January 2026 Vol. 81 No. 1
Features
Dual-threat approach conquers West Texas pipeline challenge
By Amy Olsen
(UI) — When 2 Stone Industries commits to a project, it goes all in. This West Texas-based company has quickly built a reputation for tackling complex pipeline jobs with notable speed and efficiency. Founded in 2016 with a single small drill, 2 Stone Industries has experienced significant growth. It has transformed into a turnkey pipeline contractor capable of managing nearly every project aspect in-house, from initial clearing to final hydrotesting. Its workforce has reached over 340 employees at its peak.
This complete capability was recently showcased on a significant 44-mile (70.8 km), 30-inch natural gas liquids (NGL) pipeline for Kinetik. The pipeline stretched from Toyah to Kosa in West Texas. The project required many construction methods and a demanding completion timeline of just three-and-a-half months. For 2 Stone Industries, success depended on the smart use of its strong fleet of trenchers and horizontal directional drills (HDDs).
"We started in 2016 with a little utility drill," Oscar Pena, one of the owners of 2 Stone, explained. "We didn't get our first pipeline job until 2018. The growth since then? I guess you give God the credit because I don't know how we did it, to be honest."
This rapid expansion stemmed from a commitment to tackling challenging projects and investing in the right team and equipment. The team worked tirelessly, routinely exceeding standard work hours to meet demanding project schedules.
The Kinetik pipeline project featured a typical West Texas landscape: vast stretches of open country interspersed with hard rock, multiple road and railway crossings, existing utility corridors and environmentally sensitive areas such as creeks. To minimize surface disruption, especially in washout-prone zones, the client preferred boring in many areas.
"This project had a bit of everything," Joseph Barrera, general superintendent with 2 Stone, explained. "We had long open stretches perfect for our trenchers, but also nearly 30 to 36 bores that required a careful approach with our HDD fleet." The pressure was intense because the project needed to be mechanically complete and ready to flow in under four months.
Two-pronged attack
To meet the deadline, 2 Stone created a strategy that used the strengths of open-cut trenching and HDD. Approximately 36 miles (57.9 km) of the pipeline were planned for open-cut methods. Here, the fleet of trenchers, including the Vermeer T855, T1055 and T1155 models, could quickly handle the varied terrain.
"We work around a lot of rock in all of West Texas," Pena noted. "This highlighted the need for powerful trenching equipment. The Vermeer track trenchers, designed for digging in tough conditions like hard rock, were perfect for this project. These machines efficiently cut through the challenging soil and rock formations."
Junior Marroquin, general superintendent with 2 Stone, explained, "That's a great thing about those trenchers. When they hit rock, they produce fine material instead of chunks. We can lay this material on top of the pipe before backfilling. Creating usable padding material directly from the trenched spoils saved us time and resources."
While track hoes were used for tie-ins and specific line crossings, Barrera confirmed, "90 percent of the open cut was trenched."
At the same time, 2 Stone's HDD crews tackled the crossings. Their strategy often involved a team approach with their Vermeer D100x140 S3 rig and the larger D220x500 S3 unit. Pena explained their process.
"On that 30-inch (76.2-cm) project, when we were in a lot of hard rock with the D100x140 S3 drills, the bigger reamers were struggling to turn. So, we used the D100x140 S3s to drill the pilots and ream out to a 24-inch hole. Then the D220x500 S3 would come in, go back through the hole, ream it out to the 42-inch diameter needed for the 30-inch pipe, and then pull the pipe. That process really worked well for us."
This efficiency was vital. The company owns four D100x140 S3 drills and two D220x500 S3 units. Its first D220x500 S3 was acquired in 2022, initially as a rental for a large project and later purchased after proving its worth. The second D220x500 S3 features a rod stager, a preferred configuration. "We really liked the rod stager,” said Peter Scharlau, project manager with 2 Stone. “On most projects, we find it to be a lot more productive than the catwalk, and we were glad we decided to go with it."
Navigating crossings with precision
One of the most demanding bores on the Kinetic project was the Interstate 20 and parallel railroad crossing. "That one was certainly challenging because of the railroad," Barrera said. "You have to cross at a 90-degree angle, and we had to be straight across and level when you cross them, not just the railroad itself, but their entire right-of-way also."
The bore was reamed to 42 inches for the 30-inch pipe. The annular space within the railroad's right-of-way had to be filled with flowable fill or grout to prevent any future sinking. "They didn't want anything to get sunk down," Barrera explained. The bore was approximately 20 to 25 feet deep under the crossing.
2 Stone's decision to invest heavily in Vermeer equipment comes from positive experiences. A significant advantage is the common control system across different Vermeer drill models. "It makes a huge difference” Pena noted. “Our operators jumped from the D100x140 S3s to the D220x500 S3s, and everything's so similar. It's a very easy transition."
The equipment is reliable and backed by responsive support from Vermeer Texas-Louisiana. "Someone always answers the phone when you call them, and if they don't have an immediate answer, they'll research it and get back to us promptly. They never leave us in the dark," said Marroquin.
Beyond the machines, the success of 2 Stone lies in its people. Many of its key personnel and crew members have worked with the owners for nearly 18–20 years. This fosters a deep sense of loyalty and shared expertise. "All these crews that have been working for 2 Stone, I've been working with these guys for 18, 20 years," Ramon Garcia, owner with 2 Stone Industries, shared.
"Most of our crews are top crews, so we have the liberty to say on our bids that we will finish a project that somebody else would bid in 10 days, we can finish in five," Scharlau stated.
"We all rely on each other as a company and as a team to help get these projects done," said Marroquin. "Numerous times I've been on the phone with Ramon at 11 o'clock at night. Oscar was out there with me at one or two o'clock in the morning while we were still pulling a bore. Just because they're owners it doesn't put them above anybody else. They're still out there with us."
The Kinetik pipeline project, with its demanding timeline and many challenges, perfectly showcased 2 Stone's capabilities. The team managed everything from land clearing to mechanical completion in an impressive three-and-a-half months.
The project's success exemplifies 2 Stone's dedication to excellence and comprehensive approach to pipeline construction. For 2 Stone, the combination of skilled crews, strong and reliable equipment, and a can-do attitude continues to pave a path of rapid growth in the competitive Texas pipeline industry. The company proves that with the right strategy, even the toughest terrain and tightest deadlines can be overcome.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Amy Olsen is the brand experience lead at Vermeer Corporation, Pella, Iowa
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
2 Stone Industries, (956) 900-1195, 2stoneind.com/
Vermeer Corporation, vermeer.com/na
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