CORRIB FIELD DEVELOPMENT LANDFALL & PULL-IN SERVICES

Document No: TW-MS-001 Dredging and Backfilling

D1 Issue for Construction Issue for Approval C1 Issue for Comments B1 A1 Issue Internal Review Rev Reason for change

02-06-2005 27-05-2005 30-04-2005 14-04-2005 Date

SFU SFU SFU SFU Prepared by

DWR/GSP GSP GSP GSP QA/QC Check

JGO JGO JGO JGO HSE Check

HAB HAB HAB HAB Approved by

Company

Contractor: Tideway BV Marine and Offshore Contractors

Company: Allseas Construction Contractors S.A.

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A. Landfall and Pull-In Services Corrib Field Development Project

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Dredging & Backfilling TW-MS-001 Page 2 of 5

1. DREDGING
This document is a synopsis of the full Dredging and Backfilling Procedure, where contractual responsibilities and technical details are described in full. There will be two operational methods for trench excavation, one for the nearshore, using marine equipment, and one for the intertidal-zone using land based equipment. The trenching and backfilling works described in this document were undertaken in 2002 except for 180 metres of rock material. PURPOSE The pipe is to be laid in an excavated trench 3m deep, 3m wide and then covered with the excavated material. Soft material and the more brittle rock will be excavated by backhoe, the harder rock (180 metres) will need to be fractured by mechanical rock breaking. Nearshore and foreshore (from 200 untill 1400 m offshore) Broadhaven Bay located in Broadhaven Bay Special Area of Conservation (SAC 472) Nearshore trench Kp 82.100 (-11.00m LAT) - Kp 83.200 Inter tidal Zone trench Kp 83.200 Kp 83.400 The trench will be 3m deep and 3m wide (at bottom level), top width depending on side slope (typical side slope in rock 1:0, in sand 1:2).
Typical Cross Section Rock Area

LOCATION

SIZE OF TRENCH

3.0m

0.5m

3 Actual Fracture Profile Theoretical Profile Overdredge Level

Typical Cross Section clay/sand area

3.0m Natural Post

0.3m

Actual Dredging Profile Collapse after dredging Dredged profile Theoretical Profile Overdredge Level

TIMESCALE

Marine operations will be carried out continuously, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The maximum time scale for this operation is 12 weeks, estimate in worse weather scenario. This is based on a conservative estimate of 1

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A. Landfall and Pull-In Services Corrib Field Development Project

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working day in 3 due to weather lay off. TECHNIQUE The marine excavation will be carried out using a Backhoe Dredger. Material will be excavated by bucket and placed in a split hopper barge. The excavated material will be transported in the barge to a designated temporary storage area where the material will be deposited (location of storage indicated on attached map). This storage area is within the wayleave and consists of a number of stock piles. The position of these stockpiles will be recorded on a gridded map with GPS so that during reinstatement material can be returned to its original location. Rock section (200m) will be fractured using a self elevating platform mounted with two long-reach excavators. These excavators are equipped with hydraulic hammers to fracture the material. Upon fracturing the backhoe dredger will dredge the rock. The rock material will be separately stored from the sand material.

After pipe installation the trench will be backfilled using the same equipment. The sand material will be used for backfill in the originate sand areas and the rock material will be used for backfill in the originate rock areas.

EQUIPMENT

Vessels required for work on the Nearshore trench will be a Backhoe Dredger (Big Boss) and a Split Hopper Barge (DI 68) under assistance of a Dredgehelper (MCS Elly). Mechanical Rock Fracturing operations will be undertaken from Self Elevating Platform Vagant. Two long-reach excavators equipped with a hydraulic hammer will fracture the rock. The dredging pontoon cannot work in a swell of over 1.0 m. This is the only physical constraint to the excavation of the nearshore trench. In the intertidal-zone high tide will restrict activity. Refuelling is restricted to good weather conditions. Archaeological restrictions can arise due to the need for investigations. If sea mammals such as cetaceans are present work may be restricted Work will continue 24hours. Restrictions arising from this include noise

RESTRICTIONS

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A. Landfall and Pull-In Services Corrib Field Development Project

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DISTURBANCE FACTOR

levels and lighting directions. Movement of benthic material will inevitably release sediment into the water column, and this will have an adverse impact on benthic organisms. However, this is an area with a toplayer of fine, mobile, clean sand, which, by its very nature supports a reduced benthic community. The whole environment is so mobile that it is anticipated the disturbance from mechanical rock breaking and excavation will have less effect than a storm. Noise and general presence of vessels will disturb fish, cetaceans and sea birds and displace them from this part of their feeding grounds. However, the area of activity is such a very small proportion of the general habitat that this is not considered a significant impact. Noise and light pollution from machinery may impact upon local residents. During the course of the work there is a risk of minor leaks of oil/diesel from equipment.

ENVRONMENTAL IMPACT

MITIGATION

The work needs to be completed in as quick as possible to confine activities to the minimal landtake. When night time work is necessary as in the case of dredging and rock fracturing, lights will be pointed away from residences and roadways as much as is practicable. Lights will also be directed with shields. However, as the safety of the crew is paramount some disturbance may be unavoidable. A noise survey will be carried out before and during work, on the site and near local residences to measure/assess the level and impact of these activities. Noise reducers are installed and the construction crew will be induction to reduce noise emission as much as possible. Pre-entry ecological surveys (including birds and cetaceans) have been carried out and any constraints identified. An ecological survey will be carried out as part of an ongoing monitoring program put in place by the Client. In the event of an oil/diesel spill the Offshore and Onshore Emergency Procedures will function as appropriate. Spill kits are available onboard and a special ship oil pollution prevention program is in place. The crew will be regularly trained in oil spill emergency procedures. Fuel tanks are not located at the outer side of the pontoon. Refuelling will be done in good weather conditions Proper fendering will be in place for mooring and unmooring of support vessels. Maintenance, audits and inspection plans are in place to detect arising oil leaks Marine archaeological monitoring is in place Similar dredging works took place in the same area in 2002 and was conducted under the supervision of marine archaelogists. In the event of an oil/diesel spill the Offshore and Onshore Emergency

CONTINGENCY

Allseas Construction Contractors S.A. Landfall and Pull-In Services Corrib Field Development Project

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REINSTATEMENT

Procedures will function as appropriate. The excavated fine and coarse materials will be replaced over the trench in the position from which it has been excavated. No spoil heaps will be left presence on the seabed. Re-colonisation of the substrate and animal species will occur naturally in a very short time span in these habitats.