PipelineConstructionTerminology

A.R.O.
AbrasionResistantOverlay,toughouterlayerthatisresistanttoimpact,gouge,abrasionand
penetrationcommonlyusedforbores

BackEnd
Crewsbehindweldingcrewcomprisedofpipegangandfiringline

Bead
1stpassofweldalsoknownastherootpass

Bellhole
Aditchareamadewidethroughproperslopeforsafeentryintoexcavationwherehandsenterand
workduringtiein

Berm
Dirtorotherearthmaterialpositionedbymachinetocontainfluidsorconstructedtodivertwateraway
fromworkingarea,maybeusedalongtrenchtoreduceexposuretovehicles

BlastMat
Assembledchainoftiresconnectedbychainorboltthatareplacedoverblastareabeingworkedto
reduceexposureofflyingdebris

BlowDown
Areleaseofgas,air,orwaterfromacompressedloadedpipesection,seenduringhydrotest
completionandtoisolatesectionsoflivelines

Boom
Pipelayeralsoknownasasideboomtractor,verysignificanttopipelineconstructionandmaintenance

BottleNeck
Areaofpipelinerightofwaywherethewidthofworkingspaceisreduced

BreakOver
Pointwhereequipmentapproachesandpassesdownpeakofhillormountain,alsousedtodescribe
pointforsideboompositioninrelationtoadjustingpipeinclampsduringtieinprocessonbiginchpipe

Buffing
Smoothingthesurfaceofabevelbyuseofanabrasiveorwirewheel

BullHorns
Partedblowoffstacksinstations,alsotieoffpointsforloadsecurementonsidebooms

CADWeld
Metalfusionoftestleadsforcathodicprotectiontopipecathodeandcasing

Cap
Lasttoppassofweld

Charge
Adesignatedformofexplosivethatisplacedaccordinglytobreakuprockforpipelineinstallation

CherryPicker
Cranemountedusuallyonmechanicsrig

Choker
Usedtoencirclethepipebybringingoneendthroughanopenloopontheotherendaroundthepipe
leavingotherendavailabletohook,usedtoliftandpull

ClamBucket
Usedtoremoverocksanddebrisfromtrenchpriortoloweringinofpipe,preferredmethodwhen
reducingcontactwithtrenchwalltosustaintrenchintegrity

Coating
Productchosenbyclientthatisappliedbysprayorbrushtoprotectweldedareaandbuttuptofactory
installedcoatingonremainderofmainline,alsousedinrepairofminorcoatingdefectsandholidays

ComeaPart
Someonewhohaslosttheabilitytoeffectivelycommunicatewithanotherperson,anexpressionto
describeabreakdowninpatienceinahighlyupsetindividual

CookieCutter
Atransitionalpieceusedtomaketransitionfromdrillpipetoborepipe(dummypipe),maybeseenon
laserguidedtrackbores.

CoreLog
Meshrollstuffedwithabsorbentmaterialsuchasstrawandusedtocompleteenvironmental
containmentalongareasofrightofway,tobemovedbyhandandnotrunover

ColdWrap
Tapetypepipelineprotectantthatservessamepurposeascoatingalthoughdoesnotcarrysame
temperatureapplicationrequirements

Combo
Asag,overbend,sidebendorpointofintersect(PI)incloseproximity

ComingInside
Whenworkisonapproachtoaroad,shufly,orlandmarkknownonproject,technicallyshouldgowith
thedirectionofproductflow,mayalsobedefinedbydirectionofconstruction,upstreamside

Coupons
Sectionsofcutpipeusedtopracticewelding,circularoreggshapepiecescutoutofjoint,magnetic
deviceinsertedintothegroundduringtestleadinstallationthatcanreceiveproductflowdata

Cradle
Cableslingswithhardrubberrollersusedtosupportpipeandprotectcoatingduringtheloweringin
process

Crew
Assembledgroupoffieldworkersusuallyassignedtoonespecifictask,subjecttochangedependingon
operationfactorsandschedule

CrossClutch
Trackingdownhill,topreventfreewheelononeside,notealwaysturntospoilpileifpossibleinthe
eventcontrolofboomiscompromised

Crotch
Vshapeassemblyofskidstoholdsectionorjointofpipeinplace

Crumbing
Removalofdebrisandrocksfromditch(trench)tomaintainpipelinecoatingandstructureintegrity

