As the primary contractor for more than 75 percent of steam generator replacements (SGR) conducted in the United States over the last two decades, Bechtel is clearly the world’s leader in this area.
What’s the key to a successful SGR? Ask John Atwell, project manager for the 2002 removal and replacement of four steam generators at STP Nuclear Operating Company in Bay City, Texas. On that project, Bechtel had to perform quality work safely while meeting a highly aggressive schedule. “The team rose to the challenge and was able to complete the project in world-record time with no lost-time accidents,” says Atwell.
Another SGR project that combined safety and speed was carried out at Sequoyah Nuclear Plant, a Tennessee Valley Authority facility in Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. Bechtel was asked to replace four SGRs in 54 days, before the plant systems were turned over to TVA for core reload.
“The job involved eight construction openings in the containment building and a significant amount of work at heights,” says Bechtel Project Manager Chuck Weaver. That required specially designed and engineered features for safety, such as scaffold barriers and custom concrete formwork. The project completed 1 million job hours without a lost-time accident.
