CORRIB FIELD DEVELOPMENT

LANDFALL & PULL-IN SERVICES

Document No: TW-MS-001

Dredging and Backfilling

D1 Issue for Construction

Issue for Approval
C1
Issue for Comments
B1
A1 Issue Internal Review
Rev Reason for change

02-06-2005
27-05-2005
30-04-2005
14-04-2005
Date

SFU
SFU
SFU
SFU
Prepared by

Contractor:
Tideway BV Marine and
Offshore Contractors

Company:
Allseas Construction Contractors S.A.

DWR/GSP
GSP
GSP
GSP
QA/QC Check

JGO
JGO
JGO
JGO
HSE Check

HAB
HAB
HAB
HAB
Approved by

Company

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A.

Landfall and Pull-In Services
Corrib Field Development Project

Title:
Document No:
Revision: D1

Dredging & Backfilling

TW-MS-001
Page 2 of 5

1. DREDGING
This document is a synopsis of the full Dredging and Backfilling Procedure, where contractual
responsibilities and technical details are described in full. There will be two operational methods for
trench excavation, one for the nearshore, using marine equipment, and one for the intertidal-zone
using land based equipment. The trenching and backfilling works described in this document were
undertaken in 2002 except for 180 metres of rock material.
PURPOSE

The pipe is to be laid in an excavated trench 3m deep, 3m wide and then

covered with the excavated material. Soft material and the more brittle rock
will be excavated by backhoe, the harder rock (180 metres) will need to be
fractured by mechanical rock breaking.

LOCATION

Nearshore and foreshore (from 200 untill 1400 m offshore) Broadhaven

Bay located in Broadhaven Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC 472)

SIZE OF TRENCH

Nearshore trench Kp 82.100 (-11.00m LAT) - Kp 83.200

Inter tidal Zone trench Kp 83.200 Kp 83.400
The trench will be 3m deep and 3m wide (at bottom level), top width
depending on side slope (typical side slope in rock 1:0, in sand 1:2).
Typical Cross Section Rock Area

3.0m

0.5m

3
Actual Fracture Profile
Theoretical Profile
Overdredge Level

Typical Cross Section clay/sand area

3.0m

0.3m

Natural Post

Actual Dredging Profile

Collapse after dredging
Dredged profile

TIMESCALE

Theoretical Profile
Overdredge Level

Marine operations will be carried out continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days

a week. The maximum time scale for this operation is 12 weeks, estimate
in worse weather scenario. This is based on a conservative estimate of 1

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A.

Landfall and Pull-In Services
Corrib Field Development Project

Title:
Document No:
Revision: D1

Dredging & Backfilling

TW-MS-001
Page 3 of 5

working day in 3 due to weather lay off.

TECHNIQUE

The marine excavation will be carried out using a Backhoe Dredger.

Material will be excavated by bucket and placed in a split hopper barge.
The excavated material will be transported in the barge to a designated
temporary storage area where the material will be deposited (location of
storage indicated on attached map). This storage area is within the
wayleave and consists of a number of stock piles. The position of these
stockpiles will be recorded on a gridded map with GPS so that during
reinstatement material can be returned to its original location.
Rock section (200m) will be fractured using a self elevating platform
mounted with two long-reach excavators. These excavators are equipped
with hydraulic hammers to fracture the material. Upon fracturing the
backhoe dredger will dredge the rock. The rock material will be separately
stored from the sand material.

After pipe installation the trench will be backfilled using the same
equipment. The sand material will be used for backfill in the originate sand
areas and the rock material will be used for backfill in the originate rock
areas.

EQUIPMENT

Vessels required for work on the Nearshore trench will be a Backhoe

Dredger (Big Boss) and a Split Hopper Barge (DI 68) under assistance of
a Dredgehelper (MCS Elly). Mechanical Rock Fracturing operations will be
undertaken from Self Elevating Platform Vagant. Two long-reach
excavators equipped with a hydraulic hammer will fracture the rock.

RESTRICTIONS

The dredging pontoon cannot work in a swell of over 1.0 m. This is the only
physical constraint to the excavation of the nearshore trench. In the
intertidal-zone high tide will restrict activity.
Refuelling is restricted to good weather conditions.
Archaeological restrictions can arise due to the need for investigations.
If sea mammals such as cetaceans are present work may be restricted
Work will continue 24hours. Restrictions arising from this include noise

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A.

Landfall and Pull-In Services
Corrib Field Development Project

DISTURBANCE
FACTOR

ENVRONMENTAL
IMPACT

Title:
Document No:
Revision: D1

Dredging & Backfilling

TW-MS-001
Page 4 of 5

levels and lighting directions.

Movement of benthic material will inevitably release sediment into the
water column, and this will have an adverse impact on benthic organisms.
However, this is an area with a toplayer of fine, mobile, clean sand, which,
by its very nature supports a reduced benthic community. The whole
environment is so mobile that it is anticipated the disturbance from
mechanical rock breaking and excavation will have less effect than a storm.
Noise and general presence of vessels will disturb fish, cetaceans and sea
birds and displace them from this part of their feeding grounds. However,
the area of activity is such a very small proportion of the general habitat
that this is not considered a significant impact.
Noise and light pollution from machinery may impact upon local residents.
During the course of the work there is a risk of minor leaks of oil/diesel from
equipment.

MITIGATION

The work needs to be completed in as quick as possible to confine activities

to the minimal landtake.
When night time work is necessary as in the case of dredging and rock
fracturing, lights will be pointed away from residences and roadways as
much as is practicable. Lights will also be directed with shields. However,
as the safety of the crew is paramount some disturbance may be
unavoidable.
A noise survey will be carried out before and during work, on the site and
near local residences to measure/assess the level and impact of these
activities. Noise reducers are installed and the construction crew will be
induction to reduce noise emission as much as possible.
Pre-entry ecological surveys (including birds and cetaceans) have been
carried out and any constraints identified.
An ecological survey will be carried out as part of an ongoing monitoring
program put in place by the Client.
In the event of an oil/diesel spill the Offshore and Onshore Emergency
Procedures will function as appropriate.
Spill kits are available onboard and a special ship oil pollution prevention
program is in place.
The crew will be regularly trained in oil spill emergency procedures.
Fuel tanks are not located at the outer side of the pontoon.
Refuelling will be done in good weather conditions
Proper fendering will be in place for mooring and unmooring of support
vessels.
Maintenance, audits and inspection plans are in place to detect arising oil
leaks

CONTINGENCY

Marine archaeological monitoring is in place

Similar dredging works took place in the same area in 2002 and was
conducted under the supervision of marine archaelogists.
In the event of an oil/diesel spill the Offshore and Onshore Emergency

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A.

Landfall and Pull-In Services
Corrib Field Development Project

REINSTATEMENT

Title:
Document No:
Revision: D1

Dredging & Backfilling

TW-MS-001
Page 5 of 5

Procedures will function as appropriate.

The excavated fine and coarse materials will be replaced over the trench in
the position from which it has been excavated. No spoil heaps will be left
presence on the seabed. Re-colonisation of the substrate and animal
species will occur naturally in a very short time span in these habitats.