Salvaging a drilling rig almost triples the price. Significant obstacles and setbacks have been encountered during efforts to salvage a multi-million dollar drilling rig beneath Old Mill Drive in Toronto’s west end. The cost to remove seized equipment has nearly quadrupled, from $9 million to a staggering $25 million, according to a recent city report. The project schedule was also extended by about six months as a result of unexpected delays. The requirement for significant soil stabilization and increased groundwater intrusion are factors city staff attribute to these issues. Rising costs and lengthy rescue missions highlight the difficulties associated with such underground operations.
Drilling rig salvage nearly tripled
$3 million worth of microtunneling equipment was to be released, but the first plan to do so proved more difficult than expected. The site was contaminated by an excessive amount of groundwater, which slowed down construction and required additional steps to properly stabilize the soil. These unexpected difficulties caused a series of delays and an exponential increase in the costs of the project. City officials expressed surprise and concern at the revised cost estimate of $25 million, up from the original estimate of $9 million. The need for specialized equipment, longer work hours and the acquisition of additional resources to deal with the problem of groundwater infiltration are just some of the reasons for the skyrocketing costs.
The city’s budget is heavily taxed by rising costs, casting doubt on the initial assessment of the project’s profitability. The lengthy timeline for the rescue effort, which has already stretched out for some six months, has alarmed local residents and authorities alike. Since early spring, the machine has been stuck under Old Mill Drive, clogging traffic and disrupting nearby businesses and homeowners. Unforeseen delays not only prevented rescue operations from being completed, but also led to additional costs for road closures and other forms of transportation. City employees were directly confronted with groundwater intrusion issues and soil stabilization requirements.
Advanced pumping technologies are used to solve groundwater problems and specific geotechnical measures are applied to maintain the integrity of the surrounding soil. These initiatives were made to speed up the salvage operation and prevent further increase in costs. Given the current difficulties and risks associated with underground operations, the future outlook for the project is still unknown. However, the city authorities are committed to the rescue operation to the end. In order to overcome the difficulties they have discovered so far, they continually explore new ways and consult with industry leaders.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education