LINDE WORKS IN WINTER

 

LINDE WORKS  IN WINTER

 

The Payne Pipeline project is 13,700 feet and this section of hill is about a quarter mile of it.  This is an example of working on terrain in winter.

 

Linde had more difficulties to overcome on this section because of hill angles and temperatures, which ranged from the mid-20’s down to below zero.

 

This is a lower section of the hill and a 400-foot piece of 16” steel pipe is to be placed in the ditch.  This requires five Linde excavators working in tandem to handle this section of welded pipe.

 

This pipe weighs more than 62 pounds/foot, so this section of pipe will weigh more than 12 tons.

 

Once the lower section was in place, it was time to move the upper length of pipe in place, approximately 500 feet in length and weighing nearly 16 tons.

 

Before the length was moved, the end cap was cut off with a torch.

 

Then the piece was carried carefully and slowly up the hill.  There are many factors which make working in cold weather a challenge.  It is important to scarify—or roughen the surface for better traction.  Grip to the ground is crucial and many excavators have special high grousers, or tread plates, for the frozen terrain.

 

Starting these machines is difficult because the size of the engines requires immense force to turn them over.  They need adequate fuel so the diesel won’t turn to jelly in the cold.  And big machines must be properly parked with their tracks cleaned so they don’t freeze to the ground when not in use.

 

Linde has been working steadily in the Marcellus region in winter.  Weather plus terrain is no fun, but we’re used to it.