TIE-INS & FABRICATIONS

Fabrications are the short lengths used to join the main runs of pipes at road crossings, bends and other obstructions. The straight parts of the fabs may be put together by the Front End Crew as they whizz through, but all the awkward bits like adding factory bends or short pups are done by the Fab Crews.

Tie-ins are where  all the pieces come together, in the ground: and this is where the welders and mates earn their money, down the hole.

Below: welding a factory bend to a fabrication

Fabrication crew stab two fabs onto a factory bend

Fabricated bend is joined to the mainline.

Pulling a fabricated bend round to align with a bore under a road crossing.

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Welding crew trucks backed onto a tie-in

One of the last tie-ins as this fab is tied into the tail of the drilled pipe at the Celcon HDD

The final weld as the Exedown HDD is joined to the main pipeline

Below : Sidebooms carry a fab towards the trench for tying-in

Click the pic below for Fabrication animation

Two lengths are joined, but a short piece needs to be cut to fit. Ganger Duncan McFarlane makes sure it fits

It's alright on a sunny day, but think what happens to that hole when it rains !!

When working in unstable ground, this cage protects the welding crew from trench collapse

The welder's mate may appear to be just lounging, but remember, as the welders work around the curve of the pipe, the welding current needs continuous adjustment, and an almost telepathic link develops between them all over time.

Welders pose for the camera

Booms-eye view of the pipe being prepped by the mates for a weld