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going live

A 12-week schedule of works was operative manoeuvres the arms around on the Wickwar Road project alone.
drawn up to ensure that the onsite the pipe and then applies sufficient Open cut would have taken 40
team worked towards the scheduled pressure to crack the pipe. The MACAW weeks to complete, but LMI took just
completion deadline. This schedule may be used on cast iron pipes inserted 11. The delivery team also calculated
involved a one-way-fed live insert with with PE, if required. that disruption to local residents
an estimated ten insertions over 4.2km Quick to set up, easy to operate, and road users was reduced by 100
– an average of 350 metres a week. highly manoeuvrable and safer and minutes per week.
The most ambitious insertion was a faster than a ‘podger bar’ or sledge Mr Breakey said: “The use of
record breaking 1,014 metres in one hammer, the MACAW Cracker is ideal innovation on standard jobs can be a
continuous length, taking just under for use with LMI projects and offered a win-win for the customer, our contract
three hours using the SVI Large Pipe number of benefits to the project team. partners, and us. Wickwar Road
Handler, which is suitable for PE These included: demonstrates how it pays to innovate,
diameters of 250mm to 1,200mm. No required access around the entire facilitating a safer, quicker, and less
The complete laying of the pipe and pipe circumference disruptive scheme while delivering
abandonment for this section was Controlled pressure applied – suitable value for money.”
achieved in two weeks. Until that point, on abandoned and inserted mains, The project was completed a week
the biggest previous insertion achieved without damaging internal PE ahead of schedule on 14 December 2018.
by the project team in a single push was Various power source options to Onsite support and consumables were
630 metres. accommodate site conditions provided by Steve Vick International.
The major benefits provided by LMI The work undertaken forms part
meant the technique was the obvious of Wales & West Utilities’ 30-year
choice for MUS. Innovation played a major programme to deliver essential gas mains
Innovation played a major role in role in the project’s success. replacement and associated works across
the project’s success. In total, nine In total, nine innovative tools Wales and the South West of England.
innovative tools were used during The programme involves the
the project, saving time, money and were used during the project, feasibility, design, programme
effort over conventional practices and saving time, money and effort management and delivery of 3,500km of
improving safety and disruption. over conventional practices and metallic gas mains replacement (420km
A good example of the type of improving safety and disruption per year) with approximately 40,000
innovative tool used to deliver the customer gas connections each year.
project is the SVI MACAW pipe The geography incorporates both
crackers, so-called due to the pipe Other innovative tools used over densely populated areas of Cardiff,
cracking arms’ resemblance to the beak the course of the works included the Newport and Bristol, areas of special
of the South American bird. SVI Large Diameter Pipe Handler, soil interest such as Bath as well as sparsely
Breaking out cast iron mains has been picks, ProFuse peelable pipe, System populated areas of the Welsh Valleys,
a longstanding health and safety concern 1 Twin Bagtube, crawler cameras, PE Somerset, Devon and Cornwall.
in the gas industry, largely due to the flowstopping, as-laid drawing capture, The record-breaking ‘live’ live mains
labour-intensive tooling available. and reusable Supatees. insertion at Wickwar was shortlisted
The MACAW attaches to the quick- It is estimated that the adoption for Project of the Year at last year’s
hitch or bucket pins of a mini excavator. of the LMI process, rather than the IGEM & EUA Gas Industry Awards.
Controlled from the cab, and using traditional open cut method, led to total To nominate for the 2020 awards,
the excavator’s hydraulic power, the cost savings of approximately £500,000 go to bit.ly/GasAwards20

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