Confidential Pipeline

Providing Appalachian natural gas producers a way to bring a new supply source to a high-growth market, this natural gas pipeline extends 32 miles through limestone country.

Schnabel conducted 34,000 lf of a 2D resistivity survey to evaluate sinkholes along the pipeline including stream crossings, where horizontal directional drilling (HDD) was contemplated. Schnabel recommended conventional trenching methods over HDD at two of the stream crossings due to numerous fracture zones, mudseams, and voids, with the concern being the very high risk of drilling fluids being lost to the environment. There was also a relatively high risk of hydro-fracturing the rock due to high fluid pressures within the directional bores during the drilling process, especially where soft seams and fractures were present.