Pipeline Construction

Today was another busy day of pipeline activity on both pipelines.

Wesauking Pipeline
The 12 inch valve/"pig receiver" assembly was delivered and positioned.




This assembly connects the 12 inch Wesauking Pipeline with the 24 inch Wilmot Pipeline. Since the flow of gas on the Wesauking Pipeline only travels in one direction to this connection, the assembly can only receive "pigs".



On the west side of Joyce Road, the pipeline reclamation of the Wesauking Pipeline on Maureen Brady's property is moving along. The topsoil has been regraded and the crew is busy smoothing out the surface.



Reseeding the pipeline right-of-way section next to our barn.






The wetland area and back field of Maureen Brady's.



Wilmot Pipeline
Th connector between the 20 inch and 24 inch "pig launchers" was installed.





Making some finial adjustments to the position of the 20 inch "pig launcher".

Spring Wildflowers

The Birds-foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) is starting to bloom. This perennial member of the pea family, Fabaceae, is used in agriculture as a forage plant, grown for pasture, hay, and silage.




Birds-foot trefoil is native to grassland temperate Eurasia and North Africa. It has become an invasive species in some regions of North America and Australia.

Pipeline Construction

Lots of activity on both pipelines today.

Wilmot Pipeline
With the hydrostatic testing complete on the 24 inch pipeline, the water used during testing was transferred to the 20 inch pipeline by pushing the water with a pipeline "pig". The "pig" was removed from the pipeline by opening the door at the end of the "pig launcher".



Foam pipeline "pigs".



The water that was transferred to the 20 inch pipeline is now being pushed through the pipeline using a "pig" and compressed air.




Wesauking Pipeline
Work started on positioning the supports for the Wesauking Pipeline 12 inch "pig launcher". Once the 12 inch "pig launcher" is installed the finial section of the Wesauking Pipeline can be connected.



The reclamation of the Wesauking Pipeline right-of-way is moving along with most of the reseeding complete on the east side of Joyce Road.







A crew spreading straw over the reseeded area.

Turtles

The turtles are on the move! For a least three times this week I've had to help Eastern Painter Turtles (Chrysemys picta picta) across Joyce Road. Being hit by vehicles while crossing roads is a significant source of mortality to this species.



The female turtles will leave the safety of ponds and streams this time of year to lay their eggs. Painted turtles are thought to live between 20 to 40 years and reach sexual maturity at approximately 10 years of age.



While the female turtles are dodging the traffic on Joyce Road, the male turtles are back at the pond sunning themselves on a rock.

Pipeline Construction

The hydrostatic test of the 24 inch pipeline was successful and the control/monitoring truck is gone. The finial test pressure of 2,100 PSI was reached about midnight and held for 8 hours without leaks.



With this section of the 24 inch pipeline complete the next job is to transfer the water from the 24 inch pipeline back to the 20 inch pipeline using a smaller flexible hose. The water transfer will take 3 to 4 hours.

Buttercups

Maureen Brady's field, next to our barn, is a bright yellow from thousands of buttercups.

Pipeline Construction

After last weekend's problems during hydrostatic testing, caused by leaking gaskets on the 20 inch "pig launcher", the crew is back testing the 24 inch pipeline today.




The control/monitoring truck is in position next to the two "pig launchers" on our property. Generator, compressors and hoses are connected and the control/monitoring truck records the data created during the hydrostatic testing.

During the hydrostatic test, the pressure on the pipeline is increased and held at different pressure settings and time intervals until the finial test pressure of 2,100 PSI is reached and held.



Crew members monitor the equipment and conditions during the test which will run all night and till complete. This same testing will also need to be done on the 12 inch Wesauking Pipeline after it is connected.

Pipeline Construction

There was a lot of pipeline activity on our property today with work being done on both the Wesauking and Wilmot Pipelines.

Wilmot Pipeline
The finial connection of the 24 inch "pig launcher" was completed late yesterday and the crew was preparing both "pig launchers" for hydrostatic testing. A 24 inch foam "pig" sits on top of the launcher.



A pourable fill (a type of concrete) support was added to the pipeline near the "pig launcher".



A temporary water line connects the two "pig launchers" so water can be pumped from the 20 inch pipeline to fill the 24 inch pipeline for the hydrostatic test.



Transferring water between the two "pig launchers".



Wesauking Pipeline
On the Wesauking Pipeline the crew started the pipeline reclamation by grading the topsoil back over the pipeline right-of-way.



The recent rain made the topsoil a little "sticky" to work but a couple of sunny days and it will dry out.



The topsoil graded back to the original contour.



Timber mating along the pipeline right-of-way is removed to allow for re-grading.

Spring Wildflowers

The Common Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus) is starting to bloom.



This small, less than 1 inch, daisy like flower is a member of the Aster family, Asteraceae and are pink with yellow centers.

Pipeline Construction

The welding crew was busy today making modifications to a section of 24 inch pipe that will connect the "pig launcher" with the pipeline.



Late in the afternoon the modified section of pipe is connected to the "pig launcher" and ready to weld to the pipeline.



Welding the missing section into the pipeline.

Pipeline Construction

After a couple days of rainy weather today's sunshine and blue sky were good news for the placement of the 24 inch valve assembly ("pig launcher"). The "pig launcher" was transported along the pipeline right-of-way from Bliss Road to an unloading point on our property.



The crew rigs the "pig launcher" to excavators for the unload from the truck.



The "pig launcher" is attached to the excavators and ready to lift.



Four excavators lift the "pig launcher" and the truck drives out from under it.



With truck out of the way, the excavators start moving the "pig launcher" to its finial location, several hundred yards away.




The excavator operators pay close attention to directions from the spotters as all four excavators move together. With two of the excavators moving in reverse.



As the excavators get close to the finial location the ground is very soft and muddy from the recent rains.



The "pig launcher" is placed on the concrete supports.



With the 24 inch "pig launcher" (on the left) in place, it can now be connected to the 20 inch "pig launcher" (on the right) and the south section of the pipeline.

Spring Wildflowers

I found this patch of wild Forget-me-nots (Myosotis scorpioides) growing near the creek behind our house.



The flower is about 1/4 inches across but it's another flower that makes up for its small size with numbers.

This wildflower was introduced to the New England area from Europe and was extensively cultivated for ornamental use.