Method for removing a section of underground conduit

Abstract

Method for removing a section of underground conduit (100), the method comprising the steps of: - connecting a conduit pulling unit (142) to a separated section (107) of the underground conduit; - connecting the conduit pulling unit to an anchor section (108) of the underground conduit, which anchor section was previously connected to the separated section; and - using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor section for removing at least a downstream end (106) of the separated section from the ground (199).

Description

[0001]P129439PC00 Title: Method for removing a section of underground conduit TECHINCAL FIELD The various aspects and embodiments thereof relate to the field of removal of underground conduits or conduits surrounded in other medium. The conduits are for example arranged for transporting natural gas, oil, diesel, water, or any other fluid. BACKGROUND With changes in substances used in industrial processes and further consumption of substances, systems for transportation of the substances change. One of such substances is natural gas. Changes in supply and demand and changes in locations of supply and demand in particular results in changes in distribution infrastructure, which distribution infrastructures comprises transportation conduits. Certain conduits are not used anymore. Alternatively, conduits need to be replaced from a maintenance perspective. As the conduits are made out of high- quality steel or alloys or other materials, reclaiming the materials comprised by those conduits may be advantageous. Additionally, local or regional legal requirements may necessitate removal of conduits. Removing conduits from the ground is done by digging ditches and lifting the conduits from the ditches. During life time of the conduit infrastructure, buildings, trees and others are placed on top of the conduit buried in the soil, making digging of ditches cumbersome. Digging may further not be preferred because of agricultural, or environmental demands which don’t allow to dig. Alternatively, pits are dug along the track of the conduits at regular intervals and conduits are pulled from the ground. As frictional forces between the ground and the conduits are high, the intervals between the pits should be short. SUMMARY It is preferred to provide a method for removing underground conduits such as pipes which may be faster, requires less and / or smaller pits and / or ditches to be dug, requires less effort and / or requires less complex machinery. As such, in a first aspect, a method is provided for removing a section of underground conduit, the method comprising the steps of exposing a first section of the underground conduit, exposing a second section of the underground conduit at a distance downstream of the first section, removing at least a first subsection of the first section of the underground conduit, removing at least a second subsection of the second section of the underground conduit such that a separated section of underground conduit is obtained between the first section and the second section, connecting an anchor to an anchor section of the underground conduit, which anchor section is positioned downstream of the second section, connecting a conduit pulling unit between the anchor and the separated section, and using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor in the downstream direction for removing at least a downstream end of the separated section from the ground. By connecting the anchor to the anchor section, the already present underground conduit is used as an anchor point to which the conduit pulling unit may connect. The conduit may comprise materials which are typically durable, strong and / or stiff, and may as such provide an anchor point to which a significant force can be applied – this force corresponding to the force required for pulling the separated section out of the ground. The conduit material or materials may be stronger and / or more stiff and / or in general better usable as an anchor material than for example the ground surrounding the conduit, which may be particularly brittle and may crumble when attempting to use this ground to anchor the conduit pulling unit to. The method may further comprise bending a downstream end section of the separated section away from a centreline of an upstream end section of the separated section. The downstream end section may in particular be bent upwards. As a particular option, this allows the bent downstream end section to be pulled over an upstream part of anchor section. As such, a smaller pit may have to be dug between the separated section and the anchor section. After the downstream end section of the separated section is pulled out of the ground by the conduit pulling unit, the downstream end section of the separated section may be cut off. As such, relatively small cut-off sections may be obtained which may be more convenient to handle and transport. The cut-off section may be a part of the bent downstream end section. As such, the machine for cutting the conduit may be positioned above the anchor section, or at least higher than the conduit. The anchor may be inserted into the anchor section and may be connected to an inner wall of the anchor section. As such, the upstream end of the anchor section may remain underground. Additionally, or alternatively, the anchor may be connected to an outer wall of the anchor section. In this case, at least part of the upstream anchor section may have to be exposed. Furthermore additionally, or alternatively, the anchor may be connected to an end of the anchor section, for example an end face, using any connection method, such as but not limited to welding. The connecting of the conduit pulling unit to the separated section may comprise connecting an outer gripper to an outer wall of the downstream end of the separated section. Connecting to the outer wall of the downstream end of the separated section may allow a more convenient pulling process, in particular when the outer downstream end of the separated conduit is cut off during the pulling process. Pulling the separated section towards the anchor may be achieved by any number of reciprocal pulling actions of the conduit pulling unit. The method may further comprise exposing a downstream end of the anchor section, wherein the anchor is connected to the anchor section at or near the downstream end of the anchor section. This may be in particular useful when the friction force holding the anchor section underground is lower than the pulling force required to pull the separated section further out of the ground. Connecting the anchor may comprise positioning an anchor with a footprint larger than a cross-sectional area of a downstream opening of the anchor section downstream of the anchor section and connecting the anchor to the conduit pulling unit via a connecting member, which connecting member extends through the anchor section. Such an anchor may also be referred to as an anchor plate. The anchor may as such not only anchor behind the anchor section, but also to the ground surrounding the downstream end of the anchor section. This in turn may allow a higher pulling force to be used for pulling the separated section. Alternatively, or additionally to providing the anchor with a footprint larger than a cross-sectional area of a downstream opening of the anchor section downstream of the anchor section, the anchor may be connected to an inner wall, outer wall, and / or end face of the downstream end of the anchor section. Thus, any conduit connection element disclosed herein may be used as an anchor. To reduce the force required to pull the separated section further out of the ground, prior to the pulling of the separated section, a deformation of a cross- sectional shape of the separated section may be established. Preferably, the deformation is non-destructive for example to prevent leakage of any matter which may still be present in the separated section. To avoid leaving a void behind underground where the separated section was prior to its removal, the method may comprise filling at least part of the separated section with a filler material prior to and / or during pulling of the separated section. The filler material may be left behind in the void. The filler material may be provided to an upstream end of the separated section through a filler material conduit, of which an inlet is positioned higher than the upstream end of the separated section. This higher position may prevent leakage of the filler material out of the upstream end of the separated section. The method according to the first aspect may be summarised in a non- limitative way with numbered embodiments: 1. Method for removing a section of underground conduit, the method comprising the steps of: - exposing a first section of the underground conduit; - exposing a second section of the underground conduit at a distance downstream of the first section; - removing at least a first subsection of the first section of the underground conduit; - removing at least a second subsection of the second section of the underground conduit such that a separated section of underground conduit is obtained between the first section and the second section; - connecting an anchor to an anchor section of the underground conduit, which anchor section is positioned downstream of the second section; - connecting a conduit pulling unit between the anchor and the separated section; and - using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor in the downstream direction for removing at least a downstream end of the separated section from the ground. 2. The method according to embodiment 1, further comprising: - bending a downstream end section of the separated section away from a centreline of an upstream end section of the separated section. 3. The method according to embodiment 2, wherein the bent downstream end section is pulled over an upstream part of anchor section. 4. The method according to any of the preceding embodiments, further comprising, after the downstream end section of the separated section is pulled out of the ground by the conduit pulling unit, cutting off the downstream end section of the separated section. 