe lining including marketing, design, estimating, and project managing installations throughout North America. He is responsible for design and reviews for CIPP liners in gravity and pressure pipe applications across Canada.

George is active in AWWA as a member or chair in several committees and is currently Chair of NASTT NW Chapter. He has delivered papers and courses relating to trenchless technology for over 20 years, and is currently an approved Instructor for the NASTT CIPP Good Practices Course. George is a participant on several NASSCO committees including the Inserted Hose Standards committees.

He is currently a registered professional engineer in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario and Nova Scotia.

Northwest Technical Luncheon – Edmonton, AB

Date: Thursday, January 23
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: ​University Club of the University of Alberta 11435 Saskatchewan Dr, Edmonton, AB T6G 2G9
Cost: Free for Members | $20 for Non-Members**

Join us for an educational luncheon on the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, constructed between 2019 and 2024.

The Trans Mountain Expansion Project, constructed between 2019 and 2024, incorporated over 550 trenchless crossings in varying terrain from central Alberta to British Columbia’s lower mainland. While most of the major crossings were completed using one-pass methodologies such as horizontal directional drills, two-pass microtunneling was used in select locations to tackle some unique challenges on the project. This presentation will cover several completed two-pass tunnels for high pressure pipelines ranging in length from ~120 m to 240 m in a wide range of geological and hydrogeological conditions, while crossing highways, railways, and environmentally sensitive areas.

PresenterJake Fei, EIT and Project Coordinator, Stantec

Jake is a Civil EIT and project coordinator with Stantec’s water conveyance group in Edmonton helping clients deliver multi-disciplinary projects. Jake specializes in trenchless design and construction for new installations and rehabilitation projects across Canada and the United States. He dedicated over three years of his career to the Trans Mountain Expansion Project, gaining a wealth of knowledge in trenchless construction where he helped to coordinate and conduct design review of over 50 major and 50 minor trenchless crossings.”

 

Northwest Chapter Trenchless Technology Symposium – Calgary, AB

Join the NASTT Northwest Chapter’s Calgary Section for an engaging and informative symposium focused on Trenchless Technology in the local area. This event is designed to provide a platform for education, networking, and showcasing local projects, products, and industry insights. Attendees will gain valuable knowledge and connections through a range of activities highlighting the region’s expertise and resources, including insights from clients, design professionals, contractors, suppliers, and manufacturers.

  • Monday, June 2: NASTT’s Trenchless 101 Course covering the basics of installation and rehabilitation, followed by an evening industry mixer to connect with peers and professionals.
  • Tuesday, June 3: A full-day symposium featuring exhibitor displays and presentations on the latest innovations and applications in the field.

 

This event is open to NASTT members, non-members, and students who are eager to explore the advancements and opportunities in trenchless technology. Don’t miss this chance to network, learn, and be inspired by the industry’s best!

Registration to come!

Northwest Technical Luncheon – Calgary, AB

Date: Thursday, November 28
Time: 11:30 AM – 1:30 PM
Location: ​Danish Canadian Club | Tivoli Room
727 11 Ave SW Calgary, AB T2R 0E3
Cost: Free for Members | $20** for Non-Members

Join the NASTT Calgary Chapter for a luncheon on Strategies for Investigating Subsurface Challenges and Evaluating Geotechnical Risk for Complex Crossings.

Through the review of three case studies, this presentation will describe multiple best practices to consider when customizing a geotechnical investigation program, evaluating trenchless methodology feasibility and communicating project risk for complex trenchless crossings. A horizontal directional drill case study examines a crossing with significant elevation difference that crossed protected land parcels a highway and a sensitive river containing thick gravel deposits below the river that extended to the exit at the valley uplands. This urban microtunneling case study handles swelling shales with bentonite and coal seams containing buried glacial valley gravel deposits and a curved microtunnel for a railway crossing evaluates feasibility of several trenchless technologies through a risk assessment of challenging subsurface conditions comprising till with frequent cobbles and boulders having high strength and abrasivity.

About the speakers:

Lawrence Onwude is a civil and geotechnical engineer with Stantec Construction Ltn. with over 14 years of experience as a project and construction trenchless engineer. Lawrence has overseen over 60 major trenchless crossings and more than 400 conventional trenchless crossings, specializing in horizontal directional drilling, direct steerable pipe thrusting, microtunneling, and conventional techniques such as auger bores, pipe rams, down-the-hole hammers, and horizontal directional bores based on geohazard assessments for projects across western Canada.

Carrie Murray is a geotechnical trenchless leader with Stantec Construction Ltn. with over 25 years’ experience specializing in feasibility and risk assessment, design and construction of complex crossings using horizontal directional drilling (HDD), direct steerable pipe thrusting (DSPT), microtunneling, pipe jacking, auger bore and pipe ramming methods having completed hundreds of trenchless crossing projects.