HDD
Side-by-Side HDDs Prove Effective On Gas Line Replacement Project
By Rita Tubb, Executive Editor Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) began work in September 2014 to replace two aging natural gas pipelines that cross Cache Creek near the town of Capay, CA. In September 2015, The HDD Company completed two horizontal directional drills (HDD) on the project, replacing the ..
EIV Capital and Partners Commit $100 Million to H2O Midstream
H2O Midstream, LLC has secured an initial funding commitment of $100 million, with investments from EIV Capital and co-investments from several of EIV’s institutional partners, as the company pursues oil and gas opportunities related to water infrastructure throughout North America. “We see a treme..
Field Versus Shop Repairs, Maintenance For HDD Rigs
Underground Equipment Maintenance: 3rd In A Series Owners and operators of horizontal directional drilling (HDD) equipment recognize the importance of keeping equipment in good operating condition. Well- maintained drill rigs perform better, are more productive, less likely to break down and mainta..
Vermeer Kicks HDD Training Into High Gear
It’s well-documented that the construction industry is facing a severe labor crisis. Due to the strength of several core markets requiring dramatic increases in workforce, the underground utility infrastructure market is desperately seeking new skilled employees, particularly horizontal directional ..
Case Releases Preventative Maintenance Tool Systemgard Fluid Analysis Kit
Case Construction Equipment has released the 4-in-1 Systemgard Fluid Analysis Kit – a preventative maintenance tool providing a picture of fluid and internal system conditions without the need for users to dissemble the machine. The kit monitors system cleanliness and filtration efficiency, which a..
It’s A Start: Training Programs Emerge To Meet Needs Of Industry's Workforce
by Robert Carpenter Editor-in-Chief Since the inception of horizontal directional drilling (HDD), a dearth of training programs has resulted in on-the-job, on-the-fly training by contractors. While such training is not necessarily a bad thing, during the first golden age of telecom construction it ..
Labor, Rates, Communication Highlight HDD Roundtable Discussion
The 2016 Horizontal Directional Drilling Roundtable, hosted by Underground Construction magazine in conjunction with the annual Underground Construction Technology International Conference & Exhibition (UCT), was held in Atlanta earlier this year and brought a spirited discussion about issues and op..
MyMaintenance Joins Growing List of John Deere Mobile Applications for Construction Professionals
The new John Deere MyMaintenance mobile application takes preventative maintenance and repairs to the next level for construction maintenance managers. The app enables users to view and document maintenance intervals by calendar date or by machine engine hours right on the jobsite or in the workshop..
Cradle Boring Makes A Comeback
Installing pipeline across the United States, once a booming business in the 1960s, slowed in the late 80s and 90s. Today, thanks to the discovery of shale oil and gas, it’s back – and so is the cradle boring machine. In fact, there has been a dramatic increase in pipeline projects worldwide in rec..
McElroy, Innovator Of Pipe Fusion Equipment, Announces Launch Of Website Redesign
McElroy, a manufacturer and innovator of pipe fusion equipment, announces the launch of its newly redesigned website – mcelroy.com. The new fusion website boasts an inviting, informative and mobile-friendly interface with an easy-to-use design, while providing even more machine and fused piping sys..
New Heath ODORATOR 2 Records Odor Levels In Utility Gas Stream
The Heath ODORATOR 2 offers the latest state of-the-art technology in a handheld, portable, electronic, GNSS based audit system. This instrument is used to evaluate and record the odor levels within a utility’s gas stream with respect to actual test locations. Natural gas (methane) and propane are t..
Toro Dealer Opens Doors In Houston
The Toro Company announced the expansion of C&O Equipment Company, a trusted equipment dealer of Toro products, to a new location in Houston. The new, strategic location offers Toro’s full product lineup including directional drills; ride-on trenchers; concrete and masonry equipment; compact utility..
Locates Critical For Triumph’s Port Of Houston Project
The capability to carefully control and guide the path of an underground pilot bore is what has made horizontal directional drilling (HDD) a primary method of installing underground utilities. Indeed, HDD often is the only practical and, in some instances, the only possible way to bury pipe, conduit..
Fluor Foundation Grants $1 Million To University of Houston College of Technology
Fluor Foundation, the philanthropic organization of Fluor Corporation, presented $1 million to the University of Houston (UH) College of Technology for the establishment of the Fluor-UH Industrial Construction Management Education Partnership, focusing on research and professional development. An..
Google Fiber Plans Expansion In Several Cities With Pending Deals In Many More
by Robert Carpenter, Editor-In-Chief Google Fiber is a remarkable story and the tale keeps growing. At the recent Power & Communication Contractors Association annual convention, one of the speakers included a senior representative in charge of the Southeast U.S. construction. When I asked what the..
Filter Out Solids From Drilling Fluids With The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer
The Vermeer R9x12T Reclaimer utilizes a series of shakers, cones and screens to filter out solids from drilling fluids, and it can hold up to 8,560 gallons (32,403.1 L). Powered by a 3 phase 250 kW (313 kVA) generator, the R9x12T has four shakers that can clean 600 gpm (2271 L/min). Depending on the..
