PSG Maps Route for Gas Pipeline

Rockies Express Pipeline is a proposed 1,679-mile natural gas pipeline extending from Rio Blanco County, Colorado to Monroe County, Ohio. Rockies Express Pipeline LLC is a joint development with Kinder Morgan Energy Partners, L.P., Sempra Pipelines & Storage and Conoco Phillips. Team Fishel's Professional Services Group (PSG) is working with Rockies Express to identify the route the pipeline will follow.

Two Teammates, Darryl Murphy and Craig Pargeon, are Data Technicians working onsite at the Rockies Express office in Gahanna, Ohio. A 4-person survey team provides them with x, y, and z coordinates of the proposed 46-inch gas line. The surveyors are using state of the art Trimble GPS units, which provide amazing accuracy over long distances faster than conventional survey equipment. With the survey data, the Technicians are able to create very detailed maps outlining the actual location of the proposed pipeline route.

Although this work is similar to work PSG has done for Columbia Gas in Ohio and Kentucky and Northeast Ohio Natural Gas, it has presented unique challenges for the operation. According to Senior Crew Leader Jeff Martindale, one of the major obstacles in the field has been the terrain in Eastern Ohio. The survey crew is working on a 60-mile portion that includes large hills, deep ravines, heavy brush and several creek crossings. They have had to cut their way through the woods and heavy brush with machetes and chain saws just to lay out and survey the centerline of the pipe.

"The major difference with this job has been the terrain to be surveyed, and the overall size of the project," said David Strittmatter, PSG Area Manager. "We've had to invest in new software and hardware to accommodate the needs of this Customer." New computers with larger hard drives and faster processors have been installed at the Gahanna, Ohio office.

The project began in September 2006 and the contract has been extended to December 31, 2009.