In the spring of 2017, the IPC mobilized to Ontario, to complete the 270m of 42” diameter Woodlot crossing. The Woodlot crossing was changed in method from HDD to Direct Pipe®, due to the natural habitat of the protected Western Chorus frog in the surrounding area.
The Western Chorus frog is a small amphibian at the center of a large legal battle, it is only the second species to receive an emergency order, since the Species at Risk Act was passed in 2002, according to Environment and Climate Change Canada.
The Direct Pipe® application was selected instead of HDD in order to mitigate the risk of frac out and any serious damage to the surrounding habitat. This project presented a unique challenge in geological conditions including drilling through heavy clay, silt, and sand which meant the entire project had to be redesigned, as the timeline was collapsed due to the new approval process.
With every project, we continually are taking the machine and pushing the limits and capacity in different Canadian conditions. As a result, we determine the weakness of the equipment and can modify for better improvement.