Ring-O-Matic HiCFM 850VX offers greatest suction capability of their skid, truck, and trailer mounted designs
Ring-O-Matic HiCFM 850VX offers the greatest suction capability of their skid, truck, and trailer mounted designs. Applications for the HiCFM 850VX include key-holing or potholing buried utilities; cleaning out storm drains; catch basins; drilling fluids; valve boxes; slot trenching; or, assisting ..
MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology
The MCT 450 “Mud Man” Drill Fluid Mixing and Cleaning System from Mud Technology has cutting edge technology. The 2400 gallon, two-section tank includes 450 plus gpm of cleaning capacity. It features high “G” force “AWD” linear shaker, five-inch cone desilter bank, high shear/low pressure mixing hop..
In Minneapolis, Bellying Up for ... Tap Water
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — It’s a bar that serves nothing but tap water. For free. The concept, developed by two Minneapolis artists, started as pop-ups across the country, ranging from an event at a North Carolina artists’ space to a waterfront fundraiser in Chicago to a four-month run at an art museum in..
Global Water Technologies Joins National Call to Action as First White House Water Summit Highlights Need for Sustainable Investment
Global Water Technologies is participating in a national call to action on sustainable water strategies being launched this week at the first White House Water Summit on Tuesday, March 22. Water leaders from across the United States will head to the nation’s capital for the groundbreaking summit an..
Drilling Fluid BORZAN D from Wyo-Ben Particularly Effective in Vapor Extraction
As a stand-alone drilling fluid BORZAN D is a highly concentrated xanthan gum allowing for lower addition rates than most bio-polymers. BORZAN D fluids are particularly effective in vapor extraction and other environmental wells where it can be flushed out of the bore with minimum residual wall-cake..
American Augers BULLDOG Reamer
American Augers BULLDOG reamer is a 3-fluted cone shaped semi-compactor that is excellent for compactable soils and survives in intermittent rock. Benefits include: lots of replaceable jets for pressure tuning and easy repair of “washed out” jets; perimeter flow creates a complete slurry rather than..
Mud Recycling Becoming Common For Mid-Sized HDD Rigs
Recycling and reusing drilling fluids is becoming increasingly common on jobs with mid-size horizontal directional drill (HDD) projects where previously that practice was uncommon. Recycling isn’t for every job – it would not be practical on jobs with small machines making short bores – but contrac..
John Deere SmartGrade Crawler Dozer Promotes Productivity with Innovative Technology
New John Deere SmartGrade crawler dozer is built to improve jobsite accuracy and quality of work with its integration of the Topcon 3D-MC2 Grade Control System, which is fully integrated into the machine’s cabin, structure and software to deliver precise grading performance while eliminating vulnera..
Complexities Of Modern HDD Make Directional Drilling Rig Maintenance Even More Important
No one disputes the importance of proper directional drilling rig maintenance, yet too often it is neglected. The consequences ultimately show up on the bottom line and whether a project is profitable or one that goes in the red. Properly maintaining HDD equipment simple is good business. Multiple ..
Ramming Tool Extraction Cradles Simplify Key Aspects Of HDD Projects
HammerHead Trenchless Equipment’s wide assortment of ready-made ramming tool extraction cradles are now able to be locked inside. The extraction cradles enable horizontal direction drilling (HDD) contractors to position ramming tools 180-degrees to extract jammed pipe or tooling, assist in product p..
Straightline HDD Crusher Reamer
With a solid body foundation, the Straightline HDD Crusher reamer can be configured with either short-bodied radius top carbide buttons for hard rock up to 25,000 PSI or chisel-top carbide buttons for softer formations. The carbide buttons are precisely located on independent cutting paths to insure..
Innovative System Notifies Pennsylvania American Water Of Water Emergencies
Pennsylvania American Water, the largest water utility in its namesake’s state, has deployed a high-speed notification system – CodeRED – in an effort to rapidly alert customers of water emergencies. The system allows residents to set their personal preferences for contact methods and then facilitat..
Subsite Electronics Introduces New 2550GR Utility Locating System
Perry, Okla. – Subsite Electronics, a Charles Machine Works Company, has introduced the 2550GR Ground Penetrating Radar System featuring a new, user-friendly Window’s-based interface that will provide operators with a number of productivity enhancing benefits. “The 2550GR offers all the same great ..
New Reaming Tool Clears Debris, Rock From Culverts
By Jeff Griffin, Senior Editor Infinity Tool Mfg. has introduced a new line of reaming tools for clearing debris and rock from drainage culverts. Forward Articulating Reaming Tools can be attached with special connectors to several types of earth engaging equipment and extended into culverts to r..
- Intrepid Fiber breaks ground on fiber optic network in Superior, Colo.
- Excavator collides with I-95 overpass in Henrico, Va., causing multi-vehicle crash
- Shrewsbury, Mass., expands sewer inspections and cleaning efforts
- Two workers rescued after hours trapped in Mich. trench collapse
- Trump calls for Keystone XL pipeline revival, but developer has moved on
- Illinois overhauls Peoples Gas pipeline program, mandates focus on high-risk pipes
- Ameren Illinois to invest $140 million in natural gas pipeline replacement program
- Charlottesville, Va., to begin work on 24-inch water line for Rivanna River crossing
- Mass. governor slams Trump for ‘dangerous delay’ of $50 million in lead pipe replacement funds