Marine Diving Solutions Projects

Project Summary: The Brazos River Authority owns and operates Morris Sheppard Dam, which forms Possum Kingdom Reservoir, which is a water supply reservoir, and is located in Palo Pinto County in Texas. Morris Sheppard Dam was constructed in 1941 and consists of an Ambursen flat-slab and buttress dam structure with a service spillway, earthen embankment section, emergency spillway, intake structure in addition to a 78 inch and 42 inch controlled outlet conduit. The service spillway section consists of nine bear-trap (roof weir) gates that pass floodwater downstream. Under normal conditions, the spillway gates are hydraulically operated by reservoir head. Reservoir water is allowed to flow into the gate chamber beneath the gate, making it buoyant, then the gate leaves are unlatched and lowered to release the water. To assist with gate operations during low reservoir conditions (i.e., elevation 995 and below), a spillway pump and piping system was utilized to supply pressurized water into the underside of the gates to assist in lowering and raising the gates. Due to modifications to the spillway piping in the dam (as part of a previous project), the spillway pump and piping system were disconnected. This project consisted of the supply and installation of new pipeline, valves, and conduit, providing temporary electrical services and performing final testing.

Project Summary: Marine Diving Solutions mobilized to Stillwater Reservoir near Yampa, Colorado to replace hydraulic lines and perform hydraulic upgrades. The existing hydraulic cylinder lines and vent pipe and supports were removed. MDS provided and installed 3” 316 stainless steel encasement conduit ranging from 6’ to 20’ lengths and installed them within feet downstream of the slide gates and ran the pipe next to the HPU building. MDS also provided and installed flexible hydraulic hose with 316 stainless fittings for the transitions. The existing HPU was replaced with 2 new HPU units and a bypass connection. Hydraulic oil was provided for the hydraulic cylinders, new lines and HPU.

Project Summary: Marine Diving Solutions was awarded this contract to provide and install one hydraulic power unit (HPU) on the 1,337’ elevation level of the intake tower and incorporate the unit both hydraulically and electrically to the existing HPU system. The HPU was to be designed and fabricated to conform to the specifications of the contract as well as be installed into the existing unit on site and tested. Project installation was scheduled for winter months for minimum environmental impact. Due to aging infrastructure of gate cylinders, MDS was issued a modification to our contract for the rehabilitation of E1 gate cylinder.

Project Summary: Marine Diving Solutions mobilized to Yamcolo Reservoir near Yampa, Colorado to replace the 36” butterfly valve.  This project involved setting up a bypass system and erosion and sediment control plan to de-water the area for the removal and new installation of the 36” butterfly valve. Additional work included repairing the concrete wall and steel pipe coal tar interior lining.

Project Summary: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Albuquerque District (USACE) created this contract to make routine maintenance repairs to the conduits at Abiquiu Dam and Lake Project during the winter months (November 2023 to February 2024), outside of the irrigation season. The contract involved debris removal within submerged bulkhead slots and immediate upstream area, placement of bulkheads, constructing flow diversion and environmental controls, removal of corrosion or other surface contaminants on steel liner/emergency gates/service gates, application of new coating system, and metals repairs. The conduit is a permit-required confined space while work is performed, therefore MDS provided a stand-by rescue crew during the blasting and coating procedures and complied with USACE lockout/tagout procedures per the contract. The inlet structure was fully submerged so the MDS dive team cleared the slots before the 12,000lb and 13,500lb bulkhead placements to ensure proper seating. The contract also involved providing and operating a hydraulic pump with flexible hosing and connections that adapt to the existing sluicing gates and maintain operation from the surface. MDS created a coffer dam diversion upstream of the emergency gates that directs 50cfs flows to the opposite side of work being performed and created a dry work environment for the side where work was performed for a dry work environment that was humidity controlled. Due to impacts to the Rio Chama and downstream water users, complete dam closures were limited to ensure project timelines.
 
 

Project Description: The Low Flow Outlet Works Project at De Cordova Bend Dam (Lake Granbury) involved replacement and repair of various low flow outlet sluice gates and ancillary components to better meet operational requirements. The project included the following: replacing two (2) cast iron slide gates with stainless-steel, installation of a new hydraulic power unit, recoating components of gates 1-6, gate control programming and integration activities and replacing hydraulic cylinders on gates 1-6 to ensure proper operation at the dam. The project significantly improved dam operations and extended the service life of the Low Flow Outlet Works.

Services included:

• Floating barge/dive vessel operations
• Crane operations
• Commercial diving operations
• Hydraulic power unit (HPU) replacement
• Replacement of two gates

Project Description: Marine Diving Solutions demolished the existing stem, stem guides, stem guide brackets and gate utilizing an 80-ton crane. The new rising stem knife valve was installed with EPDM rubber gaskets at each flange and all new stainless-steel bolts were installed.  The new 1-1/4" diameter stem is stainless steel. The stem guides are cast steel, anchors are mild steel, all stainless-steel hardware, bronze bushings, and steel collars with epoxy paint. The new low-flow knife gate valve was operated and reported that it functioned smoothly.
Services Included:

• Crane operations
• Commercial diving operations
• Demolition and installation of new knife valve
• High elevation dive operations

 

Project Description: Marine Diving Solutions provided a commercial dive crew, commercial dive equipment, modular barge sections, underwater LiDAR survey equipment and other specialized equipment for the Gross Reservoir Auxiliary Intake Phase project at Gross Dam in Boulder County, Colorado. MDS to provide a dive inspection at the auxiliary intake structure. Divers removed two trash racks to enter the structure. Once inside of the structure, divers removed sediment that has accumulated inside of the structure (estimated to be up to 10 cy). With the sediment removed, divers then positioned a tripod LiDAR imaging unit to scan the face of the wall where a new gate will be installed in 2023. Divers then removed the tripod imaging unit and put the trash rack(s) back on the structure.

