Slide Rail Proves Optimal for Pipeline Maintenance Project

The owners of two petroleum pipelines were preparing for the addition of new rail infrastructure and commissioned a contractor to reinforce the existing lines. The contractor would be excavating approximately 180-ft of pipeline to a depth of 8-ft and a width of 12-ft in sandy Type C-60 soil. Once the site was excavated, the contractor would begin sandblasting the two owners’ existing pipelines and recoating each pipeline. The pipelines would then be covered in rebar and three feet of concrete poured around the lines for additional structural integrity. These were active pipelines and as such, it was a very sensitive site. It was critical the contractor properly shore the area to prevent a costly downtime event for the pipeline owners. The pipeline was also near a river and the Army Corps of Engineers was monitoring the project for exposure, at one point temporarily stopping the project due to rising nearby water levels. The area where the excavation was occurring was in a pipeline dense area and had another pipeline running within the adjacent area.

The contractor met with NTS to discuss the project requirements and possible shoring alternatives. The contractor selected to use a linear slide rail system with a site-specific engineered plan.  The slide rail system would provide positive soil support through the excavation, which was important both for the integrity of the two pipelines being worked on as well as the adjacent pipeline outside the excavation area. The slide rail system would be able to handle the poor Type C soil condition by providing the contractor the ability to push the panel down ahead of the excavator’s cut to ensure the slide rail system’s panels provided soil support throughout excavation.  The system also facilitated the use of the hydro-excavating equipment that would be required once the excavation neared the pipelines where traditional excavation would not be permitted. The contractor was extremely satisfied with the performance of the slide rail system and the integration of the site-specific plan. The site-specific plan addressed the job site challenges and helped to limit the risk of any costly downtime event for all the parties involved.