5. The method according to embodiment 4, wherein at least part of the bent downstream end section is cut off. In a second aspect, a method for removing a section of underground conduit is provided, the method comprising the steps of: - connecting a conduit pulling unit to a separated section of the underground conduit; - connecting the conduit pulling unit to an anchor section of the underground conduit, which anchor section was previously connected to the separated section; and - using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor section for removing at least a downstream end of the separated section from the ground. A third aspect provides a method for removing a section of underground conduit, the method comprising the steps of connecting a conduit pulling unit to a separated section of the underground conduit, connecting the conduit pulling unit to an anchor section of an underground conduit, and using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor section for removing at least a downstream end of the separated section from the ground. For any anchor section according to the present disclosure, the anchor section may have been previously connected to the separated section. However, it is also envisioned that any anchor section is associated with another underground conduit, for example when multiple underground conduits are positioned near each other, and for example essentially parallel to each other. Preferably, for any method according to the third aspect, the conduit pulling unit comprises a winch, in particular a traction winch. Using a winch may allow for longer sections of underground conduit to be removed in a single removal action, for example compared to using a cylinder. For any method according to the first aspect or according to the second aspect, also the conduit pulling unit may comprise a winch. The conduit pulling unit, in particular when embodied as a winch, preferably remains essentially stationary while pulling the separated section towards the anchor section. A winch may be generally defined as a device with a rotatable drum onto which a rope, cable, or chain can be wound. The rope, cable, and chain are examples of tension members. Typically, the winch comprises a motor for rotating the rotatable drum. In particular, the winch may be a traction winch, typically comprising a storage drum on which the tension member can be wound, and one or more traction sheaves over which the tension member is tensioned. The tension member may be wrapped around part of the traction sheaves with any number of turns. Any tension member disclosed herein may comprise any number of ropes, cables, and / or chains. A winch is an example of a conduit pulling unit capable of performing a continuous pulling action of a length exceeding the length of the conduit pulling unit itself. For any embodiment and example of the present disclosure wherein a winch is used, any other conduit pulling unit capable of performing a continuous pulling action of a length exceeding the length of the conduit pulling unit itself may alternatively be used, for example a linear winch. It is envisioned that for any method in which a winch is used as a conduit pulling unit, the entire separated section is pulled towards the anchor section and out of the ground as a whole. In general, but in particular when the conduit pulling unit comprises a winch, the conduit pulling unit may be connected or coupled to the anchor section with a tension member such as a cable, rope, rod or chain. The cable, rope, rod or chain or other type of tension member may extend through the anchor section, in particular through the entire anchor section. Alternatively, the cable, rope, rod or chain or other type of tension member may be connected or coupled to the anchor section, for example to an inside or outside of the anchor section, using any conduit connection element disclosed herein. The conduit pulling unit may be coupled to the separated section using any tension member disclosed herein. This tension member may as an option also be coupled to the anchor section. In such examples where the tension member is also coupled to the anchor section, in particular, the tension member may be guided over a first guiding member and subsequently under a second guiding member, which first guiding member is coupled to the conduit pulling unit, which second guiding member is coupled to the anchor section, and which first guiding member and second guiding member are coupled via a rigid coupling member. This allows the pulling force on the conduit pulling unit to be reduced, as the pulling force can be coupled to the anchor section. Whenever a tension member is used to couple the conduit pulling unit to the separated section, this tension member may be wrapped around an intermediate pulley. The tension member may be coupled to a further conduit section between the separated section and the anchor section, and the intermediate pulley may in turn be coupled to the separated section. Additionally or alternatively, whenever a tension member is used to couple the conduit pulling unit to the separated section, the tension member may pass through a further conduit section positioned between the separated conduit section and the anchor section. Whenever the tension member used to couple the conduit pulling unit passes through a further conduit section, a conduit deformation member may be connected to the tension member, and using the tension member and the conduit pulling unit, the conduit deformation member may be pulled through the further conduit section. In any method for removing a section of underground conduit, the conduit pulling unit may be positioned at a higher level than the separated section and / or at a higher level than the anchor section. For example, the conduit pulling unit can be positioned above ground, in particular on ground level of the ground through which the separated section extends. As such, for example, less ground may have to be removed – i.e. a smaller pit may be dug – compared to a situation wherein the conduit pulling unit is positioned underground for example at a similar height than the separated conduit section and / or anchor section. In any method, a further conduit section may be separated from the underground conduit, which further conduit section was previously connected to the anchor section and / or separated section, in particular between the anchor section and the separated section. Preferably, at least part of the further conduit section remains underground and covered with ground. The conduit pulling unit may be positioned above the further conduit section, on the ground above the further conduit section. Any separated conduit section of the present disclosure may be essentially straight. However, it is also envisioned to remove a section of underground conduit – in particular a separated conduit section – which has one or more curved sections. It has been found that for example an underground conduit comprising steel, the curved section can be advantageously pulled straight while removing the underground conduit by pulling. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In the figures, Fig. 1A-C show schematic cross-sections of an underground conduit in different situations; In Figs.2A-6B, an overview is shown of an underground conduit, together with a detailed view of part of this overview, for different situations; Figs.7A-7C show steps in a method of removing a section of underground conduit; Fig.8 schematically shows a particle collection device in an underground void; Fig. 9A-9D schematically show steps in a method of filling an underground void; Fig. 10A-10D schematically show steps in another method of filling an underground void; Fig. 11A-11B show a cross-section of a conduit connection element; Figs. 12A-12B schematically show steps in another method of removing a section of underground conduit; Figs. 13A-13C schematically show steps in yet another method of removing a section of underground conduit; and Figs. 14A-15B schematically show different options applicable to any method disclosed herein. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES In general, in the figures, the same or similar components are provided with the same or similar reference numerals. For clarity and conciseness, not all components are provided with a reference numeral in each figure. The skilled person will appreciate that absence of a reference numeral does not necessarily imply absence of a particular component in an embodiment depicted in a particular figure. Fig. 1A shows a schematic cross-section of an underground conduit 100. Underground here may imply that the conduit 100 is fully embedded into the ground 199, which ground 199 is in general shown cross-hatched in the figures. The conduit 100 may be of any length, for example in the order of tenths or hundreds of metres or kilometres, any may be arranged for having any matter transported therethrough, such as a gas and / or liquid. The conduit 100 may be a conduit which has to be decommissioned, and therefore has to be at least partially removed from the ground 199. A conduit may also be referred to as a pipe or pipeline. In the situation depicted in Fig. 1B, a first pit 101, second pit 102, and optional third pit 103 are created by removing the ground 199 at two or three locations. In the first pit 101, a first section of conduit is exposed, in the second pit 102, a second section of conduit is exposed, and in the third pit 103, a downstream end of the conduit 100 is exposed. The second pit 102 is positioned downstream of the first pit 101, and the third pit 103 is positioned downstream of the second pit 102. The third pit 103 will be further elaborated on in conjunction with Fig. 6B. In general, in the figures, a movement from left to right is regarded a downstream movement, and a movement from right to left is regarded an upstream movement. It should be understood that downstream and upstream does not refer to a flow direction of matter through the conduit, but instead in particular to a direction of movement of a conduit section during the removal process disclosed herein. Fig. 1C depicts a situation wherein a first subsection 104 of the first section has been removed, and a second subsection 105 of the second subsection has been removed. By the removal