The recent acquisition of Allegheny Contracting by Lancaster, Ohio-based Precision Pipeline Services signals their intent to provide integrated services in the oil & gas industry. Precision, part of MPE Partners, has bought Allegheny Contracting – known for its expertise in gas transmission pipeline integrity – offers repair, maintenance, and replacement services for underground gas pipelines. This acquisition underscores the critical role of utility locating and concrete scanning in ensuring safe and efficient pipeline projects. Precision specializes in hydro and compressed air excavation to daylight utilities to ascertain their location.
The Importance of Pipeline Installation and Integrity Services
Pipeline installation is a complex and high-stakes process that demands precise planning, execution, and maintenance to ensure both safety and efficiency. The acquisition of Allegheny Contracting by Precision is a strategic move intended to enhance capabilities in this area, focusing on the critical elements that contribute to successful pipeline installation.
Allegheny's expertise in gas transmission pipeline integrity is particularly relevant. Pipeline integrity services are essential for maintaining the safety and functionality of gas pipelines, which transport highly flammable and potentially hazardous materials. These services include regular inspections, repairs, and the replacement of aging or damaged sections of pipelines. By integrating these capabilities, Precision shifts its focus into pipeline repair and maintenance.
The Strategic Value of the Acquisition
The acquisition of Allegheny Contracting is not just about expanding service offerings; it can also be seen as a strategic move to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving industry. As regulatory requirements become more stringent and the demand for safe and reliable infrastructure grows, companies must continuously innovate and enhance their capabilities.
The acquisition emphasizes the critical role of pipeline integrity, utility locating, and concrete scanning in ensuring the success of pipeline installation projects. As infrastructure demands continue to grow, the integration of these services will be essential for companies looking to deliver safe, efficient, and compliant solutions.
Utility Locating: A Crucial Step Before Excavation
Utility locating is perhaps the most vital initial step prior to excavation – whether that excavation is for maintenance, repair, inspection, or installation. Utility locating involves identifying and marking the location of existing underground utilities such as water lines, electrical cables, and gas pipes. This process is essential to avoid damaging existing infrastructure during excavation, which could lead to costly repairs, project delays, or even hazardous situations.
Locating and mapping subsurface utilities is vital to any excavation project. That’s why it is federally mandated that anyone preparing to dig must call 811 for One Call public utility locating prior to excavation. While calling 811 is an important initial step, it only covers 35% of the likely utility lines. That is why it is critical, particularly in the gas & oil industry where every action could result in dangerous damages, that a private utility locating company be engaged to locate and map both public and private utilities on site.
The technologies utilized to locate and map on-site utilities can range from ground-penetrating radar (GPR) to electromagnetic (EM) locating and other complementary methods. The accuracy provided by these technologies, however, is greatly impacted by expertise and experience of those using it. When properly deployed, these technologies help prevent damage and ensure regulatory compliance for the protection of existing utilities during construction activities.
Concrete Scanning: Ensuring Safety in Complex Environments
In addition to utility locating, concrete scanning is another critical service that plays a significant role in pipeline installation. Concrete scanning is used to detect objects embedded within concrete structures, such as rebar, post tension cables, conduit, and other reinforcements. This is particularly important when pipelines need to be installed in or around existing concrete structures or near existing infrastructure like bridges and buildings. It can also be a valuable tool at upstream and midstream sites where petroleum products are refined, to locate potential voids.
The concrete scanning process typically involves the use of GPR, which provides a detailed view of what lies within the concrete. This information is crucial for planning a pipeline installation route, avoiding potential obstacles, and ensuring the structural integrity of existing infrastructure. It may in fact, be more valuable later in the pipeline life cycle because of the need for periodic daylighting and inspection of pipes.
The Importance of Data Management for Gas & Oil Pipelines
Whether the project is the installation of new pipeline, pipeline maintenance, or repair, keeping up-to-date and accurate existing conditions documentation is critical. In an industry where one wrong move can cause catastrophe for workers, communities, and the environment, knowing where everything is underground and updating those records regularly, is mission critical for safety. GIS platforms have begun to play an important role in the gas & oil industry. However, one problem most software has yet to overcome is that it requires the data to be uploaded by the end-user. So, the quality and accuracy of the information is only as good as what is already on-hand.
A solution to this problem is SiteMap®, powered by GPRS, which relies on the 99.8%+ accurate utility locating, concrete scanning, and mapping data provided by the national private utility locator. It allows gas and oil operators to keep accurate, secure, and updated as-builts – upstream, midstream, or downstream – for their entire infrastructure. And, depending on their subscription level, the SiteMap® platform allows them to aggregate historical information for record-keeping purposes. SiteMap® allows users to securely share information within the platform, and GPRS has a nationwide footprint that allows them to capture data anywhere, so this particular GIS platform may be tailor-made for multi-state oil & gas projects, including compression stations, and even retail gas stations.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is hydro excavation?
Hydro excavation is a digging process that uses pressurized water and a vacuum to excavate soil, daylighting underground utilities. While this method is technically non-destructive, it does disturb soil under high pressure, so it is important to know the precise location of the utilities or other underground facilities you are potholing before excavation.
What is compressed air excavation?
Compressed air excavation involves using high-pressure air to loosen soil, which is then vacuumed up. This method is similar to hydro excavation, but where hydro requires large quantities of water, compressed air does not. It is considered safe for digging around sensitive underground utilities and is often used in urban areas where avoiding damage to infrastructure is critical. However, also like hydro excavation, knowing the precise location of all subsurface features is essential before excavating.
How is video pipe inspection (CCTV camera inspection) used in the gas & oil industry?
Video pipe inspection (CCTV camera inspection) is used to assess the condition of pipelines, detect blockages, corrosion, or leaks, and ensure the integrity of the infrastructure. It allows for precise, real-time inspection without the need for extensive excavation because it can pinpoint structural defects, blockages, etc. from within, allowing the customer to pinpoint precisely where they need to dig before doing so.
