DRILLING 3 PIPELINES UNDER
COOS BAY, WATER, SEWER, GAS
This is a story by George E. Gebhardt on drilling 3 pipelines under Coos Bay. All lines start on the Empire side and end up on the North Spit. I followed the 5+ months when Henkel-McCoy struggled to put the big 24" O.D. neoprene water pipeline and the 12" I.D. natural gas line, 3,400' under the Bay. Both lines ended up along the NORTH fence of the former Anadramous Fish Farm on the North Spit. The Coos Bay North Bend Waterboard reported the total cost of the water line, including engineering and drilling was $800,000. When connected on the North Spit this will allow two things: An Alternate or dual water source to augment the 16" line that now comes across the McCullough Bridge and enhance fire fighting capabilities.

Nothing was reported on the cost of the 12" natural gas line which runs parallel to the water line. This was an independent project of NW Natural Gas. The final ends of the pipelines shown in the pictures are now connected and buried but not yet in service. Henkel-McCoy completed their job in March 2,005 and moved out.

The City fathers hired Mead Const. from Michigan to bring in their horizontal drill rig in April 2,005. They set up at the foot of Newmark Ave about 150' South of the other two completed drill holes. They did the job in less than 1 month. Bravo! By directional drilling, this line came out on the SOUTH side of the former Fish Farm. Total estimated cost for the City's 8" I.D. neoprene "raw" sewer line was $674,000. This will save a lot of money in the future as it will NOT be necessary to bulild a sewerage treatment plant on the North Spit, as it develops. The line was paid for by multiple partners who care about the Coos Area and see the need to create well paying jobs.

The same group was in hopes they could drill a fourth, 24" line to carry City wastewater from the Main Land to the North Spit and thence to the existing ocean outfall that was used by Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill. However, the bid for this line was $1,638,500 which was way over budget and therefore the plan was scrapped.

Why am I writing all this? First of all, the public should know about the cost and the terrific effort of punching three pipelines, 3,400' long and deep beneath the bottom of the Bay. Most important they should know what a great benefit these three pipelines will serve in bringing new industry of all kinds to the North Spit. Those who arranged for the drilling and the completion of the project should be highly commended for their diligence and foresight. George E. Gebhardt Phone 541-888-5144