Visser & Smit Hanab and Volker Trenchless Solutions have completed a (computer) controlled drilling or HDD in Scotland for the landing of a pipeline that will shortly transport electricity generated by wind turbines.
Visser & Smit Hanab is in charge of retracting the conduit that will allow the HV cable to reach the mainland connection point. This landfall is 435 meters long and spans a 65-meter height difference. According to Visser & Smit Hanab, the 16″ High Density Poly Ethylene (HDPE) pipe was placed after the borehole was widened with a 23″ hole opener.
The work will be done in a secluded location along the shore north of Port Crannaich. The considerable volume of hard quartz posed a hurdle, according to Visser Smit and Hanab.
The landing is part of the Carradale to Arran Interconnector project, which required the replacement of an undersea electricity cable. This replacement cable is being installed by Global Offshore (on behalf of SHEPD). The electricity is generated by a wind farm.
Image source: Visser & Smit Hanab
