PETER J. WHEELER, M.Sc., DIC, P.Eng.
Project Manager
EDUCATION
B.Sc.E., Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick, 1978.
M.Sc. and D.I.C., Rock Mechanics, Royal School of Mines,
Imperial College of Science and Technology, London, U.K., l980.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
SUMMARY
Mr. Peter Wheeler, P.Eng. has over thirty three years experience both across Canada and internationally. He has been technically involved on numerous geotechnical projects, which include mine waste management, slope stability, foundation design, containment design, linear development, and closure design.
Mr. Wheeler has been involved in many projects, which include pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, design studies, preparation of construction specifications, construction supervision and as-built reporting. One of Mr. Wheeler's particular strengths is his ability to manage large projects from feasibility to design and through to the end of construction.
Mr. Wheeler has also been involved with a number of projects requiring due diligence or expert review.
KEY EXPERIENCE
Oil and Gas Oil Sands Mining Infrastructure Mining Linear Development Landfills and ContainmentOil and Gas
Geotechnical review and assessment for the proposed Nabiye project at the Esso Cold Lake operations in Alberta. Completed field reconnaissance to confirm the requirements for the access road and foundation alternatives for the plant site and access road bridge.
In house geotechnical and project management support during the design phase for the Nexen Long Lake South Phase 2 project. Assisted with the design of screw piles for pipe racks and pad facilties and witnessed and reviewed the results of pile load testing. Also provided specialist geotechnical input to foundation and road design for the Nexen Long Lake commercial project in northern Alberta.
Review all geotechnical reporting for the Esso Cold Lake operations and provide generic geotechnical parameters for design. Reviewed pile load testing for driven steel pipe and screw piles.
Completed a site reconnaissance for a plant road alignment at the Esso Boundary Lake operations. Recommended a strean diversion scheme and a stabilization design that consisted of a retaining wall tied back with screw piles.
Foundation design and construction monitoring for several compressor stations in western Canada.
Driveability analyses for large diameter piled foundations for fixed platform offshore structures in Nova Scotia.
Geotechnical investigation and instrumented pile load testing for design of caissons at the proposed heavy oil facility in Grand Centre, Alberta. The objective was to allow easy field modification of bell sizes and lengths based on standardized soil parameters for the glacial till. Project also included a finite element analyses to predict the foundation performance of the flexi-coker.
Oil Sands Mining
Geotechnical input to the DBM for the Fort Hills Oil Sands Project.
Geotechnical input to the Kearl Lake Oil Sands Project. During feasibility phase for Phase 1 provided geotechnical and construction planning input for plant site development. During detailed design provided input to the civil/structural group for the design of plant site foundations. Provided geotechnical input through optimization for Phase 2. Coordinated geotechnical studies through FEED for Phase 2.
Dam safety inspection and review for Ponds 5 and 6 at Lease 86/17 for Suncor Energy Inc.
Engineering support for the construction of Dyke 10, Dyke 11C and tailings line corridor at Steepbank and Millenium Mines for Suncor Energy Inc.
Geotechnical engineering input to the Jackpine Mine Oil Sands Project. Responsibilities include an update of geotechnical recommendations based on information collected during the 2001/2002 Winter Drilling Program. Completed preliminary pit slope stability assessments at the Lease 13/31 boundary. Prepared geotechnical drilling and testing programs for the 2004 Winter drilling program.
Engineering input to the Muskeg River Mine Expansion project. Prepared geotechnical drilling and testing programs for the 2004 Winter drilling program, reviewed impact of pit development on plant expansion plans and reviewed initial in-pit dyke designs. Reviewed geologic implications on tailings facility expansion scenarios.
