Project Title

Horizontal Directional drilling beneath the River Foyle

Location

Strathfoyle, Derry, Northern Ireland

Client

Firmus Energy & McCormack Drilling

Date

2016 – 2018

Business Sectors

Infrastructure

Services (Technical Disciplines)

• Feasibility Study
• Design Engineering
• Mud Engineering

Project Objectives/ Outcomes

Firmus Energy required a feasibility study to be completed to understand the possibility of installing a medium pressure gas main beneath the river Foyle estuary on the North side of Derry city.  The estimated length of the drill was 700 metres with an elevation difference of 60 metres.  Understanding the historic use of the river during the Battle of the Atlantic in WW2, the underlying geology and a fault on the west side of the river, the logistical challenges of working in a housing development, limitations of the drilling equipment available, methodology, and product pipe stress analysis all played a part in the design of the crossing.

During the installation we designed the drilling fluid package for the drilling contractor McCormack Drilling along with having an on-site mud engineer.  Many challenges where overcome and the resultant was the pipe was installed with 26 tons of force, a testament to detailed pre commencement planning, a competent and experienced crew and a clean borehole.

Geoscience Ireland Contact

Niall Meehan  – niall@geodrillingsolutions.com