Work continues on the Southwest Pipeline Project supplemental intake at Renner Bay on Lake Sakakawea. When complete, the entire tunnel will be 2800′ feet in length.
Micro-tunneling machine being lowed into the shaft.
Micro-tunneling machine in place at the bottom of the shaft.
Micro-tunneling machine in place at the bottom of the shaft.
Shaft Bottom photo with descriptions of the planned process.
Updated picture of the Micro-tunneling machine.
Updated picture of the Micro-tunneling machine.
Updated picture of the Micro-tunneling machine.
View of the bottom of the the caisson.
Picture of the pipe before being lifted and placed into place, October 20, 2015.
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Lifting the pipe over the lake, October 17, 2015.
Lifting the pipe over the lake, October 20, 2015.
View looking upward from the caisson, October 20, 2015.
Micro-tunneling has advanced approximately 982 feet.
1st piece of SWPP Supplementary Intake pipe being lowered into caisson shaft.
The microtunneling machine being lowered into the caisson.
The microtunneling machine being prepared for it’s journey 2,800 feet into Lake Sakakawea.
Looking down the caisson. The microtunneling machine will be lowered into this caisson where tunneling will begin.
The 136,000 lbs., multi-million dollar microtunneling machine.
A look inside the machine.
At some point in the tunneling process, crews will be required to crawl through the pipe, through the machine to the front and change the cutting devices. All while being located underneath Lake Sakakawea!
The microtunneling machine will be operated by crews on the surface.
Click here a video of the machine being demonstrated on the surface.
A complex system of shakers, screens and centrifugal pumps will be utilized to clean the water used to bring the cuttings to the surface.
The pipe which will be “jacked” into place behind the microtunneling machine.