Appin Priority Sewerage Program

The Priority Sewerage Program (PSP) for the town of Appin, located south of Campbelltown, involved the construction of a new pressure sewerage reticulation and transfer system to service approximately 550 properties. The project required UEA to deliver a number of significant bores totalling 5,482 metres.

Scope of Works

The project scope included the installation of a transfer main pipeline as part of the Priority Sewerage Program. UEA was responsible for completing 13 directional bores across multiple locations, ensuring precise alignment and structural integrity. Collaboration with the PSP was essential to the design of the bores that met both hydraulic and construction constraints. Given the challenging geological conditions, UEA carefully selected and deployed its drilling rigs to meet project requirements while minimising disruptions to the surrounding environment. A total of 13 bores ranging from 157 metres up to 845 metres were completed with the majority of the shots over 450 metres in length.

Challenges

One of the primary challenges of this project was the geological complexity of the site. The majority of drilling operations took place in shale and rock, which required the use of specialised equipment to achieve successful bore completions. Additionally, with bore lengths that exceeded 450 metres in most locations, careful planning and execution were necessary to ensure accuracy and efficiency.

Coordinating multiple drilling rigs across different locations added another layer of complexity. UEA deployed its entire fleet of directional drilling rigs to accommodate to accommodate the varying ground conditions, which ensured smooth project execution, from a Ditch Witch AT3020 (7.5 tonne) up to a Vermeer D300 x 500 (136 tonne),. Despite these challenges, the team successfully managed operations with minimal disruption to the surrounding area, ensuring that work progressed on schedule and to the required specifications.

Completion

The final directional bore for the project was completed in February 2012, marking a significant milestone in the Appin Wastewater Scheme. The longest bore, measuring 845 metres, was completed in mid-January 2012. With the successful completion of all 13 bores, the project demonstrated UEA’s expertise in managing complex directional drilling operations while maintaining efficiency and precision.