Pipeline Blasting

Pipeline blasting, particularly for clearing or trenching during pipeline construction, employs controlled explosions using high-velocity explosives like ANFO (ammonium nitrate/fuel oil) or emulsified nitrate-based charges, precisely loaded into boreholes drilled along the intended path.

These charges are detonated in carefully timed sequences (millisecond delays) to fracture rock or frozen soil while minimizing shock damage to surrounding areas.

The logistics involve blast pattern planning, vibration monitoring, and coordination with heavy equipment for rapid debris removal post-blast.

One of the largest such operations occurred during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System, where over 800 miles of rugged, often frozen terrain were cleared, including massive blasting efforts through permafrost and mountainous rock in sections like Atigun Pass—the highest point of the pipeline—requiring extensive logistics coordination and cold-weather explosive handling protocols.