The Corrib gas project:the deposition of 450,000 tonnes of peat

摘要

As part of Shell's Corrib gas project to construct an onshore gas terminal at Bellanaboy,North-west Mayo,Ireland it was necessary to remove approximately 450,000 m3 of peat from the terminal footprint.The excavation works were carried out by a civil engineering contractor (Roadbridge Ltd.) and this excavated peat was then transported by a road haulier (Iggy Madden Transport Ltd.) a distance of 11km by road to a specially constructed deposition site owned and operated by Bord na Mona.This peat deposition site,where the removed peat was received,re-loaded for internal site haulage and finally placed,is located on industrial cutaway peatlands in Srahmore,near Bangor-Erris in Co.Mayo,Ireland.The peat deposition process was included as part of the planning application for Shell E&P Ireland Ltd (SEPIL) to construct a gas terminal for the reception and separation of gas from the Corrib gas field.The deposition was governed by numerous planning conditions,also separate conditions imposed as part of the waste licence as issued by the EPA.The peat was received at Srahmore and spread over low areas (bays) to depths of on average 1.4m - 1.8m.The deposited peat was then profiled allowing for water run off.Following deposition activities and the implementation of the agreed monitoring programme vegetation was allowed to establish naturally,primarily soft rush (Juncus effusus) as well as other native peatland species.The revegetation process was rapid and this helped in the stabilisation process leading to a very low risk to the overall stability of the deposited peat.