Cutter/CuttingBit
Frontofaugeronroadboreorspecialreamerusedforcuttingboreholehardmaterialonhorizontal
directionaldrilling(HDD)

Deadman
Ibeamorpupthatispositionedintothegroundforcradleboretopullonbycableandwinch

DogLeg
Wherethelayoftherightofwayhascausedforaslightbendinthestraightmainlinesection

Downstream
Directionofflowforproductthatpipelinewillcarryfollowingcompletionofconstruction

DragUp
Whenahandquits

Draguptank
Fueltankinstalledinthebackofpickuptrucksorinthedeckofwelderrig,maybecomeimportantin
areasoffrostlawtokeepironfueled

DripTank
Tankthatmaybecustombuiltorcappedjointofpipewithasmallerdiameterpipeweldedtoitto
receiveliquidsgatheredinlauncherorreceiverfromP.I.G.orliquidsfromanearbyscrubbertank

DummyPipe
Jointsofpipethatarereusedmultipleoftimesforboring,usuallyseenonroadboresandusedtohold
augerandmakeinitialentry

Egging
Whenpipejointroundnessiscompromisedduringbendingorotherapplications

FastLine
3fusedwaterlineinsertedintoboresectionforbuoyancycontrolwhenpullingthroughsection

Float
Aflatbedtrailer

FlumePipe
Pipejointsusedtomaintainflowofwaterinditchesandoffersupporttobridging

Flyrock
Flyingdebrisfromblastingareaaftercontrolledblasttakesplace

ForeignLine
Anotherpipelineinthepathofconstructionthatmaybelongtodifferentcompany,needtoknowexact
location,pressure,productinformation,representativeforutility,etc.ifbeingworkednexttoorcrossed

Foreman
Designatedcompetentpersonforcrew,bossoffieldcrewwhoshouldreceiveallinformationpertaining
tocrew,taskstobedesignatedfromforemantocrewonly

FrontEnd
Crewsfiringlineforward

GoingAwaySide
Whenworkismovingawayfromroad,accessroad,orlandmarkknownonproject,technicallyshould
gowiththedirectionofproductflow,mayalsobedefinedbydirectionofconstruction

Goose
Internalclampusedbyweldersthatispoweredbyhydraulicstolineuppipeforweldonpipegang

GreenHand
Newworkertopipelineconstructionwithlessthan3monthsexperience

Hand
Pipelinefieldworker

HotLines
Pipelinesunderpressure,loadedlines

Holiday
Irregularshowingofmetalfrompossiblecoatinglossordamagethatmaybeginpitting

HotDope
Oldmaterialforcoatingpipelinescomprisedofheatedcoaltarpitch/hottar

HotPass
Passfollowingbeadwherefillerisapplied

HotTap
Thedangeroustaskoftappingintoaloadedlinefortiein

HustleSkids
Workputinmyhandtounload,place,remove,orassembleskidsforcrotchorslide

Iron
Heavyoperatingequipmentusedforpipelineconstruction

InStreamSupport(ISS)
Supportinmiddleofbridgewithflumepipeandmatting

Jeep
Deviceusedmultipleoftimesonsamesectionspriortoloweringinthatuseselectricalcurrenttodetect
holidaysorcoatingloss

JetLine
AcableusedtopullafastlinethroughboresectionofpipeonHDD

Joint
Alengthofpipe

JunkWeld
Alsoknownasatemporaryweldmadeondummypipethatisnottestedandserveslittlepurposeother
thanconnectingjointsofdummypipe

KeyIn
Tomakematslevelwithterrainorprovidesupportindecliningterraintosupportbridgingforlevel
approach

KickOff
Wherethestartofthemainlineconstructionbegins

KickerLine
Linefoundnearfrontoflauncher/receiverthatappliesproducttobackofP.I.G.byvalvemimictocreate
differentialpressureandlaunchP.I.G.intomainlinepipelinetoworkandcanalsobeusedtoloop
pressureinfrontofP.I.GtoreduceresistancetoreceiveP.I.G.inreceiver

