Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Tech Perspectives:
Explore factors for choosing the right pillow tank
page 28
Different
BranD of
Diversity
WRS MaintainS a bROad WORk Menu
fOR RefineRieS PAGE 12
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6GC11- JUN.11
JUN.11 - www.gomcmag.com GOMC 3
20 28
12
departments
contents
8 EDITOR’S NOTEBOOK:
WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE AN UNDERCOVER BOSS?
The reality show can provide a wake-up call for company leaders.
Would you like to be in their shoes?
- Jim Kneiszel
34 PRODUCT NEWS
28 TECH PERSPECTIVES: PILLOW TALK SPOTLIGHT: ELIMINATOR OFFERS HASSLE-FREE PUMP
Collapsible fabric storage tanks can provide cost-effective liquid INSTALLATIONS
storage solutions for GOM contractors. - Ken Wysocky
- Peter Kenter
37 INDUSTRY NEWS
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H
ave you ever watched the CBS Tele- slew of process and human resources chal- your company?
vision reality show, Undercover Boss? lenges – and even shed a tear with his work- You probably did perform the dirtiest
In case you’ve missed it, the prem- ers – in a mere 43 minutes (not including work when you were starting out. Are you
ise involves the chief executive of a company the commercials). still willing to get knee-deep in a mess and
adopting a new identity in order to work a Among other things, he issued comput- show your workers how to do the job right?
variety of frontline jobs with a goal of getting ing tools to allow one worker with a heavy Sometimes it’s a good thing to remind the
Jim Kneiszel in touch with employees and streamlining travel schedule to video chat with his family. crews in the field that you know what their
operations. After working with another employee strug- jobs entail. If they know you understand ev-
A recent episode piqued my interest, so gling to quit smoking, he added a smoking ery process, they may be more apt to respect
I put down the remote control and watched cessation program to the company’s health your most challenging marching orders.
as Bill Massa, the head of waste process- insurance benefits. He addressed another Also, they may feel freer to come to you
ing company Synagro Technologies Inc., worker’s concerns by promising that proper with suggestions of better ways to complete
dove into some of the dirtiest jobs around. portable sanitation would be available at a task. This will improve your company’s
He worked with dewatering plant opera- every remote work location from now on. bottom line.
tors to test sludge cake and clean filtering Massa’s experience got me to thinking
systems. He removed biosolids from a Will you hear good things about your
about what it would be like for the owner
lagoon in Kansas. He waded waist-deep into management style?
of a GOM support services company – who
a treatment plant holding tank to pump out maybe hasn’t worked at a remote loca- What are employees saying about you
sludge. when they head out the door for a mining or
tion lately – to become an Undercover Boss.
rig location? The prospect of hearing those
Would you welcome or dread the oppor-
SEEING IS BELIEVING conversations would be like cracking open
tunity to be a fly on the wall around your
The thrill of watching a top executive your teenage daughter’s diary. It could scare
workers? How would you react to seeing a
get a little dirt under his fingernails is good the heck out of you, but might give you
worker cut corners on a job or provide less-
TV. But more important than the theatrics, valuable clues about parenting.
than-stellar customer service? Would you be
Have you ever
thought about asking
(Employees) probably spend more time together on the job than they do with their families at home. workers to assess your
Reward them with a little fun so they associate being together with skills as a manager?
You can do this in a
more than backbreaking work. non-threatening and
constructive way and
gain some of the same
Massa had the opportunity to find out ready to step in and make dramatic changes insights as the CEOs on Undercover Boss. Be-
about the daily challenges of his workforce. in your company based on an eye-opening ing willing to listen to employees can help
He got a glimpse of how efficiently the com- experience like this? you gain and retain their respect, while
pany’s systems work. He heard firsthand It’s unlikely CBS will be calling you learning ways you can improve as a leader.
what several employees liked and disliked anytime soon to star on an episode of
about working at Synagro. Undercover Boss. And those of you with Will workers complain about your ben-
As is the formula with primetime tele- smaller companies couldn’t put on a hat and efits package?
