Minconsult Exploration Services was brought on to support a long time Drilling Contractor client tasked with working at the Woodfibre LNG project. Both parties are committed to the highest standards of health, safety, and environmental (HSE) performance. We knew we could deliver on time while meeting Woodfibre LNG’s rigorous requirements by delivering safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible construction in challenging terrain.
Project Scope
This project involved building specialized drilling platforms for the Drilling Contractor in environmentally sensitive areas. We needed to construct platforms next to tidal shorelines, including one perched on the side of a cliff. The nature of these environments demanded that we protect the surroundings while devising ways to keep our crew safe throughout the construction process.
The Challenges
The primary challenges of this project were environmental sensitivity and challenging site conditions. Both job sites were located near tidal shorelines, requiring strict ecological precautions to ensure that construction did not negatively impact the surrounding sensitive ecosystems. One cliffside site required our team to deploy specialized rope access techniques to safely manage the construction process without endangering the crew.
Minconsult’s Role
Thanks to our reputation for safety and reliability, we were selected to design and build drilling platforms that would meet Woodfibre LNG’s strict standards for this project. Our role involved evaluating each site for potential challenges, customizing designs to fit their specific needs, and putting extra safety measures into place to protect everyone on the job.
Our Approach
We teamed up with the Drilling Contractor from the beginning, visiting each site together to gather detailed knowledge of the terrain and pinpoint the specific challenges we might face. Collaboration and knowledge-sharing helped us customize our standard designs to suit the particular requirements of the drilling program.
Objectives:
Build Custom Drilling Platforms: Construct custom drilling platforms that meet Woodfibre LNG’s health, safety, and environmental (HSE) standards.
Minimize Environmental Impact: Conduct all construction activities in a way that would have the least possible negative effect on the environment.
Enhance Safety Protocols: Implement safety measures, including specialized rope access techniques, to ensure the safety of our crew throughout the construction process.
The Solution
Crew Lead Robert Scott and Owner Marc Schoenrank spearheaded the project in partnership with the Drilling Contractor. Their expertise and guidance were key to navigating a successful solution.
Customized Design and Engineering
Minconsult utilized our network of engineering resources to refine our standard platform designs and customize them to meet each site’s unique requirements. This customization guaranteed that every platform was stable and ideally suited for the specific geotechnical drilling tasks.
Advanced Safety Systems
We designed and created a rope access and work positioning system that went beyond the basic WorkSafe guidelines. The rope access and work positioning system played a key role in maintaining the safety standards for our crew during the entire construction phase.
The Results
Through strategic planning and disciplined execution, we completed construction ahead of schedule with zero safety incidents.
Early Completion: We completed drilling platform construction before the projected timeline as a result of meticulous planning and a streamlined execution process. By managing our time and resources effectively, we met and exceeded our scheduling goals.
Zero Safety Incidents: Our commitment to strict safety protocols meant we were able to complete the project with no safety infractions. This achievement highlights our dedication to maintaining the highest safety standards in the industry and our prioritization of the well-being of our team.
The collaboration between Minconsult and the Drilling Contractor for Woodfibre LNG’s project highlights our ability to meet and exceed the highest standards of operational and environmental safety in geotechnical drilling. This project achieved technical objectives and also demonstrated our commitment to sustainability.
Our creative solutions and customized approaches, such as the rope access techniques, played a key role in ensuring our construction didn’t harm the local ecosystems. This was particularly important considering the project’s delicate locations near tidal shorelines and cliff sides.
The project’s success has strengthened our reputation in the industry as a leader in implementing advanced safety measures and environmental protection strategies. By maintaining a perfect safety record and enhancing operational efficiencies, we exceeded the expectations of Woodfibre LNG. By successfully meeting the strict HSE and safety requirements of Woodfibre LNG, we delivered exceptional results that showcased our ability to handle complex, environmentally sensitive projects with precision and care.
