Newsletter Dec 2014
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NEWSLETTER www.gdiving.com Volume 3 | Issue 4 December | 2014 WATER TREATMENT POND | HAZMAT DIVING Global was contracted by Central Global mobilized a 5-man team comprised project. Environmental Inc. to provide of Christopher Amberg, Jim Givan, George Kyle Watson, Global’s project manager, hazmat diving services to remove Marin, Kyle Watson, and Jeremy Zimmer reported that “the most persistent 50 drums of hazardous materials to Eielson AFB. Because of the unknown contaminants that we encountered were contents of the drums, Global spent the first asphalt emulsions. The emulsions were very from a water treatment pond day of the project setting up a thorough located at Eielson Air Force Base viscous, and once they found a home on the decontamination station and a sturdy diver’s dress, it was very difficult to get off.” outside of North Pole, AK. ingress/egress ladder for the diver. They Crews used diesel fuel to cut the asphalt and The water treatment pond was used as a deployed oil containment boom around the followed and followed it with degreaser to dumping ground many years ago. Previous perimeter of the work area and briefed the clean the diesel off of the diver’s hazmat suit. client on the details of the operation. sonar imaging indicated that there may Throughout the project the decontamination have been as many as 200 drums of various Once the first diver entered the water process was given high focus. The hazmat hazardous materials in the pond. treatment pond, it didn’t take long to suit ended up having to be disposed determine that the initial estimate of 200 of at the end of the project, but daily drums was very conservative and that the decontamination was necessary to prevent IN THIS quantity of drums likely exceeded 1,000. the spread of contaminants around the job Crews quickly developed a system whereby site in between dives. Issue shoreside personnel would give an empty salvage drum to the diver who would then 1 HAZMAT Diving load a hazardous material barrel into the 2 Working in the Gulf of Mexico salvage drum and place a lid on it. A lift bag would next be installed to float the drum to 2 Cresta Dam Sediment Removal the surface. A small boat would then tow 2 Annual Employee Awards the lift-bagged drum to the shore where a 3 Ongoing Remediation Efforts waiting excavator lifted the drum from the water and placed it in a drum storage area. 3 Oregon Anchor Recovery As this project was a preliminary phase to 3 President’s Message a larger remediation project, Global was 4 Global Announcements tasked with removing 50 drums, which was completed in five days. Decontamination visit us at www.gdiving.com of the diver, other personnel, equipment T: 206.623.0621 | F: 206.932.9036 and tools was the largest challenge of the GLOBAL NEWSLETTER 2 8,000 FEET OF SEAWATER Drum Gate Sediment Removal Global Diving recently completed a rigorous process for the Cresta Dam effort. As at Rock The BW Pioneer is moored in the Gulf of underwater inspection and maintenance Creek Dam, divers conducted penetration Mexico at a depth of 8,000 feet. It is the only program on the Cresta Dam drum gate dives through 48” inlet piping into two Floating Production Storage and Offload system located in Plumas County, California. drum gate chambers measuring 28x124 (FPSO) in the Gulf of Mexico, and it’s the The work was a significant part of an feet, removing accumulated sediment first of its kind built with a Disconnectable inspection protocol developed following from the chambers using a 4” diesel suction Submerged Turret Production Mooring modifications performed to both the Rock dredge. System. This system allows the FPSO to Creek and Cresta Dam drum gates in 1999- In contrast to Rock Creek Dam, however, the disconnect from the buoy and head to 2000. The primary maintenance task was material was transported via hard and soft sheltered waters in the event of a hurricane. removal of sediment accumulation in the plumbing over several hundred feet along In November, Global was asked to perform drum gate chambers that presented a the crest of the dam to two 18,000 gallon a 5-year UWILD on the vessel and an hazard to normal and safe gate operation. settling tanks stage topside. The modified extensive UT study on the submerged The project was unique and challenging treatment process separated the sediment turret. Diving was to be conducted from due to strict environmental regulatory from the water using a polymer additive, the deck of the Pioneer during production constraints. This required separation of the returning the water to the reservoir after with only 2 available locations to set up the sediment suspended in the dredge outflow, running it through a weir tank system and IMCA dive spread. Global and its crew were disposal of the retained sediment offsite, polishing filters. The retained sediment