After several days of preparatory work, Energy, Argentina completed the crossing special run-of-the Colorado river of the Pipeline, President Néstor Kirchner, in the boundary between the provinces of Rio Negro and La Pampa.
For the completion of this milestone, and thus overcome the main challenge of the region of the trace, we used the technology of horizontal directional drilling (HDD), which allows you to overcome obstacles without affecting the surface. With this technique you inserted the column of a 36-inch diameter pipe soldiers) through a tunnel previously constructed by using a hole punch.
The crossing has a total of 1.225 meters of extension to a depth of over 30 meters, without touching at any time, the Colorado river: the column of pipes happens to 26 metres below the riverbed.
After 50 days of work, we ended up installing the 1200 metres of pipe, 36" that joins the provinces of Rio Negro and La Pampa, Argentina. The maneuver end of 11 hours duration, enabled the union of the GPNK through several feet below the bed of the Colorado River, without affecting in any moment to the same.
As a pre-assignment, set the column to be inserted. It is a stretch of heavy pipe, 36-inch-diameter (91 cm) and 19.1 mm thick, welded to a length of 1216 metres. After soldarla and perform the corresponding tests in that column, is positioned on rollers for easy movement during the crossing.
Previously performed the Horizontal directional Drilling (HDD, for its acronym in English) of a tunnel pilot of 31 cm with a trephine guided by a magnetic field on the surface. Subsequently there were 3 stages of the ensanche 66 cm, 91 cm and 122 cm in diameter to finally insert the pipe driver of the GPNK 36" along with a pipe of steel to protect inside the optical fiber, which will facilitate the communication and operation of the pipeline. For the insert to use sidebars to guide and execute the maneuver in coordination with the boring machine, which allow for the throw of the column welded to insert it into the tunnel.
