Atlas Copco Delivers Equipment in Complex Phases of Pipeline Project

Surerus Murphy Joint Venture (SMJV) brings together two leading infrastructure companies, Surerus Pipeline Inc. of Fort St. John, Canada and J. Murphy & Sons Ltd., headquartered in London. As a fully integrated joint venture, Surerus Murphy is committed to delivering the highest standard in quality, health and safety, and environment.

The North Montney Mainline project is 206 kilometers of 42-inch pipeline including meter stations, valve sites, and compression facilities. The pipeline connects natural gas throughout Canada and the United States, creating jobs and tax revenues for hospitals, schools and more in remote areas.

Pink Mountain, population 100, is on mile 143 of the Alaska Highway. A Rocky Mountain foothill town, Pink Mountain is 180 kilometers northwest of Ft. St. John, and is named for its pinkish burnt rock seams. It’s been declared a provincial park, and protects the largest ichthyosaur remains ever found.

Challenges to the project were significant. In such a remote region with rugged terrain, equipment availability was sparse. Contractors had to get high pressure air to the area for dewatering, a process of removing water from sediment or waste material.

The project called for oil-free air compressors and dryers. Oil-free air compressors don’t require lubrication for cylinder walls, reducing the need and time for maintenance. Overall, equipment reliability and knowledgeable service support were critical factors. Each testing phase required more equipment, so Atlas Copco’s experience in such projects played a major role.

Having worked with the companies involved on a number of projects, Atlas Copco understood time constraints put on the test program for each pipeline. Time is critical. One of the final stages calls for engineers to prove the line. That means implementing a system to provide on-site calibration to ensure flow meters maintain sustainable measurement performance. Also, the line must stay within industry compliance standards.

This required face-to-face meetings between Atlas Copco and Surerus Murphy JV representatives. Atlas Copco got on the line for many update calls with test foreman Matt Revington. As a result, they had crucial equipment ready to ship during each phase of the test program without delay.

Client requirements for this Joint Venture:

• Two 1600 cfm compressors and dryers for a pre-test
• Two PNS 1250 compressors to dewater two weeks later
• Five 1600 cfm compressors and dryers for the caliper pig run (inline inspection)
• Dry the line to a -45 dew point

The result: On-time delivery of the pipeline for turnover to owner.

For each pipeline project, Atlas Copco devises a full solution package. This includes:

• Required pressure and pig speeds
• Drying packages
• Nitrogen for inerting lines or safety blanketing