of the first subsection 104 and the second subsection 105, a separated section 107 of the conduit is obtained. For removing a section or subsection, the section or subsection may be cut-off on both ends, and may then for example be lifted out of their pit. In general, a subsection may correspond to part of a section, or to the entire section. For example, as shown in Fig. 1C, the first subsection 104 corresponded to the entire exposed first section, and the second subsection 105 corresponded to part of the second section. In particular, a downstream end 106 of the separated section 107 may be exposed, i.e. extend out of the ground 199. For exposing a section, for example ground surrounding said section may be removed, for example by digging away this ground. The downstream end 106 may in general refer to the outer end, or to generally the downstream end section, which has a particular length. Downstream of the separated section 107, an anchor section 108 of the conduit is obtained by the removal of the second sub-section 105. The anchor section 108 may be of any length, and may be longer or shorter than or as long as the separated section 107. In the situations depicted in Figs. 1A-1C and optionally also in other figures, the separated section 107 and the anchor section 108 are positioned coaxially – i.e. with substantially aligned centrelines. In particular, at least a downstream end of the separated section and an upstream end of the anchor section may be co-axially aligned. In each of the figures 2A-6B, an overview is shown as well and a detailed view of part of this overview. The overview is shown above the detailed view, and the two diverging arrows, pointing from the overview to the detailed view, indicate which part of the overview is shown in the detailed view. Fig. 2A schematically depicts an optional step in the method wherein a conduit deformation member 120 is placed in the separated section 107 of the conduit 100. The conduit deformation member 120 is arranged to establishing a deformation of a cross-sectional shape of a conduit, in particular of the separated section. A conduit deformation member as disclosed in WO 2017 / 160153 may for example be used. This deformation member 120 comprises an elongated body 122 having a body centre axis, a leading end 124 and a trailing end, the body being arranged to be transported through the conduit with the leading end leading, and a first deformation module 126 provided at a first position of the body, the first deformation module comprising at least two protrusions defining a first deformation circle having a diameter larger than the cross-section dimension of the conduit. The deformation member 120 further comprises an optional second deformation module 128 provided between the first deformation module and the trailing end, the second deformation module comprising at least one deformation element extending outwardly from the body perpendicular to the centre axis, the deformation element defining a second deformation circle having a circle centre that substantially coincides with the centre axis and having a cross-section smaller than the first deformation circle. Using the deformation member 120, a non-destructive deformation of a conduit may be established, for example according to the following steps. By pulling the deformation member through the conduit, like a pipe, the conduit is deformed. In particular, the shape of the cross-section is deformed. More in particular, the cross-section of the conduit is enlarged in one direction by enlarging the cross-section dimension. With the conduit having a circularly shaped cross-section, the cross- section dimension is the diameter of the conduit. With a rectangular or square cross- section, the cross-section dimension may be a diagonal of the rectangle. Alternatively, the cross-section dimension may be substantially equal to the length of a side of the rectangle. More in general, the cross-section dimension may be the shortest possible length of a straight line through the centre of the conduit, from wall to wall of the conduit. By applying a subsequent deformation by means of the second deformation module, the first deformation is at least partially undone. This may result for example in reinstating the initial circular cross-section and in any case in reduction of the cross-section enlarged by means of the first deformation. But with reduction of that cross-section, the medium does not necessarily flow back at its original location: voids are left. And in those voids, there is no contact between the outer surface of the conduit and the medium. And therefore, the amount of friction between the conduit and the medium is reduced. Figs. 2B, 3A and 3B depict another optional step of filling the separated section 107 with a filler material, such as concrete. The filler material is used to fill a void left behind underground by the separated section 107 when the separated section 107 has been removed. Fig. 6A for example depicts the filler material 602 in this void. Without the filler material 602, the ground above the void may collapse into the void. The filler material 602 may initially be in an at least partially fluid state as it enters the separated section. After an amount of time, the filler material 602 may set into a substantially solid state. This amount of time may be larger than the amount of time required to remove the separated section 107 from the ground. The filler material may also be applied in the examples of Fig. 9A-10D. Fig. 2B depicts an optional filler conduit 129 connected to or at least in fluid communication with an upstream end 127 of the separated section 107. The filler conduit 129 is arranged for having filler material flowing therethrough, and as such, filler material may be supplied to the upstream end 127 of the separated section 107 via the filler conduit 129. The filler conduit 129 may be bent upwards, and as such an inlet 125 of the filler conduit 129 may be positioned above the upstream end 127 of the separated section 107. This higher position may prevent leakage of filler material out of the separated section 107, for example into the first pit 101. A plug 121 may be present between the filler material 602 and the deformation member 120, to prevent leakage of the filler material 602 towards the deformation member 120. The plug 121 is pulled further into the separated section 107 of conduit, for example because 121 the plug is connected to the deformation member 120 which is also pulled through the separated section 107. The plug 121 may substantially seal against an inner wall of the separated section 107. As the plug 121 is pulled further into the separated section 107, the filler material 602 may also be pulled further into the separated section 107 - in particular when no or only a small amount of air is present between the filler material 602 and the plug 121. When no deformation member 120 is used, the plug 121 may be pulled through the separated section 107, for example from the downstream end of the separated section 107. Fig. 3A depicts a situation wherein part of the separated section 107 of conduit has been filled with filler material 602. In the situation depicted in Fig. 3B, the majority of the separated section 107 has been filled with filler material 602 and the plug 121 has arrived at a downstream end 132 of the separated section 107 of conduit. When the optional step of filling the separated section 107 with filler material 602 is used, the pulling of the separated section 107 in the downstream direction may commence after the majority of the separated section 107 has been filled with filler material 602. During this pulling, the plug 121 may remain substantially at the same position, for example because the plug 121 is connected via a tension element 604 such as a rod, rope, cable or any other tension element. The tension element 604 extends in an upstream direction towards an upstream end of the separated section 107, and may even extend through the filler conduit 129. As the plug 121 is held in position whilst the separated section 107 is pulled downstream, starting at the upstream end of the separated section 107, filler material is released from the separated section 107 of conduit. The plug 121 may be at least partially elastically deformed in the conduit to form a circumferential seal. As a further option, an outer surface of the plug 121 which contacts an inner surface of the conduit may provide a low coefficient of friction, for example by virtue of a material comprised by the plug, a coating, a material processing step such as polishing, or any combination thereof. A low coefficient of friction between the plug 121 and the inner wall of the conduit may allow for convenient insertion of the plug 121, and for keeping the plug 121 in place while the conduit is pulled downstream conveniently. A plug 121 may for example resemble or be embodied as a pig or scraper, which are known in the field of pipeline maintenance. As can be seen in Figs. 2A-3B, part of the first pit 101 or the entire first pit 101 may be refilled, for example with ground, soil, or any other filling material. This refilling may provide support for the filler conduit 192, in particular for maintaining an orientation of the filler conduit 192 such to keep the filler inlet 125 at a higher level than the separated section 107 of conduit. Figs.4A and 4B depict steps of pulling the separated section 107 towards an anchor 140 in the downstream direction for removing at least a downstream end of the separated section from the ground. In the embodiments of Fig.4A and 4B, the anchor 140 is positioned partially into the anchor section 108 of conduit. As such, the anchor 140 may connect to an inner wall of the anchor section 108 of conduit, for example using one or more radial clamping members. Additionally, or alternatively, for any anchor 140 in any method disclosed herein, the anchor 140 may be connected to an outer wall of the anchor section 108 and / or to an end face of the anchor section 108. Further additionally, or alternatively, the anchor 140 may be wrapped around the anchor section 108. Between the anchor 140 and the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107, a conduit pulling unit 142 is positioned. Many embodiments of pulling units may