CNRL Horizon Oilsands Project
The end deliverables were 12 km of 260-kV lattice double-circuit transmission line, two 260/72/34.5 kV greenfield substations and a 34.5 kV plant distribution system. Valard was responsible for planning and scheduling, preliminary design, design of the plant distribution system, supplier and subcontractor selection, surveying and geotechnical work, procurement, pre-construction, construction and project close-out activities.
Specific to the substation work, Valard terminated 260-kV transmission lines at two major substations and intertwined them. Valard also constructed a number of smaller distribution substations on site. The work included steel erection, equipment installation and station commissioning.
As part of the construction of the transmission line, distribution system and substations, Valard was responsible for quality assurance and quality control. Valard provided a full-time Site Project Manager and a Health and Safety Officer.
Client: CNRL
Location: Fort McMurray Region, Alberta
Dates: 2006-2007
Services: Construction
Victor Diamond Mine Substation
Construct a new substation and modify two others as part of a turnkey EPC project for De Beers in northern Ontario. Valard also engineered, procured and constructed 415 km of 115-kV transmission line from Otter Rapids to the De Beers Victor Mine Site on the James Bay lowlands. Additionally, Valard installed 270 km of fibre optic cable.
The terrain across northern Ontario proved to be very challenging. Equipment and material needed to be transported by barge along the coastline. Due to the deep swamp in the area (up to 5 ft), construction had to be undertaken in winter and transportation was dependent on a network of ice roads. As part of this project, Valard established excellent relationships with the five neighbouring First Nations communities, including training many community members in power line work.
The project was constructed over three winter construction seasons from 2006 to 2008.
Client: De Beers
Location: Northern Ontario
Dates: December to March 2006, 2007 and 2008
Services: EPC