Canadian Pipeline Construction 3

pipeline construction so unique it has a language of its own the pipeline is built along the right-of-way the Assembly of men in machinery required to build a pipeline is the spread the construction is directed by the superintendent or spread man assisted by his key field supervisors or following it is not unusual for a spread to consist of 100 pieces of major heavy equipment and 500 experienced hands operators Teamsters welders laborers mechanics and others how they build the pipeline that is the construction methods they use varies according to pipe diameter pipe composition time of year winter or summer local topography environmental constraints and construction standards required by the owner and governmental agencies the key to successful pipelining is to maximize productivity while minimizing disturbances to the environment and never compromising the safety of employees this is an enormous undertaking that can only be accomplished with seasoned field supervision a motivated workforce a well-maintained fleet of specialized pipelining equipment and responsive logistical support the consistent performance of marine pipeline construction of Canada is evidence of the company's capacity and access to resources marine takes on fast track big inch pipeline projects in a variety of pipeline construction environment it's 6:00 a.m. and Marine supervisory team gathers as it does each morning to review manpower and equipment needs for the day high productivity in pipeline construction requires effective planning the appropriate and timely allocation of humans mechanicals and material resources in variable conversations turn to other methods but also impact instruction Environmental Protection's relationships with landowners and safety the risks to personal safety on the job are substantial heavy equipment always in motion crews leap frogging from one pipe joint to the next working in close proximity to operating pipelines overhead powerlines and buried cables and of course working in varying terrain pipe liners must develop a sixth sense for safety that enables them to stay out of harm's way and to protect the well-being of others around them at marine the commitment to safety goes well beyond providing workers with a hardhat and personal protective equipment inside new hires for example regardless of experience are not allowed to set foot on the right-of-way as employees of marine pipeline construction until they have completed a comprehensive safety training orientation sir does a job at the corporate level the company employs a full-time safety supervisor who works closely with the owner and project management personnel to develop and implement project specific safety plans and to investigate matters of immediate concern protection of the environment has also become an important element of pipeline construction Marines focus on the environment can be traced to the mid 70s when its management group was responsible for section 2 of the Alyeska trans-alaskan pipeline the most scrutinized pipeline job in history recognizing their role as environmental stewards the company established the position of environmental manager to inspect and monitor operations and to implement protective measures as demanded by the local ecology with production goals in mind and logistics managed to the satisfaction of the Supervisory team the buses rolled and the crews set out for another day along the right-of-way pipeline construction can be viewed as a linear progression of interdependent activities just as any car on a freight train can go no faster than the car in front of it the pipeline spread consists of crews whose production rates are dependent on the performance of the crews directly ahead of it for new pipeline construction pipe sections that are strung out along the graded right-of-way are carefully bent to match the contours of the land even the relatively flat Prairie requires bends however subtle to ensure proper alignment and cover productivity on the big inch pipelines is enhanced by the use of automated welding systems several welding passes are required to weld the pipe sections together the route feed hot pass fill passes and cap pass the route bead is mechanically produced by welding heads that are located on the internal line up clamp the clamp travels inside the pipe controlled by a panel at the end of a reach rod welding huts that protect the automatic welding equipment from the elements move from weld to weld an automated welding bug travels along a pre-positioned metal band set around the pipe in the relative comfort of the Hutts welders make a series of passes and ensure that the welding head remains centered so that a quality weld is always made at Road and river crossings at tie-ins and fabricated assemblies manual stick welding methods are used marine pipeline construction and project owners share a common commitment to quality workmanship all welds are inspected to ensure a competent weld free of defects ultrasonic testing and x-ray analysis verify the integrity of each welded joint once approved all joints are sandblasted and sealed using an epoxy resin the anti-corrosion protective coat on the pipe is inspected for defects and pinholes and repaired as necessary trenchers and back hoes excavate the ditch to the design depth the pipe is then carefully lowered in back filled and tied in hydrostatic testing ensures the pipeline is safe for operation while the clean-up crews return the land to its original condition for rehabilitation of existing pipelines marine specializes in investigative digs facility replacements retesting and recoating of aging pipeline systems these services allow our clients cost-effective alternatives to new construction and peace of mind that their pipeline systems are operating safely pipelining is expensive so efficient productivity is essential to maintain budgets and schedules much of the equipment has been developed for the single purpose of building pipelines and the machines currently employed are more powerful and efficient than ever at its headquarters in miss Q Alberta outside of Edmonton marine has built a large modern facility to customize repair and maintain its fleet of equipment also at miss Q is Marines head office where corporate decisions are made and field projects are closely monitored Marines Finance and Accounting functions are administered from its Calgary hoist in 1998 marine crews constructed over 400 kilometres of large diameter pipe line in the provinces of Alberta Saskatchewan and Manitoba while providing significant maintenance and upgrading services to the industry in Western Canada for TransCanada pipelines in Alberta the company built 113 kilometers our 48 inch pipe in the provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba marine built 158 km/h / TransCanada for Enbridge formerly interprovincial pipelines the company built 178 kilometres of 36 inch pipeline as part of the terrace phase one expansion program in 1999 marine commenced its participation in the construction of nearly 1,000 kilometers of big inch pipe more than twice its production in 1998 in addition they continued to provide significant maintenance upgrading and investigative dig services to the industry in response to the need to locate and repair defects before they become troublesome in Alberta and Saskatchewan Marine has constructed a significant portion of the Alliance pipeline project a pipeline designed to carry natural gas from Western Canada to the Chicago market area Marine spreads will total approximately 570 kilometres of big inch work both 36 and 42 inch when complete in a year 2000 challenges unique to the Maritimes included the necessity to train a labor pool that was unfamiliar with pipeline construction in a joint venture marine constructed 565 kilometres of natural gas pipeline through virgin terrain in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick and for TransCanada as part of their pipe maintenance program marine completed a 32 point five kilometer for T two-inch pipeline recoding project in Saskatchewan marine pipeline is frequently the company of choice on the basis of their diverse experience excellent safety performance substantial resources and financial stability marine views pipeline construction as a business of selecting the best people training and managing them effectively placing reliable equipment at their command and providing the considerable support required to meet every challenge along the right-of-way as befits the experience of its management group marine pipeline construction of Canada continues to set the standards for production and quality pipeline construction throughout Canada you

Channel: John Shortt

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Keywords: pipeline, Construction (Project Phase), Construction Engineering (Field Of Study), British Columbia (Canadian Province), excavating, welding, stringing, coating, corrision, bending, british gas, nova, Engineering (Industry)

Id: Dp2jbm9jvnU

Length: 11min 31sec (691 seconds)

Published: Wed Mar 05 2014