be used, which may for example be arranged to constitute a reciprocal pulling action in a direction parallel to an elongation direction of a downstream end of the separated section and / or a direction parallel to an elongation direction of an upstream end of the anchor section. During the reciprocal pulling action, part of the conduit pulling unit 142, such as a conduit connection element 143, may pass through a severing module, such as a cutting machine 152. It is also envisioned that at least part of the conduit pulling unit 142 can be positioned inside the separated section 107 and / or anchor section 108. This may for example be used in case of an underground conduit with a large diameter, and allows for a smaller pit to be dug. Instead of or in addition to a reciprocal pulling action, a continuous pulling action may be performed by the conduit pulling unit 142. For example, one or more rollers, wheels, tracks, or other rolling elements may engage the separated section at an inner wall and / or outer wall thereof. By rotation the rolling elements, a continuous pulling action may be achieved. This applies for any conduit pulling unit disclosed herein, in conjunction for example with any of the figures. In the particular embodiment of Figs. 4A and 4B, the pulling unit 142 comprises a conduit clamp 144 for clamping an outer wall of the downstream end 106 of conduit of the separated section 107. As an example, the conduit clamp 144 comprises a tapered housing 145 with one or more wedges 146 positioned in the housing 145. With this arrangement, a self-locking radial clamping mechanism is obtained. Other examples of a conduit clamp are for example a locking collar or chuck, which for example may comprise one or more jaws for engaging an outer wall of a conduit. Alternatively, a conduit clamp may clamp on the inside of a conduit, or on the inside as well as the outside of the conduit. The outside of the conduit may comprise a curved outer surface of the conduit parallel to an elongation direction of the conduit and / or an outer surface of the conduit approximately perpendicular or at least at an angle relative to the elongation direction of the conduit. Any conduit clamp may be self-centering relative to the conduit. A conduit clamp is an example of a conduit connection element. By virtue of a conduit connection element, any conduit can be connected to the conduit pulling unit. In other example, the conduit connection element is a body which is welded to a conduit, for example to an inner wall, outer wall, and / or end face of a conduit. The anchors described herein are another example of a conduit connection element, in use used to connect the conduit pulling unit to an anchor section. The conduit clamp 144 is connected to an actuator for moving the conduit claim 144 at least in the downstream direction for pulling the separated section 107 in the downstream direction. The actuator may for example be a hydraulic or pneumatic actuator, comprising a piston 147 and a cylinder 148. In Fig. 4A, the piston 147 is in an extended state, and in Fig.4B, the piston 147 is retracted into the cylinder 148. For clarity of the figures, the actuator is not depicted in all of the figures. It will be appreciated that any conduit pulling unit disclosed herein may comprise the actuator. Between the situations of Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the separated section 107 has been pulled downstream out of the ground and into the second pit 102. As can be seen, the optional plug 121 has remained substantially at the same location. As an option, the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107 of conduit which extends into the second pit 102 may be cut-off and lifted out of the second pit 102. Figs. 5A and 5B depict a particular situation wherein the separated section 107 of conduit has been bent. In particular, a centreline 151 is generally indicated in Fig. 5A, which represents a centreline of the separated section 107 as well as the anchor section 108, which two section may thus be positioned coaxially. Any bending module may be used to bend the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107. For example, the downstream end 106 may be pulled or pushed over a curved surface which deforms the downstream end 106 for creating a bend – i.e. changing the orientation of the downstream end 106 relative to its original centreline 151. The bending module may be positioned downstream relative to the conduit clamp 144. With the bend, the downstream end 106 may be orientated at least partially upwards, i.e. towards the ground surface. This allows part of the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107 to become positioned above the anchor 140, as visible in Figs. 5A and 5B. In general, bending or re-orientating the downstream end 106 may allow from a smaller second pit 102 to be dug. Smaller here implies less broad in the elongation direction of the conduit. For example, above the anchor 140, a cutting machine 152 may be positioned. It will be appreciated that the cutting machine 152 may in general be positioned anywhere that the separated section 107 may be pulled towards, for example anywhere in the second pit 102. The cutting machine 152 is arranged for cutting-off a piece of conduit, in particular of the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107. Fig. 5B shows a cut-off section 106’ separated from the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107. The cut-off section 106’ may be pulled or lifted out of the second pit 102. A cutting machine may use one or more of a cutting action, sawing action, or breaking action to cut off a piece of conduit. Cutting blades of a cutting machine may for example be positioned around an opening, which may be a circular opening, which opening is sufficiently large to accommodate the conduit. As such, the conduit may be pushed or pulled through the cutting machine, while the cutting machine may remain at the same position. By moving the cutting blades inwards towards the conduit, the conduit may be cut. Fig. 6A depicts a situation wherein the separated section 107 has been entirely or almost entirely pulled out of the ground. As such, as the option discussed in conjunction with Figs.2B, 3A and 3B, the void in the ground where the separated section 107 used to be is at least partially filled with filler material 602. The plug 121 may remain in place to prevent leakage of the filler material 602 if the filler material 602 is still at least partially in fluid state. The plug 121 may be optionally removed before the second pit 102 is closed if the filler material 602 has sufficiently set into a solid state. Fig. 6B depicts a situation wherein the force required to pull the separated section 107 out of the ground may exceed a force with which the anchor section 108 is held in the ground. To prevent a situation wherein the pulling device 144 pulls out the anchor section 108 instead of the separated section 107, an additional anchor 164 may be used. The additional anchor 164 may be used in combination with the anchor 140, or on its own. The third pit 103 may provide access to a downstream end 161 of the anchor section 108. This downstream end 161 may be the outer downstream end of the entire conduit 100. The additional anchor 164 may in use be connected to the pulling device 144 via a tension member 163 extending through the anchor section 108, optionally via the anchor 140. When the downstream end 161 of the anchor section 108 is not underground, or is already exposed for example at an industrial site, digging the third pit 103 may not be required. The additional anchor 164 may comprise a broadened section 165 positioned downstream of the anchor section 108 and outside the anchor section 108. The broadened section 165 has a footprint exceeding a cross-sectional area of the anchor section of the conduit. As such, the broadened section 165 may be positioned upstream of the anchor section 108 such that it cannot be pulled into the anchor section 108. Instead, the broadened section 165 when pulled in an upstream direction anchors not only anchors behind the anchor section 108 but also to the ground surrounding the downstream end of the anchor section 108. Additionally or alternatively to having a broadened section 165, any additional anchor may be connected to an inner wall, outer wall, and / or end face of the anchor section, at or near the downstream end of the anchor section. It will thus be understood that any conduit connection element as disclosed herein may be used as an additional anchor. The anchor section 108 may be removed from the ground using any conventional pipe removal method, for example after the entire separated section has been removed. Figs.7A-7C schematically show a section view of an underground conduit 100, in particular a separated section 107 and an anchor section 108 of the conduit. Figs. 7A-7C depict consecutive steps of a method of removing a section of underground conduit 100. In general, features and options discussed in conjunction with Figs. 1A-6B are readily applicable to the examples of Fig. 7A-10D and Figs. 12A-15B, for example relating to the conduit, anchor, conduit pulling unit, filler material, plug, deformation member, any pit, any tension member, intermediate pulley, separated section, and any other feature. Vice versa, features and options discussed in conjunction with Figs.7A-10D and Figs.12A-15B are readily applicable to the examples of Fig.1A-6B. In Fig.7A, a conduit pulling unit 142 has been connected to the separated section 107 of the conduit and to an anchor section 108 of the conduit. In general, the separated section 107 refers to any section of the conduit with two free ends, and which thus can be pulled through the ground 199. A free end of the separated section may be formed by severing the underground conduit 100, for example in the first pit. A conduit connection element 143 is used to connect the conduit pulling unit 142 to the separated section 107, in particular the downstream end 106. In Fig. 7B, the conduit pulling unit 142 has been used to pull the separated section 107 towards the anchor section 108. As such, a length of the downstream end 106 of the separated section is removed from the ground 199. As generally indicated in Fig. 7B, at a severing