was up to the task, designing and engineering a and treatment of the retained effluent to the removed from the tanks by a vac-truck and solution to an unusual problem. degree allowing its return to the reservoir transported to a disposal site 12 miles away. free of turbidity and retained solids. The crew consisted of: Mike Herness, Jim Both drum gates were fully cleared of Givan, Paul Holden, Colins Goertzen, Shaun The initial phase of the project was sediment, and the project was completed Roberts, Kelly Aguero, Cale Hoffman, Matt performed in the fall of 2013 at Rock Creek under budget and on time. The two year Saenz, Kalin Martushev, Jacob Bannach, Dam with a large, barge based water drum gate maintenance effort at Rock Creek Dominik Miles and John Lapeyrouse. Many treatment system. Lessons learned during and Cresta Dam resulted in development thanks to all of the office staff who helped the Rock Creek Dam project resulted of a proven process that will be used as a with the project. in significant changes to the treatment template for future projects. Thank you to the crew for all of their hard work - Spencer Dell, Brian Donnalley, Dave PRESENTING THE EMPLOYEE AWARDS........... Gill, Fred Foster, Rick Heaslet, Kevin Severns, Joel Silver, Jared Soares, and Victor Tucker. Global has always—and will always— Since 2006, Global has awarded the unique place the safety of its employees in the ‘Yoke’ to an employee who goes above highest regard. We are proud to announce and beyond. The Yoke Award plaque NEW Resource Calendar the recipients of the annual Safety Awards appropriately reads, “Presented annually for their participation in maintaining to the employee who best exemplifies This is a new online employee resource for the highest safety standards on current the Global spirit by their willingness to upcoming Global events. Listings include projects and helping ensure that it is shoulder the load.” safety meetings, training opportunities, HR improved on future endeavors. enrollment dates, office closures, parties, It comes with great pride that Global and other important Global proceedings. Alaska - Zach Coots announces the Yoke Award winner is The employee resource calendar is California - Joel Silver Randy Baron, the Pacific Northwest Dive Operations Manager. available on the Global website for all Gulf Coast - Shaun Roberts employees to access information. PNW - Alex Hess www.gdiving.com/calendar 3 OREGON ANCHOR RECOVERY Makah Nation: During installation of a prototype wave experienced dive team completed repairs Remediation Efforts on power generation facility in the high swell and rigging with only eight dives from Curtin area of Oregon’s Pacific coast, a 600-ton Maritime’s derrick and accommodation Tatoosh & Waadah anchor was damaged and misplaced in barge. Islands 220 feet of seawater. Located two miles Utilizing Global’s lifting system in offshore of the rugged coast in one of the combination with a tug, the anchor was For several years, Global has worked closely most challenging marine environments, safely raised to the surface and delivered with the Makah Nation to remediate the anchor consisted of a massive concrete to Coos Bay. Thank you to Bill Akan, Matt abandoned military structures and soil cylinder that was 32 feet in diameter with a Ballard, Spencer Dell, Dave Edmisten, Dan contamination on tribal lands. Over three height of 27 feet and had multiple internal Gilchrist, Chris Hume, Pete Jobes, John weeks this year, Global demolished 3 tanks. Lapeyrouse, Andy Lawrence, Sterling Ulrich, munitions bunkers and 5 other structures; Global was called in to retrieve the anchor. A and Erik Woltjen. removing several hundred cubic yards of detailed technical work plan was developed lead-and-petroleum contaminated soil from to repair piping, lighten the anchor using Tatoosh and Waadah Islands. The work was compressed air, and lift it with a custom- conducted on both islands concurrently, designed rigging system featuring heave and all materials were moved by helicopter. compensation necessary for operating in Tatoosh Island is a rugged island off Cape the constant sea swells. Special laboratory Flattery while Waadah is a heavily-forested testing was done to prove that our island at the mouth of Neah Bay. Both methodology would work. Despite the islands have major cultural significance for severe time restrictions of surface-supplied the tribe. mixed-gas diving, Global’s efficient and During WWII, the US military had a considerable presence on these islands. PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE BY DEVON GRENNAN This project is part of an ongoing effort to return these islands to their natural As we reach the end of another busy year, I regional equipment back to the West Coast, state by removing legacy structures and want to take a moment and thank everyone we still have SAT IV and a full IMCA surface/ contaminated soil.