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The tunnel, classified as an earthen ditch by the Colorado Water Conservation Board, travels through shale mountainsides and mesas as it winds through the Rocky Mountains east of Delta, Colorado. Today, 2,300 acres of land are irrigated by the water the tunnel provides. A total of 174 shareholders depend on the water each year to grow crops that range from corn to beans to alfalfa.
To restore service to the 23-mile-long irrigation tunnel, the NDIC turned to 1,500 feet of 54-inch SDR 17 high-density polyethylene (HDPE) pipe to reline the tunnel. The troublesome point of the tunnel was a 40 foot mass of dirt and rock that had collapsed from the sides.
With funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Gunnison Basin Round Table, the process to repair the tunnel began in April. After considering different sliplining, tunnel boring, microtunneling and drilling methods, a simple pulling of the pipe through the existing was chosen with a grouted backfill. Petty Construction Company, LLC., was awarded the project after a bidding process.
Petty Construction is no stranger to HDPE work, with plenty of experience using the pipe material from 1-inch and up. One of the first things Petty Construction did was contact High Country Fusion and secure Certified McElroy Rental machines for the project.
To fuse the 1,500 feet of pipe required for the project, Petty Construction and High Country Fusion personnel used a MegaMc® 2065 fusion machine that is capable of fusing up to 65 inch pipe. For constructing addition grouting pipe, workers used a McElroy Pit Bull® 14.
Certified McElroy Rental machines are held to a higher standard than other rental fusion units in the market. Each rental location must check in fusion machines using a factory-created checklist. Consistent training from McElroy ensures each location maintains high-quality rentals.
One of the biggest helpers on the project was McElroy’s MegaMc® Pipe Stands, which allowed heavy machinery to be used elsewhere on the site. After each joint was fused, a stick of pipe was placed on the powered pipe stand and maneuvered into the jaws of the 2065. On the outbound side of the fusion machine, the MegaMc Pipe Stand was used to aid in the pulling of pipe toward the insertion area.
The biggest challenge on the project was the angle at which the pipe was pulled into the existing irrigation tunnel. The length of pipe was constructed on a hillside and strung out at a 45 to 60 degree angle to the insertion pit. After fusing, the pipe was positioned on the edge of a service road on the hillside and pulled into place. The flexibility of the pipe helped in making the pull through the existing irrigation tunnel a success.
The NDIC is also investigating ways to get more funding to rehabilitate other areas along the 23 mile stretch. The irrigation tunnel rehabilitation, which is due to be completed later this month, should provide service for decades to come.
Sincerely,
Tyler Henning
P.S. – Do you have an interesting job site that you would like to share? McElroy is always looking for fusion job sites where HDPE is being used and fused to solve an infrastructure problem. Contact Tyler Henning, public relations specialist at (918) 831-9286 or by email at thenning@mcelroy.com
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McElroy pipe stands save wear and tear on machinery. By using pipe stands to bring pipe to the same height as the fusion machine, you make the fusion process easier. With pipe lengths coming into the machine parallel to each other, it is easier to adjust the high/low and achieve a square face-off.
When constructing a substantial pipeline, the pipe stands can greatly increase productivity. The pipe stands allow you to pull the fused pipe through the machine after fusion operations instead of moving the fusion machine to the next fusion joint.
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| Pipe Stand | Large Pipe Stand | MegaMc® Pipe Stand |
A variety of pipe stands are available for pipes sized from 2-inch IPS to 65-inch OD pipe (63mm to 1,600mm). For more information on the variety of pipe stands available from McElroy, click here.
To see an animation on how pipe stands help jobsites, click here.
For information on the more robust MegaMc® Pipe Stands used on the project in Delta, Colorado, click here.
McElroy University has added two classes at the end of June. If you are interested in receiving your small diameter or mid-range diameter operator qualification, the two new classes are for you.A Small Diameter Operator Qualification course begins June 25th and continues to June 27th. The Mid-Range Diameter Operator Qualification class starts June 27th and ends on the 29th.
To register for the Tulsa-based classes, visit mcelroy.com/fusion/training for more information.
Attention North Carolina and Surrounding States
The Alliance for PE Pipe’s HDPE Total Solutions Roadshow will be in the Raleigh/Durham area on May 31st. The roadshow is a great opportunity to learn more about high-density polyethylene pipe, the joining processes, and the support behind the products.
The event, to be held at the Radisson Hotel Research Triangle Park in Research Triangle Park, will offer complimentary continental breakfast and lunch, presentations, and experts on hand to talk about HDPE.
To RSVP for this event, visit www.pepipe.org.
To download a flyer for this event, click here.
Certified McElroy Rentals Now Offered in More Places Worldwide
More and more Certified McElroy Rentals are available around the globe. If you are in the market for a fusion machine rental, there’s no place better to start your look than www.certifiedmcelroy.com.
Originally, Certified McElroy Rentals were available in the United States and Canada. Now, more and more locations are coming online worldwide. There’s a reason why Certified McElroy Rental equipment fleets are a step above other rental options:
- Certified McElroy Rental equipment gets better overall care than other rental machines. Your McElroy distributor adheres to a comprehensive checklist for every rental machine in their fleet.
- Machines in the rental program are constantly maintained to be in the best condition possible – all parts of the machine, from top to bottom, are checked. These checks include electrical, hydraulic, facer, heater and much more. When a repair is needed, only Genuine McElroy Parts are used.
- Factory-trained inspectors look over the machine after each rental. If repairs are needed on a machine, McElroy factory-trained mechanics are on-hand to perform repairs.
- Certified McElroy Rental distributors are audited to ensure that each fleet meets the high expectations of the program.
- Certified McElroy Rental offers more security and reliability, giving you the ability to get the job done.
If you have photos from a jobsite, we'd love to see them! Yours may be chosen for the next issue of McElroy Connections. Simply email your photos to Tyler Henning, at thenning@mcelroy.com.
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Great article! And we encourage you to hit the Alliance for PE Pipe's "like" button! Alliance for PE Pipe. May 1st |
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Two new McElroy University classes have been added for the last week in June. You can enroll online today! #HDPE http://ow.ly/asboW Apr 23rd |
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Colorado Springs is replacing a cast iron pipeline with #HDPE. Smart choice! http://ow.ly/aewX9 Apr 12th |
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