location 153, the downstream end 106 of the separated section can be severed from the remainder of the separated section using a severing module (not depicted in the figure). The severing module may for example be or comprise any cutting machine disclosed herein. In general, a severing module may sever the conduit from the outside inward, or from the inside out. In Fig. 7C, the severed downstream end 106’ is shown removed from the second pit 102 in which the conduit pulling unit 142 is positioned. To allow the severed downstream end 106’ to be removed, the conduit connection element 143 has to be disconnected from the severed downstream end 106’. In the situation depicted in Fig. 7C, the conduit connection element 143 has to be disconnected from the severed downstream end 106’, and connected again to the newly formed distal end 106 of the separated conduit 107. In this step, it is envisioned that the conduit connection element 143 can move through or at least past the severing location 153, and thus through or at least past the severing module, preferably without having to move the severing module. The steps of pulling the separated section towards the anchor section and severing the downstream end of the separated section from the remainder of the separated section may be repeated until a desired length of the separated section has been removed, which desired length may correspond to the entire length of the separated section. As an option, for any conduit pulling unit disclosed herein, it is envisioned that the movement of the conduit connection element 143 towards the downstream end 106 of the separated conduit 107 after having severed the previous downstream end 106 from the separated conduit is used to move the severed section 106’ out of the pit 102. For example, the severed section 106’ may first move out of the centreline of the conduit, for example using gravity, and subsequently an arm or other body which is coupled to the conduit connection element 143 can push the severed section 106’ up a tilted slide and out of the pit 102. As such, a convenient way of moving severed conduit sections may be obtained which uses the same actuator which is also used to move the conduit connection element 143. Fig.8 schematically shows an upstream end 109 of the separated conduit 107, which separated conduit has been pulled partially towards the anchor, thereby leaving behind a void 202 upstream of the upstream end 109 of the separated conduit 107. As an option applicable to any method and separated conduit disclosed herein, a particle collection device 200 may be positioned upstream of the separated conduit 107. The particle collection device 200 may be used to collect any matter which originated from the conduit 100, and would be left behind in the void 202 when not collected. The matter may for example be parts of a coating of the conduit which breaks off the conduit due to the removal of the conduit, for example a bitumen coating. The particle collection device 200 comprises a device body 204, which comprises an entrance 203 through which particles of varying size can enter the device body 204. In use, typically, the entrance 203 faces the separated conduit 207. Preferably, the device body 204 comprises one or more apertures, through which sand, clay, dust, and / or other components of the ground 199 can pass. However, particles to be caught cannot pass through one or more apertures. The particles can be guided towards an upstream end of the device body 204, where preferably a conduit 212 is in fluid communication with the device body 204, such that particles can pass from the body 204 into the conduit 212. For example using suction, the collected particles may pass through the conduit 212 to a location above ground. As such, the particles are removed from the void 202, and for example cannot contaminate the environment underground. The conduit 212 may for example end at or near the first pit 101. With reference to Figs. 9A-10D, the conduit 212 may again be used as a filling conduit 900 for transporting filler material 602 through. The device body 204 is connected to the separated conduit 107, preferably to an inner wall of the conduit 107. For example, one or more struts 210 may be used to connect the device body 204 to the separated conduit 107. By virtue of this connection, the device body 204 can be pulled in the downstream direction together with the separated conduit 107. Teeth 206 may be connected to the device body 204, wherein the teeth 206 are spaced apart from each other to act as a rake to guide particles of at least a particular size towards the entrance 203 and / or into the device body 204, while allowing passage of sand, mud, and / or soil between the teeth 206. An outer diameter d described by distal ends of the teeth 206 may correspond to an outer diameter of the conduit 100, or may be larger or smaller than an outer diameter of the conduit 100. Typically, the size of the particles to be collected may be in the order of millimetres, for example 5 mm or more, or 10 mm or more. The size of the particles to be collected is typically larger than the typical particle size of particles forming the ground in which the conduit is positioned. Figs. 9A-9D schematically show steps in a method of filling an underground void 202 formed by removal of an underground conduit 100, in particular the separated section 107 of the conduit. In Fig. 9A, a filling conduit 900 has been connected to the separated section 107, for example at the first pit 101. Furthermore, in Fig. 9A, the separated section 107 has already been moved downstream, and part of the separated section 107 has already been removed at and / or in the second pit 102. Because the filling conduit 900 has been connected to the separated section 107, in particular at an upstream end of the separated section 107, the filling conduit 900 is pulled through the void 202 left behind underground. In Fig. 9B, the separated section 107 has been removed, and the filling conduit 900 has been disconnected from the separated section 107. Optionally, the first pit 101 has been closed. When a pump 902 is now connected to a first end of the filling conduit 900 at or near the second pit 102, filling fluid 602 can be pumped into the underground void 202. In Fig. 9C, the underground void 202 is partially filled with the filler material 602. While the underground void 202 is being filled, the filling conduit 900 may be retracted from the underground void 202. Fig. 9D shows the underground void 202 filled with filler material 602, and the second pit 102 closed. Figs. 10A-10D schematically show steps in another method of filling an underground void 202 formed by removal of an underground conduit 100, in particular the separated section 107 of the conduit. Compared to the method depicted in Figs.9A-9D, here, the pump 902 is connected at or near the first pit 101. This for example allows the conduit 900 to be unwound from a spool 904, and the length of the conduit 900 does not need to exactly match the length of the void 202 to be filled. With reference to Figs. 9A-10D, the present disclosure thus envisions a method of filling an underground void formed by removing a section of underground conduit, the method comprising: - connecting a filling conduit to the separated section; - moving the filling conduit by pulling the separated section towards the anchor section; - disconnecting the filling conduit from the separated section when the filling conduit passes through void; and - filling the void with filer material supplied through the filling conduit while retracting the filling conduit from the void. Figs. 11A and 11B show a particular example of a conduit connection element 143, which may be applied in any method disclosed herein, for example to connect to the separated conduit section 107 or to the anchor section 108. The conduit connection element 143 comprises an inner wedge 1102 and an outer wedge 1104, which are moveable relative to each other using an actuator. The actuator for example is a hydraulic, pneumatic, or electric actuator. The inner wedge 1102 comprises a plurality of distinct outward facing wedge surfaces 1103 arranged to each cooperate with a respective inward facing wedge surface 1105 of the outer wedge 1104. When the inner wedge 1102 is moved relative to the outer wedge 1104, the outer wedge is radially moved outward by virtue of the wedge surfaces 1103, 1105. An outer surface 1110 of the outer wedge may in use as such engage the inner wall of a conduit, such as the separated conduit or an anchor conduit. For example, the inner wedge 1102 may comprise two, three, four, five, or even more outward facing wedge surfaces 1103 which are spaced apart in a direction parallel to the centreline 1112. Typically, the outward facing wedge surfaces 1103 are parallel to each other, and offset in the direction parallel to the centreline 1112. The movement between the inner wedge 1102 and the outer wedge 1104 may be guided by virtue of guiding bodies 1106 and guiding slots 1107 comprised by the conduit connection element 143. Preferably, the guiding bodies 1106 and guiding slots 1107 restrict degrees of freedom between the inner wedge 1102 and the outer wedge 1104 other than the movement in parallel to the centreline 1112 and the radial movement of the outer wedge 1104. The outer wedge 1104 may be formed by multiple rigid wedge parts disposed around the centreline 1112. Additionally or alternatively, the outer wedge 1104 may be resiliently deformable to allow the radial expansion. Figs.12A and 12B show respective steps in a further method for removing a section of underground conduit 100. For removing the section of underground conduit 100, a conduit pulling unit 142 is used, which as an example here is embodied as a winch. Prior to the situation depicted in Fig. 12A, as generally depicted for example in Fig. 1B, a first pit 101, second pit 102, and optional third pit 103 have been created by removing ground 199. In the first pit 101, second pit 102, and optionally also in the third pit 103, respective first, second, and an optional third sections of the underground conduit 100 have been exposed. As depicted in Fig.12A, the exposed sections of the underground conduit 100, or at least part thereof, have been removed. For any