Engineering Design Consultants

As part of a multimillion pound contract for MG Bennett & Associates, David has designed and overseen plans for a series of horizontal directional drills, a pipeline installation method, connecting a gas tank farm to a power station in an environmentally protected area. Taking into account various factors such as cost-effective plant hire and avoiding sensitive obstacles such as a liquid natural gas line in the area, David has successfully completed the designs to a high standard and on time, thus retaining an existing client and developing the reputation of MG Bennett for future business development.

Bennett Associates is a mechanical and structural design consultancy providing engineering solutions to a worldwide market. The client for this particular project was Stockton Drilling Ltd., which is a pipeline contractor specialising in the trench-less method of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD) for pipe installation. In this circumstance they were contracted by the owners of the power station in the area.

David’s project was to fulfil the contract with an established and repeat business client, Stockton Drilling Ltd., to provide a detailed design of one or more horizontal directional drills along a pipeline linking a gas tank farm to a power station. David started by conducting a topographical survey of the required route using an electronic distance measurement device, followed by a geotechnical survey to fully understand the location and allow for the requirements of HDD drilling: entry, exit angles, locations and curvature of the pipe. He then went about designing the process, including launch and reception pits, layout of the site for the various equipment needed, and making calculations of pulling forces and ground settlement, both vitally important as in the area was highly sensitive cryogenic liquid natural gas bund. Such plans had to be accurate, to avoid the many obstacles, as well as ensure the minimum amount of disruption to a heavily protected environmental area.

David’s detailed design as part of a multimillion pound project, has aided the safe and accurate installation of the pipeline, without disrupting the environmentally protected area and keeping costs and the need for plant machinery to a minimum. By completing the work to a high standard and on schedule, the project portrays a positive image of MG Bennett to both the existing and long-standing client, but also to new business.