Lead geotechnical engineer for the feasibility and design studies for the Muskeg River Oil Sands Project. Seconded to Muskeg River Contractors to provide "on project" geotechnical expertise through feasibility, design and construction. Responsibilities included geotechnical issues related to pit slope stability, plant site setback criteria, infrastructure foundation design, tailings dam stability, tailings management options, geotechnical field investigations, geotechnical input to construction specifications, assessment of materials' suitability and specifications for starter dyke construction and infrastructure related items (recycle/raw water ponds, access roads, site grading, ditching, etc.), field assessment of construction operations.
Feasibility study for the tailings management scheme for the Canstar oilsands project. The project includes muskeg drainage, starter dyke design, cell construction and raise schedule, and estimate of capital and operating costs.
Slope stability considerations for proposed pit walls at the Alsands oilsands project.
Infrastructure
Completed several geogrid reinforced wall designs for land development and transportation projects in Alberta.
Geotechnical assessment and design for a pile wall and tieback system to stabilize an unstable slope within a road ROW in northeastern British Columbia.
Rock socketted pile design for several buildings (including two high rises) in Calgary; and a large regional hospital, a wharf expansion and a multi-span bridge crossing in New Brunswick. Also finite element analyses for the performance of large mat foundation for a high rise building in Calgary.
Design recommendations for heavily loaded foundations at a large wood chip power generating station in northern Newfoundland.
Design of pre-stressed concrete piles for a major structure in New Brunswick. Wave equation analyses assisted with the selection of appropriate "initial-drive" and "final-drive" hammers and resistance criteria to ensure no tension cracking of the pile.
Mining
Construction management and engineering input to the development of the Minto mine in the Yukon Territory.
Design of haul road bridge abutments using geogrid reinforcment at Cigar Lake Mine in Saskatachewan.
Site selection and conceptual design of two tailings facilities for Volcan Compania Minera in central Peru. For one area, a new tailings disposal area was required so that the existing area could be closed. For the second area an expansion was contemplated which would essentially encapsulate the existing marginally stable tailings area.
Due diligence review for the tailings facility at CanTung Mine in the N.W.T.
Two conceptual designs for the processed kimberlite facility at Diavik's Lac de Gras diamond property in NWT. One design included a waste rock "downstream" tailings design and a second design considered the use of a coarse tailings fraction and an "upstream" dyke design allowing a significant reduction in capital cost.
Design of an HDPE lined industrial landfill at Cominco's Trail facility to be constructed in two stages. In the area of Stoney Creek, water management and environmental characterization was required for the design of interception and collection systems for impacted groundwater, which was having negative impacts on receiving waters.
Design and construction specifications for a 10 metre raise on a 40 metre high coarse tailings dump at Stratoni Mine in northern Greece. Also closure design considerations for pyrite stockpiles and water management issues for both Stratoni and Olympias Mines. Participation on an audit team for an environmental audit at both properties.
Resident geotechnical engineer during construction of heap leach pad at Hope Brook Gold Mine, Newfoundland. In addition, managed all geotechnical aspects during the construction of mill, camp, and associated facilities. Completed field inspection of rock bolting and controlled blasting procedures.
Geotechnical investigations and design of tailings dams at Lupin Mine, NWT. Design of perimeter dams included provision for PVC liner placement on upstream face. Location and installation of thermistor strings in a perimeter dam and two tailings cells and interpretation of annual readings to assist with abandonment planning. Also completed annual inspections to satisfy water license requirements.
Water management considerations for controlling and maintaining discharge criteria for runoff through open pit areas at Smoky River Coal in Alberta.
Preliminary scoping study for an existing gold mine under acquisition in Slovakia to help with "real estate" development and an assessment of "fatal flaw" environmental issues.
Field reconnaissance and design review for a tailings dam and review of site conditions for a proposed dump leach at two mines in the Philippines.
Construction of tailings dam with geocomposite liner on the upstream slope at Mt. Nansen mine in the Yukon Territory.
Design, preparation of construction specifications and drawings, and resident engineer for construction of tailings dam raise and toe berm on polishing pond dam in Faro, Y.T. Also completed annual inspections of tailings dams and a water supply dam to satisfy water license requirements. Also provided foundation recommendations for mill expansion.
