Pipeline companies around the world have retained BGC to apply its geotechnical, geo-environmental and geohazard management services to all stages of pipeline projects, from routing and feasibility assessments to geotechnical pipeline design, through to operations.

Geohazard Risk Management

BGC is a world leader in geohazard risk management and integrating geohazards into integrity management programs.  We combine our knowledge of landslides, river erosion, and seismic hazards with risk management principles to help pipeline companies reduce the risk to their employees and pipeline facilities during the routing, construction and operation stages of pipeline life.

Geohazard Integrity Management

BGC has implemented hydrotechnical and geotechnical inspection programs along operating pipeline systems so clients can understand and efficiently manage the risk from geohazards.  Like corrosion programs, these geohazard integrity management programs prioritise sites for further inspection and mitigation based on the level of risk and are developed in a defensible and systematic manner to demonstrate due diligence by regulators and investors.

Where BGC Works

BGC has been involved in numerous geotechnical, geo-environmental and geohazard related pipeline assignments across North America and abroad.  Some of these projects include:

	Implementation of geohazard integrity management programs for Kinder Morgan Canada, Terasen Gas, Alliance and Pembina pipeline systems across BC, Alberta and northern USA.
	Geotechnical review of the Enbridge Pipelines (NW) inc., Norman Wells to Zama pipeline and the Imperial Oil Mackenzie valley pipeline in the Northwest Territories.
	Geotechnical site inspections with select mitigation of the TransCanada Pipelines system across Western and Central Canada.
	Seismic assessment and HDD replacement of the Fraser River crossing for Kinder Morgan Canada in the Lower Mainland of BC.
	Ground movement hazard assessment, geotechnical design and inspection of a high-solids content slurry pipeline for Compania Minera Alumbrera in Argentina.
	Pipeline routing through mountainous regions within Bolivia, Argentina and Central Russia.
	Ground movement hazard and risk assessment for several major Andean pipelines in Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, and Peru including multiple site investigations and remedial designs.

Case Studies:

Geohazard Integrity Management - Alliance Pipelines - Alberta, Canada, 2007

In the early 1990's the Canadian Government raised the standard of care for protection against natural hazards in Canada. More recently, CSA-Z662 has encouraged pipeline companies to proactively manage geohazards. In response to these requirements, BGC has worked closely with Alliance Pipelines to develop and implement a hazard management system.

This system typically includes field assessment protocals and database applications to analyse and manage inspection information from year to year and prioritise high risk sites for further assessment. Using this system allows pipeline managers to gain access to the most current information about their hazards including the hazard's history, pictures, when it was last inspected, and when it is due for inspection. Pipeline Managers can now make more informed decisions and help systematically allocate resources for geohazard management.

Emergency Response - Transcanada Pipelines Ltd. - Alberta, Canada, 2003

Following a routine site inspection by TCPL of the Big Knife Creek Crossing in late August 2003, a natural gas leak was discovered in the 24" diameter pipeline.

This site had previously experienced trouble and was part of the BGC Alberta monitoring program, having six slope inclinometers and pneumatic piezometers, and three standpipes. As a precautionary measure BGC was asked to perform continuous monitoring of the slope using the existing instrumentation and to perform a visual assessment of the site during the on-going repairs. the data collected during a site review was compared to the data collected as part of the monitoring program.

Fraser River HDD Feasibility - Kinder Morgan Canada - Lower Mainland, BC, Canada, 2003

The margins of the Fraser River in the Lower Mainland of BC are susceptible to liquefaction and lateral spreading following a significant earthquake. Kinder Morgan Canada retained BGC to evaluate the seismic vulnerability of their 24" petroleum products pipeline as it crosses the Fraser between Surrey and Coquitlam, BC. This evaluation included a detailed geotechnical investigation and numerical simulation to determine the feasibility of the 1.3 km HDD replacement of the crossing. The final installation of the HDD was completed in September 2003.

