Project Description A drilling program to support the decommissioning of abandoned wells adjacent to the Hay River in the Northwest Territories was being conducted. Operations required that an ice crossing be constructed over the Hay River to allow for the transportation of drill rigs from Highway 2 onto the site. Objective NOR-EX Engineering was contracted to provide ground penetrating radar (GPR) ice profiling services, an integrity assessment, and to conduct an ice bearing capacity analysis with respect to the transportation of the drilling equipment across the ice. Solution Provided Upon completion of the ice profiling and stress analysis work, NOR-EX Engineering provided the following to enable a safe ice crossing program:

• Onsite quality assurance confirmation of ice integrity and risk assessment advice • Recommendations for operational and quality controls • Provision of ice profiling services using GPR technology • Ice bearing capacity recommendations

Outcome NOR-EX Engineering was able to provide their client and the contractor the reassurance the drill rigs and associated equipment could be safely transported across the river with limited risk to personnel or equipment.

Ice Engineering and Ice Safety Hay River, Northwest Territories

Completion Date February 2015