SURF Operations team goes above and beyond to safely complete dewatering repairs during cold snap
When a wintertime stint of sub-zero weather at SURF coincided with unexpected repairs that led to a frozen pipe, the Operations Team, which maintains the 370 miles of underground tunnels and shafts and 223 surface acres at SURF, sprang into action.
King Brown, a hoist operator at SURF who is also a certified pipe welder, was on a day off when he got the call. A pipe had ruptured near the top of the Ross Shaft; his expertise was needed to complete the repair and get the water flowing again.
Brown was supported by the entire operations team at SURF, who worked together to safely address the pipe repairs. The culmination of events included a series of ruptures during an unusual stretch of extreme cold, the pipe repairs limited water flow and caused a pipe to freeze.
Brown played a crucial role in the repairs, and his welding skills saved the day. The scope of the work was extensive, involving inspection and repair of dewatering lines and pumps from the Deep Well Pool, some 6000 feet below ground, all the way up to the surface and through the water treatment plant.
The work was completed safely and efficiently thanks to the dedication of everyone involved.
“We couldn't be more fortunate to have talented, dedicated staff (several came in on their days off) who took immediate action and overcame major obstacles to SAFELY conduct necessary repairs on the dewatering column in the Ross Shaft,” said Wendy Straub, the chief operating officer at SURF. “Working at heights in the shaft under extreme cold temperatures, and completing technical tasks is challenging work, and not for the faint of heart. The repairs of the Ross pump column exemplify all of our core values in action - AWESOME!”
The world-class science underway at SURF is possible thanks to the dedication of our operations team. On the job day and night, they have an excellent track record of safely identifying, solving, and mitigating challenges in all types of weather conditions.
Special thanks to the following: Ross Shaft crew and hoist operators, including Mike Johnson, Blaine Burleson, Blake Burtzlaf; Jake Davis, the Yates Shaft crew and hoist operators, including Dan Pierce, Russ Bauer, and Ashana Baumberger; the engineering team and multiple technicians, including Tim Baumgartner, Rich Ellison, Shane Heydon and Leonard Burtzlaff; Chad Knight and the security team, who assisted with shuttling; Jason Cannot and others assisted with ventilation adjustments; David Johnson and watertreatment plant operators, alongside members of the Environmental, Safety, and Health Team, who all worked together on both day and night shifts over the very cold weekend to safely solve the problem and get the facility back online.
