Pipeline Construction

A section of the Wilmot Pipeline was installed across the driveway to the cabin today. This section of pipe will connect two other sections of the pipeline which are already in the ground.



Before the pipe is placed in the trench it is checked to make sure there are no breaks or holes in the protective coating on the pipe.


Workers align the new section of pipe with the section already in the ground and tack weld the two sections.


Once the two sections of pipe are tack welded the alignment collar is removed and multiple layers of weld are applied.


With the one end of the new pipe section welded to the pipeline the other end of the new pipe section needs to be cut to length.


Once the cut location is marked a collar is clamped to the new pipe section.



A movable cutting torch is attached to the collar and the pipe cutting begins as an operator moves the torch by turning a crank on a flex cable.


The new section of pipe is now cut to the required length.



A clean, straight cut.


The two sections of pipe are positioned and the alignment collar attached.



The two sections of pipe are tack welded.



With the alignment collar removed the crew welds the inside seam of the pipe.


Multiple layers of weld are applied. Between each layer of welding the surface of the weld is ground clean.


Welding the bottom side of the pipe. Welding overhead is not easy under good conditions and even worse when you are on your back in a cold, muddy trench.


Once the new section of pipe is welded into the pipeline, the location of the weld is recorded with GPS.




Before the new section of pipe can be covered with dirt the weld is X-rayed to look for defects. Once all the inspections are complete the welded area will be sandblasted and a protective coating applied.

Pipeline Construction

Work on the Wilmot Pipeline moved to the section south of Bliss Road on Jason and Mary Abell's property, near the intersection with the Zion Pipeline.

The crew was digging the trench for the pipeline but yesterday's rain/snow turned the clay soil to slippery mud on the surface. Digging in the trench went from mud to solid rock.


This excavator was able to work through a layer soft shale and clay on the north end of the trench.



On the south end of the trench the digging was in solid rock. The cloud of dust in the trench is from ripping through the rock.




A pump is moved into place.



Leveling dirt/stone removed from the trench.


Moving in a load of sandbags to support the pipe in the trench.



A mailbox is located in the field at the intersection of the Wilmot and Zion Pipelines.



The west end of the Zion Pipeline.

Pipeline Construction

With pipe for the Wilmot Pipeline placed into the trench yesterday, there were two excavators at the cabin property working to back-fill the trench.

At first glance the buckets on these excavators were different ...



Bottom view of the excavator buckets showed several rows of slotted rollers.



Inside view of buckets.



These buckets are able separate rocks from the dirt by rotating the rollers. The loose, rock free dirt is spread directly over the pipe and the removed rock are placed near the top of the trench and not in contact with the pipe.

Pipeline Construction

Sections of the Wilmot Pipeline south of Bliss Road were placed in the trench today. Multiple excavators were spaced out along the pipeline and gently place the pipeline on sandbags placed in the trench.



Lifting a section of pipe, north of our cabin driveway, into the trench.



Pipe in the trench.


A section of the pipeline near our woods is in the trench and sandbags are placed on top of the pipe to control water movement in the trench.


Sections of the Wilmot Pipeline on both sides of the wetlands on our property are in the trench but the wetlands crossing section hasn't been installed yet.



Pipeline workers walk along the pipeline near the wetlands crossing.

Pipeline Construction

Wesauking Pipeline

Work started today on the access road to the east end of the Wesauking Pipeline where it intersects with the Wilmot Pipeline on our property.

A CAT D6 dozer is grading back the topsoil in the road right-of-way. In the background are 4 excavators parked on the Wilmot Pipeline near our cabin (far right in photo).



The Wesauking Pipeline access road will connect to the current access road at the stream crossing.


An excavator works at the east end of the Wesauking Pipeline where the access road and Wilmot Pipeline meet. In the background (across the valley) is our barn property.



A view from the Wesauking Pipeline looking east at the intersection with the Wilmot Pipeline. The green pipe of the Wilmot Pipeline can be seen in the background along with the CAT D6 dozer working on the access road. There will be a valve site installed at the location where the two pipelines connect.



Wilmot Pipeline
No activity at the Wilmot Pipeline today but excavators were working on the pipeline trench near the wetlands crossing (next to cabin) and will be placing the pipe in the ground soon.

Pipeline Construction

Wilmot Pipeline

A section of the Wilmot Pipeline, that crosses Jason and Mary Abell's property north of Bliss Road (top of photo) , has been placed in the trench and is being back-filled with dirt.

Trenching activity has started on the south side of Bliss Road as an excavator works its way toward the driveway to our cabin.


Another excavator works on the pipeline trench to the south of our cabin.






Wesauking Pipeline

A CAT D6 dozer works to clear topsoil along the Wesauking Pipeline route along our woods, near its intersection with the Wilmot Pipeline.



Trenching activity on the Wesauking Pipeline as it passes through the woods on the east side of our wetlands crossing.



Two excavators work on placing timber mating on a section of the Wesauking Pipeline between Joyce Road (south side) and the wetlands crossing (bottom of photo).

Pipeline Construction

Wilmot Pipeline
The pipeline trench has been dug and sand bags placed in the trench on the north side of Bliss Road.


Yellow mating (cushioning) has been placed around the pipe. View of the pipeline looking north from the top of the hill at Jason and Mary Abell's.


View of the pipeline on north side of hill. The Hayward well pad is across the valley.


Wesauking Pipeline

I'm not sure if the local deer will obey the sign.


The trees and stumps have been removed and chipped along the wooded section of the Wesauking pipeline on our cabin property. A CAT D6 dozer completes the grading near the wetlands crossing. A view of the pipeline route looking west toward our barn.


View of the wetlands crossing looking east.


View of timber mating crossing the wetlands area.

Pipeline Construction

The gas pipeline construction on our property has moved from the Wilmot Pipeline to the Wesauking Pipeline. Within the last week crews have completed the timber cutting and are working on the clearing and grading of the pipeline route.

View of the Wesauking pipeline route where it crosses a wetland on our cabin property.



View of timber mating being placed at the wetlands crossing.



Chipping of brush along the pipeline route behind our barn.