Advantages of HDPE / MDPE
Plastic Encasement

 

  • Increased Public Safety
    Due to the extended amount of encasement, additional depth, PVC vent pipe, bypass conduit, and testing of the encasement, public safety will be increased dramatically.
  • Testing of Encasement
    If required by the governing agency, the pre-installation testing of the HDPE / MDPE Plastic Encasement will be the first time that an encasement has been tested to insure air tightness of the encasement.

    Installation Method of the Encasement
    The directional drilling operations will reduce the potential of voids under the roadbed due to the reduction of material removal. The injection of the gel material for the encasement installation will also fill any voids under the roadbed and promote long-term roadbed integrity.

    Bypass Operations
    The bypass operations will be beneficial to both the utility owner and the governmental agency. This will allow the replacement of the carrier pipe while maintaining operations to the natural gas customers. This will also reduce the need for additional bores under the roadways for future installations.

    Non-Corrosive Material
    The plastic material will allow for the long-term safety of the roadway because the plastic material will not corrode like steel material. Corroded steel encasements must be abandoned and replaced, creating potential roadbed problems in the future. Replacement with steel encasement may create future roadbed concerns.

  • Tracer Wire Protection
    The tracer wire conduit will allow the locating wire to be replaced if a lighting strike damages the wire. Secondly, if a lighting strike does hit the tracer wire, no damage will be extended to the HDPE / MDPE Plastic Encasement. This will promote the long-term integrity of the HDPE / MDPE Plastic Encasement and protect the integrity of the roadbed.

  • Additional Depth / PVC Vent Pipe
    Additional depth will reduce the potential for road maintenance workers to create a hazardous condition due to accidental dig-ins. The extension of the HDPE / MDPE Plastic Encasement would provide one more level of protection for the road maintenance workers.

    The PVC vent pipe will improve the safety of the traveling public due to the reduction of potential personal injury and damage to vehicles. The PVC vent pipe will also reduce the potential damage to the road maintenance crews during bush-hogging operations. If this PVC vent pipe is hit during grass cutting operations, the PVC material will absorb the force and shatter on site.
    The existing steel vent pipe will not absorb the force and will potentially;

    1. Damage the bush-hogging equipment
    2. Become a missile and injury the traveling public.

  • Reduced Costs to Governmental Agencies
    Some governmental agencies are responsible for a majority of the relocation expenses of the natural gas operators in the road right of way. This HDPE / MDPE Plastic Encasement could reduce the expense of an encasement installation by 50% to 80% per location. This could also be included in the roadway contract in order to reduce any delays associated with the relocation of the natural gas facilities and therefore, reduce the potential expense of delay charges.

Additional Information:

Reducing installation / maintenance expenses and increasing return on investment is important to every company. The ever increasing expense of material used in the Natural Gas industry demands that new ideas be researched and developed. These new ideas must promote system integrity while reducing installation and maintenance expenses. Continuing to do the same old thing, the same old way, brings the same old result. Plastic pipe has revolutionized the natural gas industry. Since its development for natural gas distribution, PE pipe has gained widespread acceptance from utility owners, government agencies, and the consumers. A new horizon has developed for PE Plastic pipe with its use as a casing pipe for roadway crossing.
     
Dave Thomas of Eagle 1 Resources in Auburn, Alabama , a Strategic Planning and Subsurface Utility Engineering (SUE) firm, has developed a concept of Improved System for Piping under Roadways. The potential applications of this installation will reduce the utility owner’s initial capital investment by 30% to 70% vs. steel encasement. This system will also reduce the utility company’s long-term maintenance expenses and provide future replacement options. Replacements for system growth and/or system integrity issues can be completed with minimal capital investment. This information has been presented to the State Highway Department Utility Divisions for the Continental 48 states to receive input and comments. The comments received to date have been overwhelmingly favorable. Several Public Service Commissions (which regulate the rates charged by the utility owners) have reviewed this application and have commented that PE encasement amounts to rate relief for the utility customers.
 
     
Plastic Encasements are recommended for installation under all roadway crossings. PE plastic pipe is acceptable for all below ground locations due to the non-corrosive material installed and the strength characteristics of the PE plastic pipe. The design of the PE Plastic Encasement installations increase public safety and promote reduced maintenance issues for both the federal / state agencies and the utility owners. The picture on the right is an actual field picture and demonstrates what we are attempting to stop. Tracer Wire installed in this manner is a failure waiting to happen.
   
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including the Professional Engineering review and support Data, click here.