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Trenchless Technology Applications for Underground Transmission and Distribution Cables

Presented jointly by:
Power Delivery Consultants, Inc.
Jacobs Civil, Inc.

No Dig ! A two day course covering the planning, design, specification, installation and operation of underground power cables installed by trenchless technologies. Cable users are often faced with situations where trenching is impractical or impossible for the installation of cables – water crossings, under roads, through environmentally sensitive areas or archeological sites.

Overview: Utilities are now using trenchless technologies more frequently to install underground distribution and transmission cables. Horizontal directional drilling is most commonly used, but pipe jacking and microtunneling can be applied as well.

Trenchless installation has several advantages to the utility:

Permitting is often easier, especially for crossings of highways, rivers wetlands and other sensitive areas
Environmental damage/restoration is reduced
Traffic disruption is minimized
Hazardous material disposal can be minimized
In some cases, directional drilling is less costly than open trenching

Installations to date have generally been limited to special situations such as river or major highway crossings. As the technology matures, however, and as prices drop, utilities are finding many more applications for trenchless technologies.

Material: Planning, design, and installation techniques are different for trenchless technologies, compared to traditional open-trenched installations. In addition, trenchless technologies can have a strong effect on cable ampacities. In situ soil thermal analysis, composition of drilling mud and cuttings, grout or slurry in the casing, etc. are important design and installation considerations. This course presents detailed information on planning, designing, preparing specifications, selecting contractors, and installation techniques using trenchless technologies. Soil, slurry, grout thermal analysis and modification are addressed. Cable design considerations are discussed in detail, including the effects of steel and plastic casings on cable ampacity.

Expected Learning Objectives / Outcomes

PDC has identified learning objectives we expect each student to obtain on completion of this course. The student completing this course should be able to:

Identify the major power cable types that are used with trenchless installations.
Summarize the cable rating issues related installing cables by directional drilling.
List and basically describe the major types of trenchless technology that may be applied to power cable systems.

Participants: This course is directed toward engineers and planners who need to evaluate, design, and install underground transmission and distribution system installations, and construction and utility contractors who install and supervise the cable systems.

Course Outline

DAY 1

Introduction, course goals

Cable types, cable components, typical applications – conventional and trenchless

Background and history of directional drilling

Who’s who in directional drilling

How to successfully utilize directional drilling equipment

Geotechnical and thermal analysis

Thermal design of bore-filling and casing-filling materials

Designing directional-drilling projects

DAY 2

Using DrillPath™ software for designing projects

Preparing specifications and contract documents

Supervising construction

Design examples and case histories

Cable configurations; use a casing or not?

Cable ampacity considerations: burial depth effects; derating due to steel or plastic casings

Monitoring cable temperatures

Improving ampacity of directionally-drilled cables

Engineering Calculations, Computer Programs

Arrangements

This two-day course is being Presented at the Alden Beach Resort, 5900 Gulf Boulevard, St. Pete Beach, Florida 33706. It is being held immediately after the three-day course, Underground Cable Systems, Principles and Practices. Map of Area

Instructors:

Steven R. Kramer, P.E., is Principal of Trenchless Technology at Sverdrup Civil, Inc. He has served as project manager for the design and construction of numerous trenchless projects, and has presented many courses on trenchless technologies. He has published 60 technical papers and is co-author of the book, Introduction to Trenchless Technologies.

Jay A. Williams, P.E. Principal Engineer, Power Delivery Consultants, Inc. Mr. Williams has been designing underground cable systems for more than 30 years, including projects utilizing trenchless technology approaches. He has prepared industry reports on ampacity and other considerations for power cables installed using trenchless technologies. He has prepared industry-accepted ampacity programs, including those for trenchless technologies, and has taught cable system courses for more than 20 years. He was the principal author of the 1992 Underground Transmission Systems Reference Book.

Continuing Education Units

PDC is a Continuing Education Provider in the State of Florida (#CEP00180) and will issue students a course certificate indicating the number of Continuing Education Units for the course completed based on national guidelines and the number of classroom hours. 1.2 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be awarded for successful completion of this course. The CEU is the nationally recognized unit for recording participation in noncredit educational programs. One CEU is equal to ten classroom hours.

Tuition and Enrollment:

The tuition fee covers the 2-day course and includes extensive course notes, continental breakfast and lunch. Lodging, transportation, and other meals are not included.

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Copyright 2003 - Power Delivery Consultants, Inc.