Innovative on site solutions

Recently the Electrical and Instrumentation (E&I) team were behind an innovative solution on –site, at the BHP South Flank Project, with a subcontractor which saw approximately 77 kilometres of large high voltage (HV) cable installed by a specialised cable installation truck, saving over 9,000 hours worked on the inflow project! 

“This innovative solution on site ensured greater productivity, improved health, safety and environment (HSE) results and created a quality outcome for the customer. The reduction in hours worked meant that it saved over 100 days for the project schedule,” commented Padraig Flanagan E&I Superintendent.  

The custom truck had a large cable drum (up to 20 tonnes) fitted and unrolled as the truck drove along the installation route. The large motorised cable drum stand, feeder arms, rollers and motors are monitored by various sensors, allowing the drum to be unreeled at the speed of the truck’s movement and adjusted accordingly, meaning the cable is laid into its final position as opposed to being pulled along the entire length. 

Where the cable was required to be partially installed through structure, this section would be winched by traditional methods.  

“The removal of the winch aspect along two kilometres of work fronts significantly reduced the risk to personnel from a HSE perspective as well as improving the project schedule,” said Padraig. 

Well done to the team for solving problems on site with such innovative and efficient solutions!