OKM Experts on a Mission: The Allegheny Ground Scan Project
Allegheny Metallurgical engages OKM
In February 2024, our OKM Expert Frank traveled to the east coast of the USA to meet our Specialist Mark from OKM Americas, because they had a common mission: the Allegheny Ground Scan Project. Allegheny Metallurgical is an American company involved in coal mining and the related production of steel for America and the world. They are located in the Allegheny Mountains of West Virginia. They are committed to the conservation and sustainability of their operations in order to minimize their impact on the environment.
Exploring unknown Depths
Allegheny Metallurgical needed Frank's 15 years of expertise, Mark's technical knowledge, and the OKM detectors to solve a problem. 70 years ago, steel pipes were laid to extract natural gas in Volga, West Virginia, where Allegheny Metallurgical is located. These pipes are about 25 cm (9.8 in) in diameter, 100 to 150 m (328 to 492 ft) underground, and run up to a kilometer into the ground. The surface of this open strip mine was removed 60 years ago, so the wellheads for the natural gas pipelines are only 25 to 30 m (82 to 94 ft) underground.
Between and under these pipelines, there is coal more than 300 m (984 ft) deep that Allegheny Metallurgical intends to mine. Before the coal can be mined, the pipelines must be located and their wellheads sealed so as not to damage the coal. The drill heads may be needed in the future to extract natural gas. There are other reasons for this protection: One is to extract the coal more efficiently, and the other is to help Allegheny Metallurgical meet U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requirements.
Technology in Use: OKM Detectors help to locate natural Gas Pipelines
To help Allegheny Metallurgical extract resources from the ground more efficiently, they turned to our OKM team for help. OKM detectors and 3D ground scanners can locate pipes and wellheads underground without digging. Allegheny Metallurgical and Expert Frank met for the first time in January at our OKM RoadShow and discussed the initial details of the technologies, detectors and procedures for the project.
Just a few days later, things got serious: After arriving in Volga, West Virginia, the OKM Experts turned their attention to locating the steel pipes and wealheads. With the OKM Rover C4, OKM Fusion Professional, OKM eXp 6000 and OKM Rover UC 3D ground scanners and the OKM Gepard GPR 3D ground radar in their suitcases, they met with Allegheny Metallurgical to find out on location which detector would be best suited for the project and easiest for the company's staff to operate. With the detectors and the 3D ground scanners, the area was thoroughly searched for the abandoned natural gas wells. The analysis of the measured data showed very significant results: With their help, the wells were successfully located.
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