A pioneering project to replace a nationally-significant section of gas pipeline beneath the Humber Estuary has set a new world record.
After creating the first tunnel beneath the Humber Estuary, the second stage of the project involved flooding it with specially-treated water before pushing the pipe through.
The insertion method has now been verified by the Guinness Book of Records, which confirmed that at 4.96km, it had become the world’s longest hydraulically inserted pipeline.
The certificate was handed over in a virtual ceremony between the Guinness World Record adjudicator and senior representatives from National Grid and joint venture project partners Skanska, A.Hak and Porr.
Emma Ford, head of gas construction for National Grid, said: “I am honoured to be leading a team that has made such a fantastic achievement. Delivering a project, which is of such importance for the gas transmission network, is a super achievement, especially when the project has such a good safety record of no lost time injuries in more than 500 days of working. Therefore, to achieve a world record is the ‘icing on the cake’.”
The pipeline, constructed between Goxhill and Paull, is now being connected to the network, ready for gas to begin flowing in December, securing the supply of up to 25 per cent of Britain’s gas during the winter months.
Gas makes up 40 per cent of the power consumed in the UK; heating more than eight out of ten homes and providing more than half of the energy needs of UK industry.
The pipeline has the potential to play a big role in the future as National Grid works hard to explore how cleaner alternatives of hydrogen and biogas can be used, helping the country hit its net zero carbon target by 2050, with the Humber poised to play a leading role.
George Zondagh, project director for the construction joint venture, said: “The combination of the partners’ expertise in the diverse fields of tunnelling, civil and pipeline forms the basis of a team that could work together to deliver such a crucial infrastructure project.
"The breaking of a world record is evidence of the commitment of all those involved that have made this challenging project a reality.”
