Project At-a-Glance
- 3,000 foot long and a 1,200 foot long, installation of 54-inch diameter HDPE pipe using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) methods
- Challenge of laying out and field welding of HDPE on the surface of existing roadways, which had to remain accessible
- Innovative drill fluid handling methods such as storing mud in a previously installed drill hole rather than flowing on the city roadways
- Utilization of pressure relief holes during pull back to prevent hydro lock and frac-out
- Drill fluid ballasting to prevent pipe buckling under differential hydrostatic pressure
- World record for the longest 54-inch diameter HDD installation, Trenchless Technology runner up for Project of the Year
Recognition
- Trenchless Technology Runner-Up New Installation Project of the Year Award 2017
- Watch the video: Please go watch a YouTube page of drone footage provided by David Mancini & Sons, Inc. of the initial 3,000-ft HDD drill and the pulling of the 54-inch diameter HDPE. These videos document the unique logistical challenges that were overcome by the entire team through proper planning and teamwork.
Project Narrative
An existing 54-in diameter Pre-Stressed Concrete Cylinder Pipe (PCCP) sanitary sewer force main is a vital asset for the City of Miami Beach, as it conveys the entire flow of the city to the wastewater treatment plant on Virginia Key. Condition assessments revealed corrosion had set in and caused failure in some of the pipe segments. Rather than removing and replacing the existing line, a new redundant forcemain was decided upon to allow repair work to occur without jeopardizing operations.
Brierley Associates designed a world record, 3,000 foot long and a 1,200 foot long, installation of 54-inch diameter HDPE pipe using horizontal directional drilling (HDD) methods. Although long reach HDD of 54-inch diameter HDPE have been previously accomplished, they were on the order of 1,000 feet.
This design/build project was successfully delivered by David Mancini & Sons, Inc. (general contractor) who retained Brierley Associates. Roger Williams (AECOM) served as a project design professional representing the City of Miami Beach. Given the complexities of this installation, Hard Rock Directional Drilling of Texas teamed with Spartan Directional of Louisiana.
Other unique features of the installation include:
Brierley Associates designed the pipe, which was provided by Isco; the drill path and alignment; methods for overbending, buoyancy control, and differential pressure control; and evaluated the required pulling forces and pipe stresses to ensure that the integrity of the pipe was not compromised during this remarkable installation.
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