Tesmec USA Inc. offers demonstration for natural gas pipeline ditch-digging in Marcellus Shale

Employees of Tesmec USA Inc, a company specializing in trench digging, notably for natural gas pipelines, met with state officials, including state Rep. Tina Pickett and a representative of state Sen. Gene Yaw, as well as Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Forestry representatives, on Thursday to demonstrate the M5 trench digger, or "trencher," a large, chainsaw-resembling machine that was being used to dig trenches for various sizes of natural gas pipelines.

After meeting at the Weigh Station Cafe in Towanda, the group drove by caravan to a pipeline operation in Herrick Township. The pipeline was owned by Southwestern Energy, who had contracted Springfield Contracting Services to construct the pipeline.

"This machine can significantly change how pipelines are dug," Bryan Blankenship, national sales manager for Tesmec, said. "It has a host of advantages over a typical excavation team.

"Firstly, it can take the place of around seven to 10 excavators," he continued. "Obviously, this opens all sorts of advantages such as reducing the width of a right-of-way."

It's this reduction of right-of-way space needed that especially interested the DCNR representatives.

"We're hopeful that this will drastically reduce the amount of right-of-way needed to construct natural gas pipelines," one representative said. "Obviously, it is our utmost concern to protect the land and forests from as much disturbance as possible to reduce the footprint on the land as well as the forests."

The purpose of the demonstration was to show what kind of machinery can be used while constructing pipeline that can potentially reduce the environmental footprint that is left behind by pipelines.

"In addition to needing less excavators, trenchers such as the M5s need only one operator, which significantly reduces injury risk," Blankenship said, "Also, fewer machines mean less fuel usage. Using this kind of trencher can significantly lessen the amount of diesel fuel needed to dig a pipeline. Additionally, it can dig trenches significantly faster and cleaner than a standard excavation team."

The $1.2 million M5 trencher on-site was also started and dug a trench for the group, cutting through the frozen dirt and depositing the excavated soil into a pile next to it.

"Another great aspect about these trenchers is that they can reduce truck traffic," Blankenship continued. "Typically, rock needs to be shipped out from these sites because we can't put them back into a pipeline. Thus, rock needs to be trucked out and soil needs to be brought in. However, with this machine, the rock is ground up, where it can then be used to safely bury the pipeline without any additional dirt trucked in from somewhere else."

Blankenship also noted some technical information, such as that the M5's Caterpillar engine could pump out 440 horsepower and that the machine can weigh between 140,000 to 161,000 pounds, depending on its configuration, as well as containing GPS capabilities. He also added that it was quite a slow moving machine, averaging about one half mile per hour.

"The digging depth can also be adjusted," he said. "The trencher can dig up to 14 feet deep."

Pickett was encouraged by the demonstration and how the technology could be applied for natural gas pipelines in Pennsylvania.

"It seems to me to hold significant advantages," she said. "The right-of-way size is reduced, less machinery and manpower is needed and by reducing the overall size of the operation is a great benefit to the environment that is subjected to the construction of pipelines."

In addition to the demonstration of the M5 trencher, Blankenship also spoke about the advantages of the company's "Three Ditch System."

"The Three Ditch System involves placing three lines in a single right-of-way," Blankenship explained. "One line is for dry, or clean gas, the second would be for wet gas, which would be sent to a processing facility to clean it, and the other would be used for a company's hydraulic fracturing solution to frac the well the line is connected to."

"Two methods are commonly accepted with the use of the third ditch," according to an informational flash drive that Blankenship provided. "One supply line if a water source is unavailable at the well site and one return line or no supply line if a water source is readily available and one return line. With advances in engineering and the design of Tesmec trenchers leading to lowered cost of operations, using the Three Ditch System ultimately leads to a significant reduction in the associated production costs and environmental impact placed on these shale play regions."

"Obviously, this method can substantially reduce the amount of truck traffic by eliminating the need for trucks to constantly deliver the fracing fluid," Blankenship noted. "This can greatly benefit the local community, roads and environment that are subjected to this truck traffic."

Tesmec USA, Inc. is based in Alvarado, Texas, and has recently opened a new location in Troy.

"In response to the growing needs of our customers, Tesmec USA, Inc. has opened our newest branch to accommodate the demand for high performance trenchers within this region." according to a press release provided during the demonstration. "From this location, customers are provided sales and service support, machine rentals (long term and short term), and on-site parts availability."

Johnny Williams can be reached at (570) 265-1639; email: jwilliams@northeastdriller.com.