Landslide Susceptibility Mapping - Terasen Gas - BC, Canada, 2003

Terasen Gas needed to identify and manage ground movement hazards that have or could affect their network of buried gas distribution piping throught British Columbia. Terasen was specifically concerned with slow, progressive, subsurface ground deformations that could potentially result in an undetected pipe break at any of the 88 BC communities they are servicing. They asked BGC to help them quantitatively identify and prioritise, on a regional (1:250,000) scale and in a systematic and defensible manner, the communities that are susceptible to these ground deformations. Terasen wanted to use this prioritised list to systematically select communities for future and more detailed Stage 2 hazard assessments.

This ambitious project covered over 5% of BC and required the extensive use of GIS to support the systematic and objective susceptibility models. Surficial geology, slope, bedrock geology and Terasen's gas distribution system were some of the digital layers used in the landslide susceptibility model. A regional landslide inventory for BC was also constructed to help with the prioritisation of the communities and calibration of the landslide susceptibility model. The landslide database continues to be maintained today.

Landslide Mitigation - Minera Alumbrera Ltd. - Tucuman, Argentina, 2001

BGC was retained by Minera Alumbrera Ltd. to provide geotechnical design services and construction supervision to a landslide prone area along their slurry pipeline. At this location, a combination of large slide movements and rock fall had already imparted stress and impact damage into the line.

Preliminary design concepts were prepared and work proceeded with some design modification throughout construction based on the actual conditions encountered. The general approach taken for the stabilisation of this landslide consisted of unloading near the top of the slide area, and grading and water management throughout the landslide area. BGC personnel were on site throughout the construction process and performed both project management tasks as well as an ongoing review of the revised design.

Pipeline Routing and Feasibility, Pipeline Route Refinement - IPE Bolivia - Aguaragüe National Park, Bolivia, 2005

IPE required route alternatives for a west-to-east gas and liquids pipeline across the eastern edge of the Andes into the Yacuiba Valley in southern Bolivia. Significant routing challenges included the rugged mountainous terrain and the "off-limits" Aguarague National Park located above 900 metres elevation.

This project included route definition for prioritising 6 alternative routes through a very rugged portion of the Andean foothills from an existing plant to existing tie-ins in the Yacuiba Valley. A construction cost model, that used terrain, bedrock, and surficial geology type as inputs, estimated a construction cost every 100m along the proposed pipleine routes. This model included terrain dependent dig and lay costs, and river crossing costs. The affects of geohazards (landslide and debris flows) on future operation costs were also quantified.

BGC's Geotechnical Engineering Services for Pipelines:

Pipeline Routing and Feasibility

Directional Drilling Feasibility Investigations	Bedrock & Surficial Geology Mapping
Terrain Mapping & Airphoto Interpretation	Geohazard Identification, Assessment & Avoidence
Geotechnical Site Investigations	Site Selection for Plants & Facilities

Pipeline Design

Slope Stabilization	Retaining Walls
Rock Slope Design	Foundation Investigation and Design
Erosion Control	Piled Foundations
Seismic Hazard Assessments	Tunnels and Excavations
River Crossing Feasibility and Design	Permafrost Engineering and Design
HDD Pipeline Crossings	Geotechnical Instrumentation
Numerical Modelling	Independent Design Reviews
Geosynthetic & Earth Liner Systems	Containment & Spillage Ponds

Pipeline Construction 

Tendering & Contract Awards	Rock Bolt Installation Inspections
Contract Administration/Negotiation	Anchored Foundation Inspections
Evaluation of Changed Conditions	Foundation, Footing & Pile Inspections
Site Supervision & Inspections	Safety Monitoring
Permitting	Excavations

Pipeline Operations

Geohazard Integrity Management	Retaining Walls
Slope Stabilization	Foundation Investigation and Design
Rock Slope Design	Piled Foundations
Erosion Control	Tunnels & Excavations
Seismic Hazard Assessments	Permafrost Engineering and Design
River Crossing Feasibility and Design	Geotechnical Instrumentation
HDD Pipeline Crossings	Independent Design Reviews
Numerical Modelling	Containment & Spillage Ponds
Geosynthetic & Earth Liner Systems	Road Crossing Evaluations
Geohazard Risk Management

Environmental Applications

Soil & Groundwater Remediation	Phase I / II / III Environmental Site
Subsurface Investigations	Environmental Audits
Site Decommissioning	Permitting
Risk Assessments	Remedial Investigation Work Plans
Construction & Contractor Supervision	Regulatory Negotiation