LinePipe
Themainlinepipe

Loop
Asectionofpipethatrunsparallel

Launcher
ExtensionofmainlineequippedwithaseriesofvalvesandkickerlinetopushP.I.Gintopipelineby
creatingdifferentialpressurefromthefrontoftheP.I.G.tothebackpossiblebykickerline

LayDownYard
Temporaryoperatingyardforpipelineconstructionoperationsandequipmentstorage

Lowboy
Trailerusedtohaulequipment,detachesfromtruckandisloweredtopickupordropoffequipment

Mandrel
Innerdieinsideofbendingmachinethatputspressureoninsidewalltopreventegging

MudBoard
Awoodenplatformusedbywelderstolayonthathelpskeepabovewetorroughgroundduring
welding

NightCap
Capmadeupofmetal,cloth,rubber,plasticorwoodplacedontheopenendofpipetoreduce
introductionofforeigndebrisinsidepipe

OHP
Overheadpower

OverBend
Bendinpipethatishighinornearthemiddleofjoint

Padding
FinegrainmaterialthatcouldbemadebyOZZIEpadders,Outlaw&ALLUgrinderandorshakerbuckets,
orthatisusedasthefirstlayerofbackfilltoprovideanunderbellysupportforpipeandcoating
protectionbeforeoriginalbackfillisinstalled

Pass
Aweldallthewayaroundpipediameter

PeatBog
Dampsaturatedmaterialmadeupofpartiallydecayedvegetation

PendulumEffect
Weightdistributioncausedbyloadandcablefreemovementinrelationtocenterofgravitywhenajoint
orpupisbeingcarriedupordownaninclineordeclinebyasideboom,effecttoincreasewithlonger
arm(stick)

Pete
Peterbilttruck

P.I.
Pointofintersectwherethedirectionofthepipelinechangesandisusuallyidentifiedbylatheor
woodenstakeintheground

P.I.G
PipelineIntegrityGaugethatcomesinmultiplesizesandpurposesandisusedtoclean,detect,and
inspectinsideofpipelinefordebris,excessfluid,oranomalies

PopsicleSticks
Placedingroundtoidentifylocationofbendsinrelationtojointsandbendinginformationthatisleftby
designatedbendingengineerforthebendingcrew

PullHead
Areinforcedcapequippedwithatowingeyethatisweldedtoasectionofpipetobepulled,usedon
HDD,roadbores,andwaterbodycrossings

Pup
Shortlengthofpipe

Quad
Atractorwithweldingmachinesmountedtoit

ReachRod
Extendedrodwithcontrolformandrelthatisseencomingoutofthebendingmachine

Reamer
Aspeciallydesignedcuttingheadattachedtodrillpipetoopenborefollowingpilotholeandwill
increaseindiameterfollowingsuccessfulpasstomeetdesireddiameterforthatbore,maybeusedasa
swabinhardermaterial

Receiver
ExtensionoffofmainlinethatisequippedwithaseriesofvalvesdesignedtobringinP.I.G.throughuse
ofdifferentialpressure

Reject
Aweldthathasbeentestedandhasnotmetrequirementsfordesiredintegrityandstrength

Ripper
Averticalcurvedtoothorteethlocatedonthebackofadozerthathishydraulicallypoweredand
designedtobreakuphardgroundusuallybeforeditchingtakesplace

Roach
Moundofdirtleftoverthepipelinetosettleevenlywithtime

Rollin
Usedtoidentifywhenadeliveryofmaterialorequipmentisonitsway,mayalsobeusedtoexpress
excessivespeedduringflaggingoperations

Roping
Whenasectionofpipeisliftedbysideboomscreatingaslightarchinordertoinsertthepipeatthe
desiredanglerequiredforborehole

ROW
Pipelinerightofway

SafetyFuse
Ablackpowderfusedesignedtoburninsideaprotectivecasingtoigniteexplosives

Sag
Alowbendinthepipeinornearthemiddle,usedtocontourpipetoterrain

Scrubber
Atankinstalledthatmayworkongravitydropoutorfilterstofilterproductofcondensatetransported
throughpipeline

ShakerBucket
Outlawbucketwithmeshedbottomtofilterthroughfinegraindirtforbackfill,seencommonlyontie
insandcongestedareas

