When selecting a pipelayer or sideboom to construct a pipeline, many considerations must be taken into account. A pipelayer will be selected based on the size and weight of the pipe to be installed and topography of the construction site. These considerations impact on the lifting capacity of the pipelayer, transportability and ease of service required for the project.

Volvo Construction Equipment's Derrick Butterfield says “The larger and heavier the pipe to be used – for example, concrete coated pipe for immersion in water – demands equipment with the lifting capability and stability to manage it safely.”

If limited access to the right-of-way is encountered, transporting the pipelayer to site can be an issue.

PipeLine Machinery International's (PLM) Sherry Gettis says “The contractor may need to consider using machines with lower lift capacity, but use more of them to lift a section of pipe. Ease of service can be a crucial consideration on remote access pipelines or projects with tight completion timelines.”

The contractor could also choose to purchase a large pipelay machine with the ability to self-disassemble, such as in Volvo’s large pipelayer range.

Stability

Mr Butterfield says that machine stability remains a known issue with pipelayer and sideboom machinery.

“Volvo’s excavator-based pipelayer solution dramatically increases stability thanks to a wide, almost square, operating platform on the two largest models – PL4611 and PL015. A hydraulic variable undercarriage is used on the latest model, PL4608.”

Dressta has developed a pipelayer with a boom prop to improve stability. The SB-60 BP aims to provide contractors with the ability to safely lift larger loads of pipe – up to 60,000 kg – by extending a prop to support a sideboom with an overhang of 2.2–6 m. The company’s pipelay machines are also fitted with hydraulically controlled counterweights for machine stability.

Maats/Liebherr has developed the RL 64 pipelayer with wide track pads on the load side in order to increase stability and maintain a low ground pressure to improve safety when working on porous ditch edges.

Safety

Safety improvements are continually being made within the pipelayer/sideboomindustry.

Within the last 12 months, Volvo has developed a roll over protective structure (ROPS), load management systems, increased load capacity and better stability on its machines.

Maats has also recently developed a ROPS for the Komatsu D355C-3 machine, which complies with the EN 13510:2000 and ISO 3741:2006 standards.

Dressta has improved safety on its pipelayer machines through the incorporation of emergency free-fall on the load line, an automatic boom kick-out to prevent boom damage, an automatic overwind device and a load indicating device.

PLM’s Ms Gettis notes several features of the Caterpillar pipelayers that have been adapted with safety in mind. New cab designs maximise the operator’s view around the machine. Fingertip controls and quick release blocks are designed to keep operators out of trouble.”

Ms Gettis also notes that adequate training is imperative to ensure safety on the construction site, and this includes knowing how to properly operate pipelay and sideboom equipment.

“The most important safety aspect on the pipeline right-of-way is well-trained operators on well-maintained equipment. Caterpillar and PLM are working closely with industry training facilities to ensure that new operators have the best equipment to learn on,” says Ms Gettis.

The environment

Within the industry, there is a growing concern about reducing the carbon footprint of pipeline construction projects. Companies that manufacture and distribute pipelayer and sideboom equipment are responding by developing pipelayers with engines that have lower emissions.

Caterpillar is continuing to develop Tier 4 rated engines and has recently launched the first electric drive tractor – the D7E.

Maats/Liebherr has installed its RL 64 pipelayer with a diesel engine with an output of 275 kW/374 horse power that complies with all common emission regulations.

Ms Gettis notes that there are issues that need to be addressed as manufacture is increased on lower emissions engines.

“Lower emissions requirements and alternative low-sulfur diesel fuels are issues that will affect major northern hemisphere pipeline projects. Low ambient temperatures are a challenge for today’s low-emissions engines. Addressing this issue on projects to be built in -4.4 degrees Celsius temperatures is our challenge and one we have been working on with the industry for several years,” she says.

Future developments

Each pipeline construction spread is different, requiring contractors to think carefully about the machinery that would best suit the project. Pipelay and sideboom manufacturers offer many different options for pipeline projects, while taking key issues such as safety and the environment into consideration.

In addition, pipelay and sideboom machinery continues to be developed. The industry continues to improve the transportability of the equipment, develop accessories to improve operator comfort and efficiency, and continue to engineer machinery required for new trends in the pipeline industry.