Logistics and Practical Aspects of Construction of a Large LAr Tank

in a Remote Location

FLARE WorkshopNovember 5, 2004

Elaine McCluskeyFermilab FESS/Engineering

POTENTIAL CONCERNS

• Proximity to transportation networks• Proximity to existing utilities• Proximity to capable workforce• Proximity to available materials• Duration of construction – need for temporary

facilities• Security issues• Winter weather impact at proposed site• Environmental considerations and processes

PROPOSED SITEabout 30 miles northeast of

Fort Frances, Ontario

Proximity to Transportation Networks

• Important for– Delivery of construction materials– Delivery of argon over extended period– Ability of installation workers (experimenters and

other technical workers) to easily access the site

• Requirements include– At least a state highway-type access road– Possibly a rail access for argon delivery– Be near an airport

Proximity of Existing Utilities

• Utilities likely to be required for this facility include– Electricity– Potable water– Data

• Likely to have first construction package as site preparation to construct access road from nearest main highway and to bring all utilities to site to facilitate temporary construction facilities

Proximity of Capable Workforce

• Site preparation, tank, and associated facility construction will require a diverse workforce skill set– Excavation– Concrete – Steel erection, including possibly specialty tank construction

workers– Pipefitters– Electricians

• Although not in a major metropolitan area, proposed site is near Winnipeg, Duluth, and Thunder Bay, plus in the vicinity of mining/manufacturing operations

• Therefore, qualified workers should be available for this project

Necessity for Temporary Facilities• More remote location may require temporary

housing/offices/security/convenience facilities– Location of Fort Frances 30 miles away is equivalent

to living in Chicago while constructing Fermilab – inconvenient, but doable, eliminating need to construct and manage temporary housing

– Offices for construction companies, project management, security, other entities

– Comfort facilities including toilets and showers

Security Issues• Remote site will require

– Fencing around site and secure access to keep both unwanted wildlife and people out

– May also want to have security services, at least during construction and installation

Winter Weather Impact• Construction in Ontario during winter

– Site utility construction likely not feasible during winter– Concrete construction would likely be halted– Tank welding could continue in winter weather

Environmental Concerns• Environmental Assessment

– Canadian process for requesting use of land requires application for use of land which includes environmental assessment

• Environmental issues may include– Release of argon gas to atmosphere – options for

mitigating this potential hazard include• Berming to contain full volume of gas during release to

atmosphere • Providing double walled containment capable of holding entire

volume to prevent release

– Work in environmentally sensitive areas (wetlands, wildlife habitat) and mitigation thereof. Actual site selection influences size of this impact.

Next Steps• Site Feasibility Study

– Task local engineering firm familiar with the area to do site feasibility assessment, to include

• Soils analysis for structural and environmental • Analysis of nearby utilities and ability to meet project

requirements• Potential routing of roads/rail spurs• Identification of potential environmental concerns• Preliminary cost estimate for site development

• To initiate this requires– Project identification of power/water/site size

requirements– Funding source at approximately $50k