Energy Services South: Collaborator in Nation’s Pipeline Integrity Assurance
Energy Services South contributes to the nation’s pipeline integrity assurance.
The need for pipeline integrity services has never been greater. Aging infrastructure and increasingly stringent regulations are driving operators to prioritize pipeline integrity management.
Pipeline operators rely on integrity management plans and programs to mitigate multifaceted threats. Left unmanaged, risks such as corrosion, metal loss, dents, leaks, pressure surge, and weather damage have the potential to impact delivery or trigger safety incidents.
New legislation and rulemaking have pipeline operators striving to stay current. For instance, the 2019 “Mega” rule passed by the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA) focuses on pipeline safety and integrity. It requires reconfirmation of the Maximum Allowable Operating Pressure (MAOP) for older pipelines, periodic assessment of pipelines in populated areas, and more.
Meanwhile, the relentless pursuit of pipeline safety and reliability is fueling innovations that are rendering old methods obsolete. While in the past strength testing lines was not mandated nor an industry norm, hydrostatic pressure testing is now commonly required to verify the structural integrity and strength of a pipeline.
Pipeline operators are calling on integrity services experts, including PLH Group’s Energy Services South (ESS), to optimize safety, quality, reliability, and customer service while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Anomaly Dig and Replacement by Energy Services South
When anomaly digs were needed for Duke Energy’s Line 5, Section 4 natural gas distribution pipe in Goldsboro, NC, they turned to Energy Services South for help. ESS provides high-quality integrity services, including pipeline and station facility construction, maintenance, upgrades, anomaly repairs, and emergency call-out work.
The completed project, part of Duke Energy’s Transmission Pipeline Integrity Management Program, involved:
- A double-stopple bypass, including a 10’’ pipe cut-out and replacement
- Approximately 40’ of 10’’ pipe replaced
- 45 additional dig locations, which were repaired by a combination of re-coating, cut out, or installation of sleeves
Thanks to the stopple bypass, Duke Energy was able to keep Line 5 in operation during the section cut-out and replacement process. ESS collaborated with TDW Services to operate and install the stopples.
Energy Services South is part of PLH Group, a leading provider of construction and maintenance services to the pipeline and electric power delivery industries in North America. ESS joins other PLH Group companies – including Snelson Companies, Southeast Directional Drilling, and Pipeworx – in focusing on pipeline integrity and infrastructure services. High-prioritized safety, proven expertise, and seamless collaboration distinguish PLH Group companies’ diversified infrastructure services from other service providers.
Learn more about the industry-leading work of PLH Group companies at www.plhgroupinc.com.
