Lessons Learned from the Multi-year Assessment of the Homestake Transmission Pipeline

摘要

In 2005, a fast-track repair was required for the failed Homestake Pipeline within the 6000-foot long Goddard Tunnel passing under the continental divide in western Colorado. This 66-inch (1680 millimeter) diameter, 56-mile (90-kilometer) long, prestressed concrete and welded steel pipeline traverses Colorado's mountains and provides roughly 60 percent of the raw water for the Cities of Aurora and Colorado Springs. This episode led to a 5-year phased condition assessment on the Homestake Pipeline with the goals of identifying and repairing imminent failure conditions, and producing a 20-year capital improvement plan that the Owner could utilize to extend the service life of this critical facility. An objectives-based program was developed that was revised yearly based upon results, incorporating new technologies as they became operational. In the process our team employed 7 different assessment techniques from 4 separate firms, responded to one catastrophic failure, and developed a risk/consequence decision methodology for prioritizing rehabilitations and improvements.