Life in Alaska

[AKwelder]

Been working a lot this summer

Was up and down the line, and just got home again last night

couple pictures of this last trip

driving home yesterday 

 

also did my Bees

And used my fire ring

[hardtail]

What's the job down in the hole?

[AKwelder]

13 hours ago, hardtail said:

What's the job down in the hole?

The smart pig (an in-line inspection tool they run to ensure the pipe is sound) had a hit, they dug up the pipe to inspect it, found it to need a repair (code calls out actionable criteria) so we welded a sleeve on it.  Now she’s as good as new

[AKwelder]

They were pumping 6 to 12 million gallons a day out of the hole by the way.  Varied depending on weather 

[TroyDairy]

8 hours ago, AKwelder said:

They were pumping 6 to 12 million gallons a day out of the hole by the way.  Varied depending on weather 

Wozza...  that could irrigate alot!

[AKwelder]

Just now, TroyDairy said:

Wozza...  that could irrigate alot!

Sure would.  They also started pumping while they were still digging and had coating and then slurry and back fill after our work, so they pumped for over a month. 

[mader656]

Why so deep on the pipeline...

That had to be a major undertaking to build.

[zleinenbach]

8300 gpm. amazing!  !

[AKwelder]

13 hours ago, mader656 said:

Why so deep on the pipeline...

That had to be a major undertaking to build.

It’s going under a river, we are in the gravel bed next to the river.  Lots of weights on top of the pipe to keep it in place.

 

 

I don’t know if it’s lost the title, but the Trans Alaska Pipeline was the largest privately financed construction project for a long time. Only governments spending other people’s money topped it.  Cost 8 billion in the seventies when that was a lot of money.

 

 

1 hour ago, zleinenbach said:

8300 gpm. amazing!  !

yeah Buddy, the generator was burning 650 gallons of fuel a day powering the main pumps

[Captian Kirk]

2nd picture,  is that 3 sleeves on top of each other? 

I worked on alot of the Trans Canada pipelines in Alberta. 

[Captian Kirk]

Looks like they poured cement over the original.  That would have been a huge open cut crossing.  

[AKwelder]

3 hours ago, Captian Kirk said:

2nd picture,  is that 3 sleeves on top of each other? 

I worked on alot of the Trans Canada pipelines in Alberta. 

There was a 1* over bend and the sleeve would have stood off the pipe to far, so it’s three sleeves with two bridges making a continuous sleeve around the curve

[AKwelder]

3 hours ago, Captian Kirk said:

Looks like they poured cement over the original.  That would have been a huge open cut crossing.  

Original was U shaped river weights set on top. 9 tons a piece.  

[just Dave]

I’ve done a bunch of tiny TIG welds for aerospace industry, that is nothing compared to the skill required for pipeline welding. Hats off buddy.

[AKwelder]

6 minutes ago, just Dave said:

I’ve done a bunch of tiny TIG welds for aerospace industry, that is nothing compared to the skill required for pipeline welding. Hats off buddy.

I appreciate it. But I no longer weld, just keep the paperwork and logistics in line for the welding crew.  

[hardtail]

12 hours ago, AKwelder said:

It’s going under a river, we are in the gravel bed next to the river.  Lots of weights on top of the pipe to keep it in place.

 

 

I don’t know if it’s lost the title, but the Trans Alaska Pipeline was the largest privately financed construction project for a long time. Only governments spending other people’s money topped it.  Cost 8 billion in the seventies when that was a lot of money.

 

 

yeah Buddy, the generator was burning 650 gallons of fuel a day powering the main pumps

I would say 8B today is still a lot of money but considerably less if you factor inflation, I thought that pipeline was designed to be converted to pump water after it was done with oil?

[AKwelder]

1 hour ago, hardtail said:

I would say 8B today is still a lot of money but considerably less if you factor inflation, I thought that pipeline was designed to be converted to pump water after it was done with oil?

Never heard that about water, maybe. 

[AKwelder]

Took a couple days and went for a moose hunt with a buddy

 

 

 

 

 

 

didn’t see anything legal to shoot, oh well.  Still had a great time with a friend 

[AKwelder]

Installed WiFi in the shop

 

now I might put up a TV.

 

 

 

[poor farmer/logger]

1 hour ago, AKwelder said:

Installed WiFi in the shop

 

now I might put up a TV.

 

 

 

My brother has his all set up that way. Uses it for YouTube if he needs it for when he’s working on something.  Makes viewing a little easier. 
 

Hows the snow situation so far? Nothing to speak of here yet. Keep hoping but so far nothing to get excited about.  No snowmobiling yet. 

[AKwelder]

2 hours ago, poor farmer/logger said:

My brother has his all set up that way. Uses it for YouTube if he needs it for when he’s working on something.  Makes viewing a little easier. 
 

Hows the snow situation so far? Nothing to speak of here yet. Keep hoping but so far nothing to get excited about.  No snowmobiling yet. 

I put the WiFi in the shop for computer access (Utube and checking on repairs) and so I can set up a camera that alerts my phone if someone goes in the shop. I have also connected my boiler so I know if it trips the reset or has an issue. Since it’s there a TV may be in the future.

 

Snow here in the interior has been very light, we only have about a foot on the ground. It has also been above zero so far. Very warm and mild winter for me so far.

Anchorage has been pummeled, back to back storms and more came in November.  I think by the 10 of November they had already tied already match the record for the month.  
 

I have heard there is good snow in the mountains 

[AKwelder]

A friend called and told me to check out this listing

 

https://billings.craigslist.org/grd/d/ralston-1941-international-td6/7691881648.html

 

Screen shot of post

 

a bit expensive, but … each there own

[poor farmer/logger]

1 hour ago, AKwelder said:

A friend called and told me to check out this listing

 

https://billings.craigslist.org/grd/d/ralston-1941-international-td6/7691881648.html

 

Screen shot of post

 

a bit expensive, but … each there own

The DuPont overhaul always scares me a bit. I’d almost prefer to see it in its working clothes.  It does Appear to be in decent shape but I agree it is a bit high. Prices have been going up though. You know the old saying though,  a fool and his money are soon parted. 

[AKwelder]

Well shoot, winter showed up

 

 

 

 

 

I would say better late than never, but I’m not sure 

[New Englander]

The sunrise at 10:25 and set at 14:55 is a real downer.