ShootaBend
Degreesofabendcalculatedwithatransit

ShuFly
Accessroadleadingtopipelinerightofway

SideBend
Asidewardbendonthepipetodirectittoadesireddirection

SideStepping
Installationofstepsforingressandegressinexcavatedarea

Silkscreen
Usedtofiltersedimentanddebrisoutofwaterbypassingitthroughameshscreen

SissyBar
Aflatpieceofmetalweldedtoteethonabucketforintendedsafedigging,requiredformultiplegas
companiesandgrounddisturbanceprograms

Skid
42inlength4tall6widehardwoodusedtoholdpipeindesiredposition,usuallyidentifiedas
cribbingoutsideofpipelineindustry

SkidHustler
Custommachineusedonrightofwaytocollectskidsandassembleforpickup

Slide
Asimpleassemblyofskidstoraisejointoffofground,usuallyseenwithacrotchwhenstringingjoints,
etc.
Sling
Loopendedsyntheticlineorcableusedforlifting,willhavemetaltagforcableorsewnpatchfor
syntheticlinetoidentifyliftingcapabilities

Snoopy
Ahandmadescootercyclepoweredbyasmallenginedesignedtobeinsertedintopipesectionand
carryropeorjetlinefromonesidetoanother,seenandusedonHDD

SoftTouch
Totrackuphill,upasteepinclineandnottosteertractortofast

SpreadBoss
DesignatedSuperintendentofproject,toppersonforcontractordaytodayfieldoperations

Spacers
Definesmaterialthatseparatesmainlinepipelinefromcasing,seenonrivercrossingsorroadboresand
canbemadefrommultipleofapprovedmaterials

SpoilPile
Materialthatisdugfromditchandpiledonrightofwaymakesupspoilpile

Spoon
Amodifiedgardentoolwithamodifiedlonghandleusedtoreachandpulloutdebrisfromtrenchjust
beforeorduringloweringinofsection

Spotter
Ahandtrainedtohelpdriversandoperatorsbywatchandguideofvehiclesandequipmentwhile
crossingunderoverheadpowerlines,backingup,passingonR.O.W.,ordigginginasensitive/congested
area

Spread
Theentiregroupofpipelineworkerswhoareontheprojectworkingforthecontractor

Stabber
Handwhohelpslineuppipejointsforwelding

Stick
Expressionusedtoidentifyarmofexcavatororsideboom

StrawBoss
Foremangotoperson,secondinchargeoncrew

Swamper
Oilerforequipment

TackRig
Weldingtractor,mayalsobeusedtocarryweldinghuts

TagLine
Ropeorslingtiedaroundorattachedtoequipmentorpipetoassistincontrolforloading,unloading,
transporting,andcontroltoreduceswinginganddamagetopersonnelandproduct,consideracceptable
levelofriskwithuse

TailDitch
Gradualrampusuallywidthofbucketthatdugitandisleftattheendofadugtrench,tailditchand
beginningsofbellholebeforedepartureareusuallyasignofrespectfornextcrewtocome,oftencrew
willwantandshoulddigtheirownbellholeforpreferredintegrity

TravelLane
Whereequipmentandvehiclesmoveupanddownasegmentofpipelinerightofway,shouldalwaysbe
leftopenoravailabletoclearimmediatelyineventofemergency

Trenchbreaker
Foamwallssprayedintoditchtoreduceerosionaroundpipeandtohelpmaintainintegrityofditch
backfilloninclinesormountain/hillapproachanddescend,mayalsobemadeofsandbags

Utility
Communicationline,gasline,oilline,electricalline,waterline,sewerline,etc.

WalkingThroughItself
Sideboombecominglightonfrontendwiththepotentialtotipback,concernwhenworkinginextreme
incline

WaterBreaker
Bermsorshallowtrenchesconstructedacrossrightofwayatanangletodivertwatertoedgeoroff
rightofway,helpswitherosionmitigationandrightofwayconditions

Whalers
TopsidesupportforsheetpileinstalledcomprisedofcuttofitIbeamsthatareboltedtothevertically
placedsheetpile

WorkingSide
Thesideofthepipelinerightofwaywhereequipmentandvehiclestravel

Worm
Modifiedpupwithroundendspulledthroughboreholeandusedtoslick,verifyboreholepassage,and
clearoutgougepotentialonHDDs

Yoyo
Abucketusedonadraglinetogettothedesireddepthofditchbeingdug,commonlyusedatrivers