Kern River Natural Gas Line Expansion:

A Case Study in Overcoming Adversity on a Mountainous Lineal Reclamation Project

David Chenoweth, Joe Schneider and Colby Reid

Project Description

• The Apex Expansion Project is located in the Wasatch Mountains in Morgan, Davis, and Salt Lake counties in northern Utah.

• The new 36” diameter pipeline is an expansion off an existing pipeline which stretches from southwestern Wyoming to California.

• 28 miles of new pipeline, 390 acres of revegetation, 175 acres of erosion control blanket, and 215 acres of seeding with straw mulch.

Overall Project Goals

• Provide increased reliability and operational flexibility through additional looping and added compression.

• Add a capacity of 266 million cubic feet per day to safely and efficiently transport natural gas.

• Increase the availability of an abundant clean fuel for the generation of electricity.

• Provide much needed take-away capacity for the increasing natural gas supplies in the Rocky Mountains producing areas.

Reclamation Plan• Developed by Kern River to address disturbances to

current site conditions due to construction of the Apex Expansion Loop.

• Incorporates standard erosion, sediment control, and restoration procedures.

• Site stabilization would require the following: backfilling, decompaction, recontouring, rock mulch, imprinting, water bars and revegetation.

• The pipeline contractor would perform everything but revegetation, which is the responsibility of WSRI.

Reclamation Plan

• Revegetation included the following: seed bed preparation, seeding mixtures and rates, seeding methods, and reclamation treatments for steep slopes and erodible soils.

• Pipeline crosses 3 identified vegetation communities: Great Basin Sagebrush, Mountain Mahogany-Oak Scrub, and Douglas Fir Forest.

• Over 90 percent of the soil were considered to have moderate to high erosion, shallow bedrock or poor revegetation potential.

Short Term Reclamation Goals• Re-establishing pre-construction contours and hydrologic

patterns

• Minimization of on-site erosion

• Minimization of off-site sedimentation

• Re-establishment of the pre-construction vegetative communities, as appropriate

• Where possible, replacement and/or enhancement to wildlife habitats crossed

• Establishment of post-construction vegetative monitoring stations

Long Term Reclamation Goals

• Soil stabilization

• Establishment of a sustainable vegetative cover

• Annual post-construction monitoring for a minimum of 3 years

• Maintenance and repair of permanent erosion and sediment controls

• A commitment to the restoration and protection of water resources

• A return to pre-existing land uses to the extent practical and consistent with Kern River’s operations and monitoring needs

Specified Approaches for Reclamation

• Slopes less than 30% - soil preparation, drill seeding, straw mulch, and crimping.

• Slopes 30-50% - hand broadcast seed, hand raking, and installation of straw erosion control blanket with photodegradable netting.

• Slopes greater than 50% - hand broadcast seeding, hand raking, installation of straw coconut erosion control blanket with photodegradable netting.

• 4 seed mixes utilized for different vegetation communities.

Project Estimation

• Factored in union wage rates, slopes, and access to pipeline ROW.

• Initially assumed that access routes would be available, and that mild slopes (less than 30%) would be accessible to agricultural equipment.

• WSRI realized there would be many challenges with the project schedule, but believed the project could be completed with standard crew sizes.

Contract Negotiations

• WSRI created a union based sister company, WSRII, in which the project would be performed under.

• Project general contractor was responsible for getting the pipeline in service by November of 2011 or face damages of $115,000 per day.

Initial Project Approach

• To complete the first six sections of pipeline (168 acres) between November of 2010 and January of 2011. Then complete the rest of the 390 acres starting in June of 2011.

• Anticipated a 24 man blanket crew and a 4 man tractor crew could keep pace with pipeline construction. It was expected that crew sizes would grow as the project progressed.

• Expected to move equipment and laborers across the pipeline with low boy semis, 4wd pickup trucks, and UTVs. Hard to access areas were anticipated.

Modified Project Approach

• Large amounts of precipitation in the fall of 2010 delayed revegetation until the spring of 2011.

• In March 2011, an inventory of site conditions revealed that the original project approach was not possible because of site access and slopes.

• WSRII hired extra laborers and utilized 2-9 passenger vans to get laborers to the access points, and then UTVs to get laborers and equipment to the pipeline.

Modified Project Approach

• Helicopters were then used to transport laborers and equipment.

• Additional project management was dedicated to the job.

• By the end of August, WSRII had more than doubled its workforce. 2 school buses, a John Deere 650 dozer, and a Marooka dump truck were utilized to transport crew and equipment.

Project Outcomes

• Even with all of the setbacks, WSRII was able to complete the project 5 days ahead of schedule.

• This project ended up being one of the most difficult revegetation projects that WSRI/WSRII has completed in its 29 year history.

Lessons Learned

• There can never be enough time spent ground validating access along pipeline ROWs, especially in challenging terrain.

• Staffing a union project takes a large administration team and individuals experienced in union work.

• Critical management decision need to be made right away on a project of this complexity.

• WSRI has gained invaluable experience from this project, and we are eager to apply our knowledge on the next project.

Questions