Project Description: Marine Diving Solutions (MDS) was hired to dredge and inspect the 20" intake pipe and wet well supplying the irrigation water pumps for Kissing Camels Golf Course. MDS dredged approximately 20 yards of sediment and rock to uncover the buried supply pipe.
Upon completion of the job, Kissing Camels Golf Course was able to have full operation of their pumps and irrigation systems.

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Project Description: Hoover Dam is a 5-year Indefinite Quantity type contract that involves fabrication of new gate stem assemblies for a Delivery Order each year, and the construction work of the Task Order involves the replacement of the materials fabricated. The goal of this project is to replace the gate stem assemblies of up to 4 of the intake towers with corrosion -resistant stem assemblies one intake tower per year with the second year being skipped and the final construction planned to end the fiscal year of 2026. Marine Diving Solutions LLC contracted with Quabbin Inc./Amherst Tool for the fabrication of the custom gate stem assemblies while MDS is performing the removal and installations. This project involves confined space work including lock out/tag out procedures, special work permits, and requires the team to safely work from suspended baskets 330' in the towers and replace approximately 1,200' of stem for each tower along with other brackets, hardware, and operator rehabilitation.

Project Description: After initially inspecting the dam, Marine Diving Solutions worked with a structural engineering firm (SM&RC) to formulate and carry out plan for the construction of a conduit bulkhead within approximately 5' of the dam gate to provide a secondary way to contain the water during gate replacement. Marine Diving Solutions demolished the current gate house building on the crest of the dam, injected a chemical grout to minimize leakage in rock pocket of outlet pipe approximately 5' downstream of gate. An 18" diameter pipe was moved into the outlet pipe and centralized so a form could be built for the concrete bulkhead. Concrete was pumped from outside of the conduit into the form. After concrete was solid, the forms were removed so a hinged blind flange could be installed on the downstream side of the 18" pipe. Sediment on the floor in front of the gate was removed and the slide gate, stem, stem guides and operator were removed. A new hole was cored for new gate and new steel plate/wall thimble were installed. The concrete floor was raised from new wall thimble to 2' upstream from new plate by 2' for a leak free seal. A concrete lip was also poured. New gate, stem, stem guides and operator were installed on the dam with fencing. The blind flange was unbolted in open position and any voids or holes were dry packed.

Project Description: Marine Diving Solutions provided the removal of an 8' diameter, reinforced concrete bridge pier that had been abandoned.  The pier was cut into 3' sections weighing 27,000 lbs. each with the use of a submersible wire saw.  MDS also removed and replaced the gate stems, stem guides and operator nuts for four control gates and one emergency gate.  Ice shields were also fabricated and installed on the 75' high gate tower to protect the new stems.  This project was a design build to keep costs lower for the customer.


Services included:

• Use of submersible wire saw
• Use of barge and 80-ton crane
• Replacement of gate stems, stem guides, operator hardware
• Fabricated and installed ice shields on 75' high gate tower
• Commercial diving of reservoir

 
 

Project Description: Marine Diving Solutions provided the demolition of existing hoods and trash racks, and installations of hybrid gate cylinder, new grout cap, vertical trash rack guides, support beam marks, vertical trash rack, horizontal trash rack and hoods at Barr Lake in Brighton, Colorado.



Services Included:

• Commercial diving of reservoir
• Removal and installation of trash racks and hoods
• Dredging work at the base of the intake prior to the vertical trash rack demolition
• Work performed on floating platform and underwater
• Installation of hybrid gate cylinder and instrument cabling, new grout cap for the left intake structure wingwall, new vertical trash rack and components, and new horizontal trash racks, hoods and supports

Project Summary: Marine Diving Solutions provided the removal of 6 hydraulic cylinders, repairs, and re-installation for the USACE. Additional services included oil testing and filtration.

Services Included:

- ROV inspection underwater

- Bulkhead installation and removal

- Removal and reinstallation of six flanged gate cylinders:

  - 200' vertical lift from gate chamber to bridge deck.

  - Required to be disassembled prior to lifting.

  - 26.5" OD cylinder barrel, 113' long, appx. 5000 lbs each

  - 15" long, 5' OD cylinder ram, appx. 1000 lbs each

  - All pipe barrels and cylinder rams had to be rotated from vertical to horizontal after lifting, for removal

- Oil filtration and testing

- Working in suspended and fall restriction area

- Modifications including fabrication and welding to the hydraulic operating system piping. Approximately 100' of 1.25" Sched 80 pipe.

Project Summary: Marine Diving Solutions performed commercial diving services at Wolford Dam to remove the existing main gate and install the new owner supplied gate. The trash rack was also removed, coated and re-installed.

Services Included:

• Commercial diving of reservoir
• Barge supply and use
• High altitude diving operations
• Vessel Operations
• Deep dives that were at 170' after altitude correction
• Removal and installation of gate
• Trash rack rehabilitation

Project Description: Marine Diving Solutions provided commercial diving services at Juniata Reservoir to investigate the outlet control valves to see what repairs needed to be done. The trash rack was also removed per the City of Grand Junctions instructions. The North outlet valve assembly was removed at the mid-level outlet so that the City of Grand Junction can purchase new valves and actuators for the future replacement of the outlet valves to control flows out of Juniata Reservoir.

Services Included:

• Commercial diving at Juniata Reservoir up to 100' deep after altitude correction
• Trash rack removal
• Underwater ultrathermic cutting (Broco)
• Investigation for repairs or replacement of valves and hydraulic cylinders