underground conduit, any number of pits may be formed to remove the entire underground conduit in any number of sections. By virtue of the removal of at least part of the exposed conduit section in the first pit 101, a downstream end 106 of a separated section 107 of the conduit 100 becomes exposed and accessible. By virtue of the removal of at least part of the exposed conduit section in the second pit 102, the anchor section 108 – in particular an upstream end 162 of the anchor section 108 - becomes accessible. Compared to the situation depicted e.g. in Fig. 1C, the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107 is now exposed in the first pit 101. To allow the separated section 107 to be moved towards the anchor section 108, an upstream end of the separated section 107 (not depicted in Fig.12A or 12B) may be separated from a further upstream part of the conduit 100, or the upstream end of the separated section 107 is the outer end of the conduit 100. As an option depicted in Fig. 12A, a further conduit section 170 extends between the first pit 101 and the second pit 101. During the process of removing the separated section 107, the further conduit section 170 typically remains in place. As an alternative to the method depicted in Figs. 12A-12B, the further conduit section 170 may be removed prior to removing the separated conduit section. In alternative examples, the further conduit section 170 remains connected to the anchor section 108, and a tension member 177 can be wrapped around the anchor section 108. The further conduit section 170 is typically the result of a desired increased distance between the downstream end 106 of the separated conduit section 107 and the upstream end 162 of the anchor section 108 – compared for example the situation of Fig. 1C in which the downstream end 106 of the separated conduit section 107 and the upstream end 162 of the anchor section 108 are positioned in the same pit. Preferably, a distance between the downstream end 106 of the separated conduit section 107 and the upstream end 162 of the anchor section 108 is at least 25 metres, preferably at least 50 metres, even more preferably at least 75 metres or even 100 metres or more. It will be appreciated that Figs. 12A-12B are not to scale. The distance between the downstream end 106 of the separated conduit section 107 and the upstream end 162 of the anchor section 108 may be indicative of a maximum length of the separated section 107 which can be removed in a single removal action. This maximum length may even be 200 metres or more, or even 400 metres or more. As depicted in Figs. 12A-12B, the conduit pulling unit 142 can be positioned above the further conduit section 170 – or above where the further conduit section 170 used to be present when the further conduit section 170 is removed. More in general, the conduit pulling unit 142 may – as depicted – be positioned at a higher level than the separated section 107 and the anchor section 108. This may decrease the required size of the second pit 102. Between the situations depicted in Figs. 12A and 12B, using the conduit pulling unit 170, the separated section 107 has been pulled towards the anchor section 108 such that at least a downstream end 106 of the separated section is removed from the ground 199. During the process of pulling the separated section 107 from the ground 199, the conduit pulling unit 170 preferably remains essentially stationary. By virtue of the conduit pulling unit 142 being connected to the anchor section 108, the conduit pulling unit 142 can remain essentially stationary even when a large pulling force has to be exerted onto the separated section in order to move the separated section. Also in the example of Fig. 12A and 12B, the conduit pulling unit can be connected to the separated section and to the anchor section in any manner as described in the present disclosure. Preferably, but not necessarily, the conduit pulling unit is connected to the separated section and / or the anchor section using a tension member such as cable, rope, rod, or chain. When the conduit pulling unit 142 is positioned at a higher level than the separated section 107, and when the conduit pulling unit 142 is connected to the separated section 107 via any tension member 176, such as a rope, cable, rod, or chain, the tension member 176 can be guided over a guiding member 175, which guiding member 175 may comprise a sheave, pulley, one or more rollers, or any other guiding element. In particular, the guiding member 175 allows a bend to be formed in the tension member 176. The tension member 176 is preferably flexible to allow an operator to move the tension module 176 conveniently relative to the separated section. As a further option, preferably, a further tension member 177, such as a rope, cable, rod, or chain, is used to connect the conduit pulling unit 142 with the anchor section 108. Also here, the further tension member 177 is preferably flexible to allow for convenient positioning of the further tension member 177 relative to the anchor section 108, in particular when the conduit pulling unit 142 is positioned higher than the anchor section 108, typically requiring a bend in the further tension member 177. As can be seen in Fig.12B, at the downstream end, the separated section 107 is also bent upwards to allow the separated section to be pulled towards the conduit pulling unit 142. The separated section 107 may be bent over the guiding member 175. In Fig. 12B, downstream of the bend, the separated section 107 is depicted as being generally horizontal. It will be understood that the separated section 107 downstream of the bend may be at any angle relative to horizontal. In the situation depicted in Fig.12B, at least part of the separated section 107 pulled out of the ground can be cut off, for example using any cutting method and severing module, in particular cutting machine, disclosed herein. With the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107 cut off, a new downstream end 106 is formed and the method of removing a section of underground conduit can be repeated until a sufficient length of the separated section 107 – and preferably the entire separated section 107, is removed. It is also envisioned that the entire separated section 107 is pulled out in a single pulling action, and thus any cutting action may not be necessary. In the method depicted in Figs. 12A-12B, a winch 142, in particular a traction winch, can be used as the conduit pulling unit. Figs. 13A-13C shows steps in a further method of removing an underground conduit. In the situation depicted in Fig. 13A, the conduit pulling unit comprises a winch 142, which is connected to the separated section 107 using a tension member 176, and a conduit connection element 143 coupled to the tension member 176. As an option, the tension member 176 passes through a further conduit section 170, but the further conduit section 170 may also be omitted. The winch is a preferably a traction winch 142. As an option depicted in conjunction with Figs. 13A-13C, and shown in more detail in Fig. 15A, but generally applicable whenever a conduit pulling unit comprises a winch 142, the tension member 176 is guided over a second guiding member 179 and a first guiding member 171. The first guiding member 171 is coupled to the winch 142. The second guiding member 179 and the first guiding member 171 are coupled via a rigid coupling member 172, for example a rigid beam. Any guiding member can be embodied as a sheave, in particular a sheave with flanges between which the tension member 176 is positioned, such as a guide sheave or deflection sheave. The tension member 176 is guided over the first guiding member 171, and under the second guiding member 179. The second guiding member 179 is connected to the anchor section 108, for example via any anchor 140. Because the second guiding member 179 is connected to the anchor section 108, and also coupled to the winch 142 via the rigid coupling member 172, the force exerted onto the winch 142 while pulling the separated section 107 towards the anchor section 108 can be reduced – thereby reducing a risk of the winch 142 moving while pulling the separated section 107 towards the anchor section 108. As depicted in Fig. 13A, it is thus envisioned that at least part of the conduit pulling unit 142 is positioned above ground, in particular above the anchor section 108. Between the situations depicted in Fig. 13A and 13B, the separated section 107 has been pulled towards the anchor section 108. At a severing location 153, the downstream end 106 of the separated section can be severed from the remainder of the separated section using a severing module (not depicted in the figure). Alternatively, the entire separated section 107 is entirely pulled from the ground. In the situation depicted in Fig. 13C, the severed downstream end 106 of the separated section has been removed. For any method in which the conduit connection element 143 is connected to the conduit pulling unit via a tension member 176, a connection element actuator 192 (only depicted in Fig. 13C) may be provided for moving the conduit connection element 143 towards and preferably also at least partially into the newly formed downstream end 106 of the separated conduit 107. The conduit connection element 143 may be connected to, in particular suspended from, the connection element actuator 192 using any connection element, in particular a suspension element 194. The connection element actuator 192 may for example comprise a rotating chain to which the suspension element 194 is coupled, a hydraulic actuator to which the suspension element 194, or any other actuator for moving the suspension element 194. For example, the suspension element 194 may be coupled to the connection element actuator 192 by one or more rolling elements. By operating the connection element actuator 192, the conduit connection element 143 can thus be inserted into the separated conduit 107 is a more automated manner. Fig.14A depicts an optional method step, wherein a conduit deformation member 120 – for example as disclosed herein in conjunction with Fig. 2A – is connected to the tension member 176 connected to the conduit pulling unit 142. The conduit pulling unit 142 preferably is a winch, in particular