NEWS 2018

Posted January 18, 2018

Event: January 29, 2018

GSE: Mr. Pete Barlow, M.Sc., P.Eng., BGC Engineering - Reactivation of an Ancient Landslide Pipeline Rupture and Mitigation

Location: Faculty Club, University of Alberta (11435 Saskatchewan Drive)

Time: 5:30pm Registration, 6:00pm Dinner, 6:30pm Presentation

Cost: $30 Members, $40 Non-Members, $10 Students
(At the door) $35 Members, $45 Non-Members, $15 Students

Please register for this event using the Google Form below by January 27, 2018.

Land disturbance associated with the progressive expansion of a major pipeline and power corridor, and extensive timber harvesting triggered the reactivation of ground movement of a massive, ancient deep-seated landslide that threatened six major transmission pipelines, including a loss of containment in one of the pipelines. The disturbances were relatively subtle in comparison to the size and depth of the slide, which highlights the extreme sensitivity of the slope. Given the very shallow 4.5 degree slope inclination and the lack of any surface expression of distress over most of the slope area, this case history underscores the importance of considering regionally specific geological conditions with pipeline geohazard evaluations. Extensive measures were implemented to stabilize and manage the landslide included a series of targeted surface and ground water control measures that minimized environmental impact and produced an approximate 100-fold reduction in movement rates.

Mr. Pete Barlow, M.Sc., P.Eng. is a graduate from the geotechnical program at the U of A, where he obtained an MSc. in 1986. He has been working as a consulting engineer since then on a wide range of geotechnical projects, mainly in the mining, pipeline and transportation industries. The application of geotechnical engineering to the pipeline industry has been a particular area of focus in the past several years, including trenchless crossings, slope stability and geohazards. He is currently a Principal Engineer with BGC Engineering, working out of their Edmonton office, on projects in Canada, the US and South America.