Linear Development
Geotechnical input for the 2012 regulatory filing for the Alaska Pipeline Project.
Prepared drilling instructions for 2004 Winter Drilling Program for the MacKenzie Valley Gas pipeline project. Also developed quality assessment procedures for the 2004 winter geotechnical program and completed field assessments in the Gwich'in and Sahtu K'ahsho Got'ine areas. Prepared scope documents for 2005 Winter drilling studies, assessed borrow materials suitability, and prepared borrow pit development plans. Completed field reconnaissance for infrastructure sites in Tulita and Deh Cho and prepared recommendations and specifications for construction.
Geotechnical input to a routing study for a high pressure gas pipeline along the Bow Corridor between Morley and Banff, Alberta. The study included airphoto interpretation, terrain mapping and recommendations for crossing the Kananaskis and Bow River, negotiation through the steep rock slopes at Windy Gap, and a viable route through the Lac des Arcs area.
Geotechnical assessment and terrain mapping for access road alignment to a SAGD plant in the Cold Lake area in northern Alberta. Also design of corduroy road across muskeg for access to drill pad locations.
Geotechnical review of steep slope sections for the linear development of a concentrate pipeline through the Andes and Cordillera Negra for Antamina mine in Peru. Also borrow evaluation for use in the construction of a large tailings dam.
Terrain mapping for about 100km of proposed fibre optics line (BCTel Lightguide) through the mountainous terrain of central British Columbia. This study also included design, preparation of construction specifications and pre-tender meetings for extremely challenging conduit crossings of the North Thomson River and a very deep and steep ravine south of Blue River.
Completed several pipeline stream crossings (cut/cover and directional drilling) and recommendations for remediation of failed slopes along pipeline rights of way.
Completed subsea geotechnical sampling during routing study for the proposed Sable Island gas pipeline.
Soils and materials testing for portions of the re-routed and upgraded areas of the Alaska Highway. Parts of the alignment required very large road embankment heights to be constructed with medium plastic soft clays.
Geotechnical investigations for the design of a new sanitary sewerage system for the Greater Moncton Area. Slope stability of deep trench cuts in soft silts, full-face tunnel boring and dewatering the impacts of extreme tidal fluctuations (avg 9 metres) were important challenges to the design of the work.
Geotechnical engineer for the rehabilitation of 40 km of irrigation canal in southern Alberta.
Landfills and Containment
Design and preparation of construction specifications and drawings for a secure Class I hazardous waste landfill in Alberta. The system included double synthetic liner with leachate collection, leak detection and groundwater control systems. Also completed closure designs for completed cells.
Geotechnical engineer for the pre-feasibility studies for an 18 metre high irrigation dam in Alberta. Extensive studies were completed to characterize slickensided mudstones to address stability and settlement issues, as well as identify the potential occurrence of buried valleys.
Design of a large landfarming containment cell in Calgary to remediate 25,000 cubic metres of BTEX impacted soils with a minor component of "low carbon chain" PAH's.
Geotechnical engineer during the feasibility study of a 20 MW hydroelectric station in southern Newfoundland. Design considerations included stability of a deep power canal in overburden soils and bedrock, foundation conditions for the powerhouse, and routing study for 25 km long access road.
Design review and quality assurance services industrial landfills in western Canada.
Liner integrity condition surveys for EPDM liner systems at two brine ponds in Alberta.
Review of design and construction procedures for an HDPE lined sulphur storage pad in Alberta.
Conceptual design of two woodwaste landfills in northern B.C. Both designs included a synthetic liner and leachate collection and treatment system. One of the sites included a bio-diversity study to examine the effects of the sawmill site on the adjacent marine environment.
Design, plant calibration and construction supervision for a bentonite enriched soil liner constructed as part of a large recreational lake.