PipeSak Chosen to Protect Coast GasLink Pipeline in Western Canada
The Coastal GasLink pipeline project is approximately 670 km (416 miles) of 1219 mm (48”) O.D. pipe that will safely deliver natural gas across northern British Colombia to the LNG Canada facility in Kitimat, B.C., where it will be converted from gas to a liquified state (LNG) for export to global markets. The Coastal GasLink pipeline traverses the Rocky Mountains, some of the most challenging terrain in Western Canada.
TC Energy chose PipePillo® engineered pipeline supports to support the pipeline from the rocky trench bottom, allowing sand padding to encompass the pipeline while maintaining an easy path for cathodic protection. PipePillo® are environmentally inert and offer 90° of permanent pipeline support, an important consideration in this challenging and environmentally sensitive terrain. To date, over 10,000 PipePillo® structured pipeline pillows (SPP48) have been installed. PipeSak® Geotextile Pipeline Weights (GPW) have also been specified to provide buoyancy control.
The newly designed QuickFill PipeSak® weight sits flush with the top of the pipe, reducing the need for extra trench depth to accommodate weighting. The low centre of gravity allows PipeSak weights to be installed on a floating pipe, eliminating the need to pump water out of the trench. In addition to reducing installation costs, all PipeSak® products are engineered with a minimum 4 times safety factor, making it the weight of choice for challenging projects. To date, over 3000 PipeSak® Geotextile Pipeline Weights (QF48) have been installed on Coastal GasLink.