a traction winch. When the tension member 176 already passes through the further conduit section 170, for example because it has been used to pull a separated conduit section from the void 202, the tension member 176 can also be used to pull the conduit deformation member 120 through the further conduit section 170. A conduit pulling unit 142 may be connected to any tension member 176 disclosed herein, which tension member 176 passes through any conduit section. Using the same tension member 176 which was previously connected to a conduit section to remove the conduit section to pull a conduit deformation member 120 through a further conduit section may reduce time required to remove an underground conduit. Fig. 14B shows yet another option, applicable to any other method disclosed herein, wherein a single pit 101 is formed into which the separated section 107 is pulled. The further conduit section 170 depicted in other figures is thus an optional feature. Fig. 15B shows yet another option applicable to any method wherein a further conduit section 170 is present between the separated section 107 and the anchor section (not shown in Fig. 15B). The tension member 176, connected to a conduit pulling unit such as a winch (not shown in Fig. 15B) is here coupled to an intermediate pulley 181. In particular, the tension member 176 is wrapped around the intermediate pulley 181, and the tension member 176 is – in particular at or near its outer end - anchored to the further conduit section 170, for example using any conduit connection element disclosed herein. The intermediate pulley 181 is coupled to the separated section 107, for example with a further tension member 183 and the conduit connection element 143. Thus, the tension member 176 can be used to pull the separated section 107 towards the further conduit section via the intermediate pulley 181. Because the tension member 176 is wrapped around the intermediate pulley 181, the pulling force on the separated section is advantageously increased. Optional features in the summary section and / or disclosed in conjunction with Figs.1A-11B and Figs.14A-15B may be readily applied to the method depicted in Fig.12A-12B and 13A-13C, for example but not limited to features relating to the underground conduit, any conduit section and subsection, any pit, the conduit deformation member and use thereof, filling any conduit section such as the separated section, with any filler material disclosed herein, for example using any filler conduit disclosed herein, using any plug disclosed herein, features relating to an anchor to connect to the anchor section, any conduit clamp or other method and equipment to connect to the separated section, use of any other conduit connection element to connect to the anchor section and / or separated section, bending of any conduit section, use of any bending module disclosed herein, use of any cutting machine disclosed herein for cutting-ff a piece of conduit, in particular of the downstream end 106 of the separated section 107, use of any additional anchor, in particular in combination with any tension member, the use of any particle collection device disclosed herein, adding one or more steps of any method of filling an underground void formed by removal of an underground conduit, in any combination thereof. It will be appreciated that for conciseness, it is not appropriate to write out each and every combination envisioned by the present disclosure. For any method in which the conduit pulling unit 142 is connected to the anchor section 108, a tension member may be used to connect the conduit pulling unit 142 to the anchor section 108. The tension member may be wrapped around the anchor section 108, and / or a further connection element may be wrapped around the anchor section 108, clamped to the anchor section 108, and / or otherwise connected to the anchor section. This may prevent having to remove part of the underground conduit to allow a conduit connection element or other component to be inserted into the anchor section. For any method for removing a section of underground conduit, it is envisioned that subsequently different conduit pulling units are used for a single separated section. For example, a first conduit pulling unit may be used to provide a larger pulling force, whereas a second conduit pulling is used to provide an increase pulling speed. The first pulling unit may for example be a pulling unit disclosed in conjunction with Figs. 7A-7C, and the second pulling may for example comprise a winch. Although in figures 12A-15B the conduit pulling unit 142, in particular as a winch, is depicted as positioned outside the pits, for any method, it is also envisioned that the winch is positioned inside a pit and / or below ground level. The present disclosure contemplates at least the following numbered embodiments: 1. Method for removing a section of underground conduit (100), the method comprising the steps of: - connecting a conduit pulling unit (142) to a separated section (107) of the underground conduit; - connecting the conduit pulling unit to an anchor section (108) of an underground conduit; and - using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor section for removing at least a downstream end (106) of the separated section from the ground (199). 2. Method according to embodiment 1, wherein the anchor section was previously connected to the separated section. 3. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit is positioned at a higher level than the separated section 4. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit is positioned at a higher level than the anchor section. 5. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit is positioned on ground level of the ground through (199) which the separated section extends. 6. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein a further conduit section (170) is separated from the underground conduit, which further conduit section was previously connected between the anchor section and the separated section. 7. Method according to embodiment 6, wherein the conduit pulling unit is positioned above the further conduit section. 8. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit comprises a winch, in particular a traction winch. 9. Method according any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit is connected to the anchor section with a tension member such as a cable, rope, rod or chain. 10. Method according to embodiment 9, wherein the tension member extends through the anchor section. 11. Method according any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit is coupled to the separated section (107) with a tension member such as a cable, rope, rod or chain. 12. Method according to embodiment 11, wherein the tension member coupled to the separated section is further coupled to the anchor section. 13. Method according to embodiment 12, wherein the tension member (176) is guided over a first guiding member (171) and subsequently under a second guiding member (179), which first guiding member is coupled to the conduit pulling unit, which second guiding member is coupled to the anchor section, and which first guiding member and second guiding member are coupled via a rigid coupling member (172). 14. Method according to any of the embodiments 11-13, wherein the tension member is wrapped around an intermediate pulley (181), the tension member is coupled to a further conduit section between the separated section and the anchor section, and the intermediate pulley is coupled to the separated section. 15. Method according to any of the embodiments 11-14, wherein the tension member (176) passes through a further conduit section (170) positioned between the separated conduit section and the anchor section. 16. Method according to embodiment 15, further comprising connecting a conduit deformation member (120) to the tension member, and pulling the conduit deformation member through the further conduit section. 17. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit remains essentially stationary while pulling the separated section towards the anchor section. 18. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the conduit pulling unit is positioned above the anchor section. 19. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the separated section comprises at least one curved section. 20. Method according to any of the preceding embodiments, wherein the entire separated section is pulled towards the anchor section and out of the ground as a whole. 21. Arrangement for removing a section of underground conduit, the arrangement comprising: - a conduit pulling unit for pulling a separated section of the underground conduit towards an anchor section of the underground conduit; - a first conduit connection element for connecting the conduit pulling unit to the separated section; and - a second conduit connection element for connecting the conduit pulling unit to the anchor section, wherein the conduit pulling unit is arranged for pulling the first conduit connection element towards the second conduit connection element. For completeness, although already derivable from the disclosure above, it will be understood that the arrangement for removing a section of underground conduit may be augmented with any feature and option disclosed in conjunction with any method for removing a section of underground conduit, in any combination, for example but not necessarily as disclosed in conjunction with the figures. As non-limitative examples, the arrangement may further comprise any other device, such as any conduit pulling unit, separation unit, connecting member, winch, traction winch, tension member, conduit deformation member, device for filling a separated section with filler material, filler conduit, plug, anchor, conduit clamp, cutting machine, additional anchor, intermediate pulley, device for severing the underground conduit, severing module, particle collection device, filling conduit, pump, conduit connection element, guiding member, further tension member, second guiding member, connection element actuator, suspension element, in any combination thereof. It will be appreciated that for conciseness, it is not appropriate to write out each and every combination envisioned by the present disclosure.

