The Basic Principals of Pipeline Construction

Pipeline construction can be an enormous undertaking that is divided into several phases. The first is pre-construction where design and planning begins. The second phase is the most complex and involves land preparation and pipeline installation, while the final phase encompasses pipe testing and land restoration. Countless people are involved with pipeline construction. The planning phase includes design engineers to develop blueprints; city planners; subsurface engineering companies; and obtaining bids from pipeline contractors. Substantial considerations are reviewed during the planning phase. Engineers need to determine the location of existing pipes via data collected from SUE methods. Project owners have to obtain bids from licensed pipeline construction companies. Selected contractors have to acquire permits and licenses, along with securing easement rights and legal access to landowner property. The construction phase is broken into three phases that begins with clearing the jobsite; grading the land; and digging trenches for pipeline installation. Laborers string sections of pipe next to trenches so that welders can connect and weld sections together. Special epoxy coatings are applied to welded joints to prevent leakage and corrosion. Once pipes are installed they undergo rigorous testing to ensure the integrity is solid. When testing is completed, laborers backfill trenches and restore the land to its prior condition. Subsurface utility engineering methods are an instrumental tool used by pipeline companies to determine the position of existing pipes. Having the ability to locate the precise position of installed pipes helps contractors avoid costly delays that can be caused by damaging existing pipes or cutting utility lines. SUE is also instrumental in lowering construction costs while improving work safety conditions.

WATER * SEWER * FIRE LINE * STORM DRAIN * SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING 1639 E. Miraloma Avenue * Placentia, CA 92870 * P (714) 986-1400 * F *714) 986-1416 www.KanaPipeline.com LIC 461487A

Throughout the construction phase the jobsite and pipeline undergo extensive inspections to ensure work is in compliance with EPA regulations. Inspectors also regularly inspect contractor permits and licenses to ensure they are valid. Inspectors can require contractors to provide proof of insurance and easement agreements. Pipeline construction sites are continuously monitored once work is completed. Inspectors monitor drainage and irrigation systems to ensure they are in good working condition, and inspect surface products to ensure they have been properly maintained. Installing pipeline networks requires cooperative efforts between contractors and government entities. Municipal, institutional, and industrial jobs often require more than one hundred laborers to install expansive pipe networks. It is imperative to employ pipeline construction contractors that are skilled with the specific application of the project and able to coordinate efforts with multiple contractors. Pipeline construction jobs are classified as either wet utility or dry utility. While there are some contractors that are skilled in both, most focus on one specialty practice or the other. Dry utility work revolves around installing pipes that transport non-liquid products or used to safeguard electrical conduit or communications systems from forces of Nature. Wet utility work encompasses pipelines that transport liquid products like water pipes, sewer pipes, and storm drainage systems. One current problem facing the pipeline construction industry is the ability to obtain pipes. The recent Japan tsunami has resulted in a deficiency in materials used in pipe production facilities. Other factors that are affecting pipeline pricing are the rising costs of fuel and crude oil and the materials needed to manufacture HDPE resin.

WATER * SEWER * FIRE LINE * STORM DRAIN * SUBSURFACE UTILITY ENGINEERING 1639 E. Miraloma Avenue * Placentia, CA 92870 * P (714) 986-1400 * F *714) 986-1416 www.KanaPipeline.com LIC 461487A