John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project. January 2016 Community Construction Update Report #31

Transcription

1 John Hart Generating Station Replacement Project January 2016 Community Construction Update Report #31 Prepared by: Stephen Watson, BC Hydro (O) or (C)

2 2 Jan 10

3 Project Status Pole relocation on access road to new surge tank site completed. Work beginning on developing the surge tank site in preparation for excavation, which is set to begin in February; Excavation of operating gate structure at the intake underway and expected to be complete by end of February; Cofferdam dewatering underway. A water leak (a typical occurrence during this process) was found and is being addressed prior to completion of full dewatering; Frontier-Kemper continues drilling and blasting within the surge chamber, completing about 50 metres of 93 metres; The tailrace excavation is now to 21.5 metres, with another 19.5 metres to go. The next rock level to be excavated is expected to begin in early February; Excavation of the third rock level of the powerhouse is nearing completion. 22 metres of vertical rock removed with 18 metres remaining. This is where the main floor of the powerhouse will be. Excavation of the fourth rock level is expected to begin in early February; and Adit D (connecting power tunnel to main access tunnel) completed at end of January. The Economic Review did a story on the Site C and John Hart projects with the link below: er_issue_4_jan_2016_2_/37?e=0

4 Project Schedule For all the tunnelling works: Complete: Service Tunnel; Complete: Adit B; Complete: Adit C; Complete: Adit D; Spring 2016: Main access tunnel to reach powerhouse; Spring 2016: Powerhouse excavation to be completed; Fall 2016: Water intake works drilling completed; Winter 2016: Surge tank tunnel excavation to power tunnel; Early 2017: Tailrace tunnel planned to be completed; and Late 2017: Power tunnel planned to be completed. View from the powerhouse cavern and what will be the main access tunnel entrance.

5 Construction Pictures Cofferdam 5 With the cofferdam essentially complete, this is the final picture from this vantage point. Jan 10 A new camera vantage point has been created to better capture the downstream work.

6 Construction Pictures John Hart Dam Area The before: February Jan 20

7 Construction Pictures Downstream Work Area Below John Hart Dam Area 7 This is a new camera vantage. The comprehensive photo will be able to capture, over time, the full development of the new water intake works to the tunnel and the water release valve that will provide the fish habitat flows (currently being provided by the spillway gates) down Elk Falls Canyon. Jan 24

8 Construction Pictures Downstream of John Hart Dam 8

9 Construction Pictures Downstream of John Hart Dam 9

10 Construction Pictures Surge Tank Area 10 The two-lane access road is complete, including the moving of our power poles. Excavation of the overburden or soils for the surge tank area is underway.

11 Construction Pictures Powerhouse Cavern 11

12 Construction Pictures Powerhouse Cavern 12 Crews began work on the main access tunnel from the powerhouse. From Adit D, crews are also working on the main access tunnel to the powerhouse. Work is now happening on the main access tunnel in three different areas.

13 Construction Pictures Powerhouse Cavern 13

14 Construction Pictures Surge Chamber 14 Moving down on the second level within the Surge Chamber, on the downstream side of the powerhouse.

15 Construction Pictures Main Access Tunnel Shows the realignment tunnel on the left and the old route to the right. Probe holes are drilled ahead in advance to confirm solid rock mass. 15

16 16

17 Construction Pictures Tailrace 17

18 Testing & Modelling Of The Turbines Alstom/GE, InPower BC s turbine/generator supplier, is testing and modelling the conditions for the three new units. The testing is proceeding well at a specialized centre in France; Tests look at the efficiency, cavitation (formation of vapor pockets see small column of white water on the right), and pressure and pressure fluctuation under various water flows to mimic the conditions in the new tunnel and generating station; The small-scale model turbine blades are shown with the yellow arrow; and The steel pipe at the bottom right is called the draft tube, where the water flows from the spinning turbine (strobe lights give the turbines a stationary appearance).

19 Environment Update Maintaining water standards during the dewatering of the cofferdam has been a critical environmental focus for the month. To stay within turbidity requirements during the quick removal of water to determine the leak and make repairs, given the volumes of water pumped out, the project team discharged water through one of the three John Hart penstocks. The pumped water was very small in comparison to the penstock water flows to the turbines. The site may have been closed down over the holiday weeks, but that didn t stop some special visitors from dropping in. Sightings of an owl and wolf tracks in the snow were reported by the small staff that stayed on during the shut-down period. Looking back on 2015, Hatfield Consultants had an opportunity to review all the work in environmental management for the year. What were their greatest successes? Making sure everyone who is working on the project is included in how we all can help with environmental protection, said Hatfield s Environment Manager Amber Ashenhurst. Starting with environmental training with the new-worker orientation, to lunch-hour learning sessions, award stickers and solution-building as a team keeping the environment at the forefront of everyone s mind led to their highest achievements. 19 Dewatering (pump and line) the cofferdam water.

20 People Profile - Francis Gonella About Francis Background: With a Bachelor of Engineering in electrical engineering from the University of Victoria (specializing in electrical energy systems, electromagnetics and photonics) Francis had worked with Western Forest Products in Nanaimo, Capital Region Emergency Services Telecommunications in Victoria and Ballard Power Systems in Burnaby before joining this project in October Home: Born in Quebec City, his family eventually moved to California. At 16, Francis began moving around to play competitive ice hockey, spending time in places like Montana, Campbell River, Powell River, and North Dakota. Hobbies: Francis primary hobby is playing sports - mainly ice hockey but he also enjoys mountain biking, fishing and camping. Project Responsibility: As Field Engineer for ASL-JV, Francis responsibilities range from site work preparation and execution, procurement of materials, to communication with sub-contractors. Working on the John Hart project has been a great opportunity for me to step out of my comfort zone and expand my knowledge in the area of civil construction. I am very eager to see what challenges the next few years will bring.

21 Construction Point Of Interest Each month, BC Hydro and InPower BC will provide a construction fact, occurrence, or situation. Cleaning debris from the John Hart dam water intake. On January 19, crews raked off and removed the grassy and woody debris that was building up on the water intake trash racks. The debris, if left to accumulate, can cause pressure problems within the penstocks that deliver water to the generating station. To safely remove the debris, the amount of water drawn into the penstocks must be reduced; and BC Hydro has a fish flow target in the Campbell River below the generating station. With only about 40 cubic metres per second coming out of the generating station during the one-day cleaning process, the target river flow of about 85 m3/s was provided by spilling about 45 m3/s down Elk Falls Canyon. The spill down the canyon and over Elk Falls was about 10 times the normal flow rate (4 m3/s). CHEK and CTV- VI aired stories on the Jan 19 activities and viewer reactions to the Elk Falls flow. Story link: s.ca/those-viewingelk-falls-in-campbellriver-during-bchydro-work-getquite-the-show /

22 Construction Point Of Interest Each month, BC Hydro and InPower BC will provide a construction fact, occurrence, or situation. Cleaning debris from the John Hart dam water intake cubic metres per second spill down Elk Falls Canyon.