Gas men bite the bullet for big Wakefield Scheme

They are made of steel and weigh 160 tonnes each – yet they are being cut up using only the power of water.

Wakefield’s high pressure gas storage ‘bullets’ in Marsh Way have kept Yorkshire’s gas supply topped up for almost 40 years but they are now being dismantled and removed to make way for a multi-million pound retail and leisure development.

The six bullet shaped metal tanks are owned by Northern Gas Networks. Built in 1969, they were used to store gas at high-pressure. Together they held 2.4 million cubic feet of gas – that’s enough to keep 3,000 homes supplied with gas during a cold winter day.

The bullets were purged of gas in October and specialist engineers from United Utilities and Murphy Pipelines Ltd have now started work on the 10-week project to dismantle them. They are being cut-up using a high-powered jet of water which cuts neatly through the 3cm thick welded steel plates. Each 58 metre long bullet is being cut into eight pieces before being removed off-site where the steel will be recycled.

United Utilities Design and Construction Manager, Anton Ridsdill, is over-seeing the project on behalf of Northern Gas Networks. He said: “The bullets have played an important part in Yorkshire’s gas network for many years and for those of us who have worked with them and looked after them it is sad to see them go. Although they were built in the 1960s, they were still working right up until a few months ago when they were de-commissioned.

“We chose to use water to cut them up because we still have live gas apparatus on the site so it is much safer than using traditional hot cutting methods. It is also reduces the environmental impact as it uses much less energy. The steel from the bullets will also be recycled so it will be put to good use.

”This is one of the largest demolition operations we have ever undertaken. Of course we must keep the gas flowing to Yorkshire while the work is carried out – and the task of cutting up and removing something this big is certainly a big challenge.”

The site, off Jacob’s Well Lane, has been associated with the gas industry since 1823 when gasworks were built. It was used for the production of ‘town’ gas until the 1970’s when the town converted to natural gas. At one time it also housed four traditional gas holders.

Plans of the site dating back to 1933 show that the area occupied by the bullets was formerly used as tennis courts and a bowling green.

Some existing operational gas plant which is required for the on-going safe operation of Yorkshire’s gas network will be retained on-site. The rest of the area is currently being cleared in preparation for construction of the Trinity Walk development which will bring a new shopping centre, library and residential units to the centre of Wakefield.