Winter Hydrovac Support
Continuous crew coverage through a seven-week freeze, down to −34 °C.
What the job required.
Cold-weather daylighting and slot trenching in support of a winter construction program on remote lease roads.
The challenge.
A major pipeline program required continuous daylighting and slot trenching support throughout the peak of the Northern Alberta winter. The sub-zero temperatures drove extreme frost depths, severely complicating ground penetration and vacuum extraction on remote lease roads.
The client operated on a fixed winter construction window, meaning their mechanical crews could not afford any delays waiting on utility exposure. Maintaining water supply, preventing equipment freeze-up, and managing frozen spoil disposal in isolated environments posed constant logistical threats.
Our approach.
ASI deployed specialized, heated hydrovac units equipped to maintain optimal water temperatures and mechanical functionality in extreme cold. On-site water management and tailored spoil handling protocols were established specifically for frozen ground conditions and remote disposal manifests.
Hydrovac crews were placed on a continuous 24/7 rotation to ensure the client's aggressive schedule kept moving regardless of ambient conditions. Every exposed utility was photographed and recorded for depth and offset immediately upon daylighting to prevent subsequent damage.
The result.
The winter hydrovac support maintained continuous crew coverage through a seven-week deep freeze, operating efficiently in temperatures dropping to −34 °C. The program recorded zero lost days to equipment downtime or freeze-up.
The reliable, uninterrupted daylighting allowed the prime contractor to safely advance their mechanical trenching without delay. Every utility exposure was meticulously documented, ensuring the pipeline construction program successfully closed its narrow winter window as planned.
