Ace Energy Infrastructure installs 3600-meter pipeline across Assam’s Subansiri River

Guwahati: Ace Energy Infrastructure has successfully installed a 3600-meter pipeline of 24″ diameter across the Subansiri River in Assam. It achieved this by utilising the intersect method of Horizontal Directional Drilling (HDD), positioning it among the largest pipeline installations worldwide using this technique.

This project was executed for Indradhanush Gas Grid Limited (IGGL), a joint venture of oil and gas companies, including Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd., GAIL (India) Limited, Oil India Limited, and Numaligarh Refinery Limited).

MECON Limited India served as the Project Management Consultant (PMC) for this initiative, which aimed to extend the Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (National Natural Gas Grid) to the North Eastern states of India. The project was part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision to expand cleaner energy use and was under the purview of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, Government of India.

Ravneet Singh, Director of Ace Energy Infrastructure, highlighted the engineering talent and competencies of Indian infrastructure companies in successfully completing this complex HDD crossing milestone. The project encountered technical and logistical challenges, but the team of experts tackled them with precision and dedication.

Tarun Singh, another director of Ace Energy Infrastructure, emphasized their experience in executing challenging projects and their commitment to quality as critical factors in delivering a solution that meets the requirements. The team's expertise, passion, and determination played a significant role in overcoming the challenges faced during the project.

Ajit Kumar Thakur, CEO of Indradhanush Gas Grid Ltd., speaking to Business North East described this accomplishment as monumental, not only for Ace Energy Infrastructure and Indradhanush Gas Grid but also for the country's vision of expanding natural gas connectivity to remote areas and promoting cleaner energy usage.

The project's uniqueness stemmed from the technical challenges involved in drilling as well as the difficult site conditions. The project site was located in highly inaccessible areas in North Lakhimpur and Majuli Districts of Assam, with no access to motorable roads. Access to the Majuli side was achieved through the construction of a temporary cofferdam across the Lohit River, which was washed out by flash floods in early April. Crossing the river itself required a rudimentary ferry that could barely accommodate cars. The limited weather window for equipment mobilization further added to the challenges, as the area was waterlogged between June and October.

Detailed planning played a crucial role in the successful execution of this challenging crossing. The team procured equipment such as tracking and guidance tools, a recycling unit, mud pumps, drill pipes, swivels, and various tooling well in advance. The workforce and methods were planned several months ahead of time to ensure a smooth operation.

Despite facing adverse situations such as the flash flood that washed out the access to the site and breakages in drill strings, the Ace Energy Infrastructure team worked tirelessly day and night for five months without a break. They demonstrated their commitment to excellence and continuously improvised their methods based on feedback from experienced personnel on the ground. The insights and experiences shared by the on-site personnel were crucial for continuous improvement throughout the project execution.

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