Over 2.5 million miles of pipeline in the US lay beneath farmland, ranchland, and across our country. Pipelines are the safest mode of transportation in the United States. A barrel of crude oil or petroleum product shipped by pipeline reaches its destination safely more than 99.9999% of the time.

Pipeline operators work hard to ensure that health, safety, security, and environmental concerns are all addressed. Pipeline companies work to prevent releases by evaluating, inspecting, and maintaining pipelines in a program called Integrity Management. Much of the activity you see out on the pipeline right-of-way (ROW) is company personnel ensuring the safe and reliable operation of the system.

Some of the common activities you may notice qualified pipeline representatives performing:

Aerial Patrol

Pipeline representatives fly over pipelines at regular intervals to perform inspections. They look for discolored ground, dying vegetation, or a sheen on the water as signs of a possible leak.

Nearby construction is noted and a call to the local field office is made. Pilots look for buildings or obstructions on the ROW (called encroachments). Pipeline patrol is an essential element of Integrity Management programs.

In-Line Inspection and Maintenance “Pigging”

For many years, the pipeline industry has used devices to clean the inside of pipelines. These devices, called “pigs,” scrub and scrape waxes and other contaminants that can build up on the interior walls. The first such devices were made of straw and wire and made a squealing noise as they traveled through the pipeline, thus earning the name “pigs.”

Today, high-tech in-line inspection (ILI) tools travel through the pipe and measure and record irregularities that may represent corrosion, cracks, laminations, deformations (dents, gouges, etc.), or other defects. Because they run inside the pipe in a manner similar to the scrubbing and scraping devices known as pigs, these inline inspection tools are often referred to as “smart pigs.”

Right-of-Way (ROW) Clearing

The pipeline ROW must be kept clear of trees, tall vegetation, or structures. The pipeline patroller’s visual inspection cannot be impeded by tree canopies, buildings, or other encroachments. It is also important to keep the pipeline ROW free of trees because roots can damage the protective coating of the pipeline, and in case of an emergency, responders need to be able to access the area quickly.

Mainline Valve Inspections

Pipeline systems have valves located throughout the entire system. These valves are used to isolate sections of the pipeline when conducting maintenance or in case of an emergency. Routine inspections verify that the valves operate properly.

Hydrostatic Testing

Hydrostatic testing can be an important part of the pipeline’s integrity management program. During the test, the pipeline is filled with water at pressures higher than normal operating pressures. The water is colored using an environmentally safe dye, so if there is a leak, it can be identified, and repairs can be made. Hydrostatic testing can last 8-12 hours or more and is a safe and effective way to proactively look for problems that could result in a release.

Corrosion Inspections

In its natural state, metal corrodes at various rates depending on the material. Pipeline companies use different methods to protect against corrosion and ensure safe operation,
including sophisticated coatings and cathodic protection (electric currents) to fight against
corrosion. When a pipeline is properly installed and maintained, it can operate safely virtually endlessly. Pipe-to-ground and close interval inspections ensure corrosion protection is operating properly.

Originally published in the 2021 PASA Farm & Ranch Excavation Safety Guide

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Volvo Construction Equipment has introduced a new attachment kit that allows 14-ton excavators to be converted into rotating pipelayers, offering a simple solution for users who don’t want to buy a dedicated pipelayer and who have been using conventional excavators for the work.

“The pipelayer attachment kit is aimed at customers placing the pipe in cities and municipalities where space is at a premium. Our 14-ton excavators are the right size for this type of work, so pairing the kit to these machines made sense,”

said Todd Cannegieter, Product Manager, Attachments, and Special Applications, Volvo CE.

“If you’re not lowering in pipe regularly, it can be hard to justify the investment in a dedicated pipelayer or side boom. We wanted to give customers another option.”

Convertible and Maneuverable

The rotating pipelayer kit fits conventional Volvo CE 14-ton crawler excavators — the EC140EL and ECR145E. The pipelaying boom simply attaches to the main boom of the excavator, converting from excavator to pipelayer (or vice versa) in about one hour.

The components are robust and can safely handle pipes up to 20 inches (508 mm), with a rated load of 7,300 pounds (3.3 tons). Max working height is 24 feet (7.3 m) and max working depth is 50 feet (15.24 m). When it comes to transport, excavators with the pipelayer kit can be readied for transit in minutes: just load and go — no crane or extra people required, saving time, money, and hassle. Getting all of this versatility in a single machine means operators can get the job done easier, quicker, safer, and at a lower cost.

Unlike a traditional side boom pipelayer, Volvo’s patented rotating superstructure solution means the machine is far more maneuverable, with no need to constantly reposition its tracks. The short-swing radius ECR145E can perform pipelaying work on busy two-lane streets while leaving one lane open for traffic, making it ideal for pipelaying in urban areas. This pipelayer configuration also gives the ECR145E the same lifting capacity as its standard excavator sibling, the EC140EL.

Best-in-Class Comfort, Safety, and Cost Savings

Unlike a side boom, the operator will always face the load, helping to reduce fatigue. An excavator-based pipelayer will also be more familiar to most operators, which could help with recruitment, training, and productivity.

Operators are further supported by Volvo’s unique Load Moment Indicator, which ensures safe operation up to a 10° slope. The system monitors load weights and sends audio and visual alerts. It also includes a standard anti-two-block system.

There are maintenance advantages with the kit as well. This pipelayer configuration has almost all components in common with a standard 14-ton excavator, so it’s simple to find parts and keeps maintenance costs low.

The kit was developed in response to customers’ need for a simpler solution to lower pipes into trenches. Now they can easily switch from a use-anywhere excavator to a dedicated pipelayer — and back again.

Source: Volvo CE

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Trans Mountain Corp. recently completed the longest trenchless crossing in the region – more than 1,300 meters of pipe was pulled underneath Calgary Trail, a busy and critical intersection in the City of Edmonton. The crossing traverses seven roadways, on-ramps and off-ramps, as well as the CP Railway mainline.

Eleven of 14 horizontal directional drills planned for the region have now been completed, along with 51 of the 59 horizontal directional bores. Crews are busy preparing worksites for the remaining trenchless crossings.

Trenchless crossings are used to safely cross underneath watercourses, railways, major roads, sensitive environmental areas, and in areas with the restricted workspace. They greatly minimize the impact on normal daily activities, traffic, and minimize or eliminate ground disturbance. 

Mainline welding is complete and crews are currently working on tie-ins, inspections, right-of-way clean-up, and site reclamation. Reclamation – the process of returning the area back to its original state – includes laying topsoil, grading, and seeding. Where work is complete, access mats are being removed, cleaned, and distributed to other regions.

Source: Trans Mountain Corporation

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