Claims

Claims 1. Method for removing a section of underground conduit, the method comprising the steps of: - connecting a conduit pulling unit to a separated section of the underground conduit; - connecting the conduit pulling unit to an anchor section of the underground conduit, which anchor section was previously connected to the separated section; and - using the conduit pulling unit, pulling the separated section towards the anchor section for removing at least a downstream end of the separated section from the ground.

2. Method according to claim 1, further comprising severing the downstream end of the separated section from the remainder of the separated section using a severing module, after pulling the separated section towards the anchor section.

3. Method according to claim 2, wherein the conduit pulling unit is connected to the separated section via a conduit connection element, and the conduit connection element is moved towards the remainder of the separated section after the severing of the downstream end of the separated section through the severing module.

4. Method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the downstream end of the separated section is oriented essentially horizontally.

5. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor is inserted into the anchor section and is connected to an inner wall of the anchor section.

6. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor is connected to an outer wall of the anchor section.

7. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the anchor is connected to an end face of the anchor section, for example by welding the anchor to the end face of the anchor section.

8. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the connecting of the conduit pulling unit to the separated section comprises connecting an outer gripper to an outer wall of the downstream end of the separated section.

9. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein pulling the separated section towards the anchor is achieved by any number of reciprocal pulling actions of the conduit pulling unit.

10. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising exposing a downstream end of the anchor section, wherein the anchor is connected to the anchor section at or near the downstream end of the anchor section.

11. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising, prior to the pulling of the separated section, establishing a deformation of a cross- sectional shape of the separated section.

12. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising filling at least part of the separated section with a filler material prior to and / or during pulling of the separated section.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising providing the filler material to an upstream end of the separated section through a filler material conduit, of which an inlet is positioned higher than the upstream end of the separated section.

14. The method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein connecting the anchor comprises positioning an anchor with a footprint larger than a cross- sectional area of a downstream opening of the anchor section downstream of the anchor section and connecting the anchor to the conduit pulling unit via a connecting member, which connecting member extends through the anchor section and / or connecting an anchor at or near a downstream end of the anchor section.

15. The method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising: - filling the separated section with a filler material; and - allowed the filler material to fill a void left behind by the separated section after the separated section has been removed.

16. Method according to claim 15, further comprising positioning a plug in the separated section between a downstream end of the separated section and the filler material, and essentially maintaining a position of the plug while pulling the separated section towards the anchor section.

17. Method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising connecting a particle collection device to the separated section, which particle collection device comprises a device body with one or more apertures, through which sand, clay, dust, and / or other components of the ground can pass.

18. Method according to claim 17, further comprising, via a conduit (212), transporting particles from the device body to a location above ground, using suction.

19. Method of filling an underground void formed by removing a section of underground conduit with a method according to any of the preceding claims, the method comprising: - connecting a filling conduit to the separated section; - moving the filling conduit by pulling the separated section towards the anchor section; - disconnecting the filling conduit from the separated section when the filling conduit passes through void; and- filling the void with filer material supplied through the filling conduit while retracting the filling conduit from the void.

Images