Trapping Pigs

With the natural gas activity in our area, the term "trapping a pig" takes on a different meaning. We have two natural gas gathering pipelines intersecting on our property  and part of the routine pipeline maintenance involves sending a "pig" through the pipeline to push out condensate (water, sludge and other liguids). The pig is inserted into the pipeline via a "pig launcher" at a valve assembly and the pressure of the gas flow moves the pig along a section of the pipeline until it reaches a "pig trap". The arrival of the pig is signaled by a red pop-up disk on the trap.

Natural gas continues to flow through the pipeline after the pig is caught in the trap. The pig is removed from the trap by opening/closing valves to force the natural gas to by-pass the trap. With the valve to the pig trap closed, a vent valve is opened to reduce the gas pressure (1,100 PSI) in the trap.


Once the gas pressure in the trap is released, a door on the trap can be opened and the pig(s) removed.

The view from above

Google Maps has updated the aerial view of the Rome area again this year with an image that was taken sometime in September. This image shows the new pipeline activity in the neighborhood. Here's a view of our cabin property showing the access road to the valve assembly.



A view of the pipeline valves.



The prior Google Maps image, taken October 2011, showed me working on the lawn at the cabin, the new image shows my pickup truck being driven on the access road.

Pipeline Construction

After several days of equipment problems the seeding crew was able to apply the hay mulch to the pipeline right-of-way.



Large round bales of hay are chopped/shredded for the mulch. It doesn't take long for the machine to use a bale of hay.


The bales of hay are loaded after the outer rapper is removed.




With the current dry conditions, this is a very dusty/dirty job.

Pipeline Construction

With the regrading of the pipeline right-of-way nearing completion, some of the excavating equipment is being moved to the next location.

Pipeline Construction

The pipeline reclamation of the Wilmot Pipeline continued today with the seeding of the temporary access road on Richard and Hope Minyon's property. This access road was only used during pipeline construction.



The Wilmot Pipeline right-of-way was reseeded from our wetland crossing north to Jason and Mary Abell's.



Back at the Wesauking Pipeline where it crosses Joyce Road near our farm, two fawns were playing in the road.

Pipeline Construction

More pipeline reclamation activity on our property today. This crew is working on putting netting down in the wetland area near our cabin.



Back at the valve site, one crew works on placing crushed stone under the Wesauking Pipeline valve assembly as another crew (in background) works on finishing the reseeding of the last section of the Wesauking Pipeline right-of-way on our property.



Over at Jason and Mary Abell's, crews are busy regrading the contour of the Wilmot Pipeline route on the hillside.



A tracked vehicle is loaded with hay bales for mulch on the reseeded areas.



Oops! Structural failure in the stacking.

Pipeline Construction

At the wetland crossing next to our pond, an excavator uses a pipe to smooths out the topsoil.


With the topsoil graded the excavator works to remove the timber mats from the wetland crossing.



At the valve assembly site, an excavator operator works to install a culvert pipe for the access road.



Deer are grazing near the valve assembly while an excavator and dozer work on the access road less than a hundred yards away.



Another deer moves through the brush while a dozer works on the pipeline right-of-way.



At the end of the day, a young cottontail rabbit checks out the 24 inch "pig launcher"

Pipeline Construction

The timber mats are being removed from the access road to the pipeline valve site so a permanent road can be constructed. A rock base will be added to the access road along with better drainage.



With the pipeline right-of-ways regraded and ready for seeding, timber mats were stacked wherever space could be found.



Back at the pipeline right-of-way through our woods, a deer (center of photo) walks through a section that was recently reseeded.

Pipeline Construction

The pipeline reclamation crew was taking advantage of the sunny weather as another load of construction debris is hauled from the pipeline right-of-way. In the background a dozer works on reclaiming a temporary access road that was used during construction of the pipeline.



A view of the reclamation crew working on a section of the pipeline right-of-way on Richard and Hope Minyon's property.



Back at the pipeline valve site, on our property, the crew was busy loading and removing the timber mats used during the pipeline construction.



A forklift operator removes mats from the stack, but somewhere in the stack is a woodchuck that thought it would make a good home.



As the last stack of mats was lifted by the forklift, the woodchuck (lower center in photo) jumped from the moving load and made a dash for the woods.

Pipeline Construction

With most of the regrading of the pipeline right-of-way complete, the crew works on clen-up of construction debris.


The finial grading is done at the Wilmot Pipeline valves and the crushed stone has been applied.

Pipeline Construction

Another warm day and the pipeline reclamation crew is starting to work on the right-of-way and access road on Richard and Hope Minyon's property.



A crew works on debris removal at the intersection of our cabin driveway and the Wilmot Pipeline.

Pipeline Construction

For the past couple of days a crew has been working on the finial stages of pipeline construction, reclamation and reseeding.

They have regraded the area around the valve assemblies and placed crushed stone under the valves.



Along the pipeline right-of-way, a dozer regrades the topsoil that was stockpiled during the clearing of the right-of-way.


A dozer and excavator work on the finial grading of the topsoil.



Regraded area of the pipeline right-of-way near our cabin and pond.

Pipeline Construction

With the hydrostatic testing of the Wesauking pipeline complete, the frac tanks used for water storage were removed toady.



A crew works on re-installing the check valve (yellow section of pipe) that was removed during the hydrostatic test. The check valve controls the directional flow of gas on the Wesauking Pipeline and prevents gas from flowing the 24 inch Wilmot Pipeline into the 12 inch Wesauking Pipeline.



Workers from Chesapeake monitor the 24 inch "pig launcher" on the Wilmot Pipeline.

Pipeline Construction

Natural gas is flowing in the Wilmot Pipeline. They were pushing a "pig" this afternoon using the pressure of natural gas. The pipeline pressure was over 1,200 PSI.



There is still some more work to do on the Wesauking Pipeline. The Wesauking "pig launcher" is currently not connected to the shut-off valve between it and the Wilmot Pipeline.