Pipeline Construction

It's hard to drive around without finding pipeline construction. Three different pipelines are being constructed in our neighborhood at the same time.



Wilmot Pipeline
The Wilmot pipeline is the main north/south pipeline running through the neighborhood. The welding operation on the Wilmot pipeline has moved from our property to Jason and Mary Abell's.

Looking north on the Wilmot pipeline from our cabin property toward Abell's.


Looking south, toward our cabin, on the Wilmot pipeline from Abell's.



Pipe welding at Abell's.


Wesauking Pipeline

Work is just getting started on the Wesauking pipeline. The Wesauking pipeline connects to the Wilmot pipeline on our cabin property and will run west.

A view of the Wesauking pipeline route where it crosses Joyce Road near our barn property.


Clearing and grading of the Wesauking pipeline route has just started and the local turkeys are inspecting the work.


Zion Pipeline

The Zion pipeline connects to the Wilmot pipeline near Jason and Mary Abell's house and runs east.

A view of the Zion pipeline from Taylor Hill Road looking west. The clearing and grading of this section of the Zion pipeline is complete from Taylor Hill Road to the Wilmot pipeline and section of pipe are being placed in position.


View of the Zion pipeline looking east from Taylor Hill Road.

Pipeline Construction

The welding of the 20 inch pipe on our cabin property is nearly complete except for the sections of the pipeline route that cross the wetlands and our driveway.

A view of the pipeline looking southeast from the "food plot" near the cabin. In the background, to the right of the main section of pipeline, is the section of pipe for the wetland crossing.



All welds along the pipeline were inspected and repaired if needed.


Once the welded joint passes inspection the area is sandblasted and a protective coating is applied.


Other messages on the pipe.

Spring Cleaning

With Spring just around the corner it will soon be time for the bluebirds to return and start looking for nesting locations. I took advantage of today's warm weather and cleaned some of the bluebird houses at the barn property.



Several of the nesting boxes were packed full of nesting materials. This nesting box was full of fiberglass insulation, which makes for a warm winter home, but not a bluebird nest.


The current residents were not happy about the spring cleaning and their eviction notice.

Pipeline Construction

The activity on the Wilmot gathering pipeline continues to move at a rapid pace and the welding crew was on site today.



One of the first steps in preparing the pipe for welding is to heat the steel pipe. This heating conditions the pipe to prevent stress in the pipe welds.


An internal alignment tool is positioned in the end of one pipe prior to the placement of the second section of pipe.


With the two sections of pipe in place multiple welding teams start welding.


The pipe is "tack" welded and then a full bead of weld is applied around the internal edge of the pipe joint.


After the first team of welders completes the internal pipe weld the next team cleans and grinds the outer surface of the first weld.



Grinding the weld.


After grinding, a second exterior weld is applied over the first weld.





Making use of our clay soil. "Mud man"


Touch-up welding

Pipeline Construction

Since the gas pipeline is not perfectly straight it is necessary to bend the pipe to match the pipeline route. This pipe bending machine places a series of small bends in the pipe to create the correct bend.


With the pipe clamped firmly in the bending machine the front section (left) bending arm is raised by a hydraulic cylinder and bends a small section of the pipe. The pipe is then moved about a foot and the process repeated.


Removing a bent section of pipe from the machine.

Warm Winter Home

With this year's mild weather I decided to check/clean the nesting boxes at our pond.



I found one of the nesting boxes was already occupied. A mouse had taken advantage of the vacant nesting box and made a warm nest of moss and grass inside.

Pipeline Construction

More pipe arrived today at the Wilmot Pipeline access road near our cabin. Each of these pipe sections are about 50 feet long and 20 inches in diameter.



The pipe was removed from the truck using an excavator and a large electromagnet.


Moving the pipe into position.


Pipe sections positioned along the pipeline route.


A view of the Wilmot Pipeline looking south from the top on our hill. This section of the pipeline is located south of State Route 467, across the valley from Allis Hollow Equipment and near the start of the pipeline boring operation. These sections of pipe have been welded together and are ready to be buried.

Pipeline Construction

A truck load of pipe for the section of the Wilmot Pipeline on our property is transported to the construction site on the timber plank access road.



Sections of pipe are positioned along the pipeline route. This section of the pipeline is just south of our cabin.




Pipe near the intersection of the Wilmot and Wesauking pipelines on our property. There will be a valve at the pipeline intersection, located in the field next to the woods.


A pipe bender.

Pipeline Construction

The clearing and grading of the Wilmot pipeline on our cabin property is nearly complete as an excavator moves dirt next to the wetlands by the cabin.



The timber mating is in place at the wetlands section through our woods.


View of the pipeline route through our woods, looking south.


The pipeline grading has now moved to the section between the cabin driveway and Bliss Road. Th Zion pipeline will connect into the Wilmot pipeline along this section.


View of our cabin and pipeline equipment from Joyce Road.

Pipeline Construction

Work continues on placing timber mats through the wooded area of the pipeline route on our property.


This wooded area has several sections of wetlands and needed lots of timber mating.


Working through the wet spots.


Stockpile of timber mats.


A CAT-D8 and an excavator moving dirt.