vision entertainment, Massa learned many fake moustache and get away with working You probably already have a good idea
things about his company and overcame a incognito alongside employees. how employees feel about the perks of the
job. If you don’t offer benefits like health in- week to plan a lunch or infor-
surance or vacation days, you know workers mal party to build camarade-
may not be happy about it. The question is, rie among employees. They
can you do something to turn what might be work hard with each other –
a negative into a positive? day after day – and probably
Even incremental, measured improve- spend more time together
ments in the benefit package can have a big on the job than they do with
impact with workers. You might not be able their families at home. Re-
to afford a premium, all-expenses-paid health ward them with a little fun so
insurance plan. But can you contribute to a they associate being together
health savings account for workers or offer a with more than backbreaking
high-deductible plan as a start? If money is work.
difficult to overcome, can you offer flexible
work hours, modest bonuses for a job well A FINAL THOUGHT
done, or other motivators that don’t come Being an Undercover Boss
with a big price tag? Remember the old say- is designed to push you out of
ing, “little things mean a lot.” your comfort zone as a man-
ager. Would you be able to
Will employees backstab each other? react after the experience and
It’s not all about you. How would you make changes that will build
handle it if you heard employees criticizing a stronger company and more
each other behind their backs? While you satisfied workforce? GOMC
can take action to improve your relationships
with workers, employees who can’t get along
with each other can be just as big an issue.
How can you improve employee morale?
Think about planning a team-building
activity. It might be on the weekend, or even
better, taking an afternoon during the work-
What’s Your
tions from their managers rather than func-
tioning as autonomous professionals. This
ingrained habit is difficult to break. The best
L
ike the health care industry, sales, nurse calls the dietary manager, who replies, do you build trust? By respecting yourself
marketing, engineering, IT, customer “not without a doctor’s order.” After talking and others, by being a role model, by cour-
service and other departments in any to two nearby managers, the nurse mentions teous communication, and by sensitivity to
business face big customer satisfaction chal- it to a senior vice president who was passing the needs of others.
lenges. I’m sure there are examples in your through the unit. The upper level executive For example, a frontline employee
industrial support services business where intervenes and the patient, unhappy about working on a joint venture with a client
June Fabre employees from different departments can the long wait, finally receives the banana. needs to transfer complex documents. She
undermine each other, resulting in less- The time taken by each person to solve thinks using a particular website would
than-stellar customer service. his problem makes the cost of the banana make the transfer easier and asks her man-
If severe enough, these conflicts could exceed $100. This wasted money, due to ager if their company prefers any one site.
derail a lucrative service contract and cost miscommunication and failure to integrate The manager suggests that she discuss it
your company a lot of money in lost employ- department systems, is an example of why with the IT manager, who agrees with her
ee time. Your employees need quick and ac- medical costs have escalated. idea and helps her set up the transfer. Since
curate action instead of obstacles and delays Frontline employees with decision- the frontline worker had the autonomy to
A hospital patient asks for a banana. The nurse calls the dietary manager, who replies, “not without a
doctor’s order” … The time taken by each person to solve his problem makes the cost of the
banana exceed $100. This wasted money, due to miscommunication and failure
to integrate department systems, is an example of why medical costs have escalated.
to avoid these situations. making authority save management contact the IT manager directly, she saved
Here’s an unfortunate example time and increase customer satisfaction. time in repeated tasks.
from the health care industry: A Organizations providing work environments When companies take advantage of
hospital patient asks for a where staff can perform at their best frontline workers’ good ideas, they save
banana. The attract and retain the best people. Positive many $100 bananas.
employee relationships generate energy and
raise productivity. 3. Build a positive work environment.
Companies that establish a working
Save money, improve client satisfac- environment where employees can perform
tion, and reduce expensive errors with the at their best attract and retain the best
following seven tips: people. Long-term strategies, such as
effective communication and staff-friendly
1. Empower your frontline staff to solve cultures, enable companies to achieve the
client problems on the spot. When front- best results. Building a positive culture
line employees hesitate to make the inde- requires respect, consistency and integrity.
pendent decisions, it’s because they have A positive culture enables workers to make
been reprimanded for doing so in the past. smart decisions for customers.
DIFFERENT
BRAND OF
DIVERSITY
P
Instead of reaching into many industries, WRS strives for
a full spectrum of offerings across one business sector
By Ken Wysocky
“ If a business trusts you, they’ll give you opportunities they otherwise might not give.
You have to work for other companies as if you’re working for your own. You can’t slack off.
Don’t be there just to make money. Be there to help your customers.”
Jerry Libolt
499
$ $
1999
RVI NG THE
SE
IND
30 YE ARS
USTRY
TM
19
81-201 1
PREV
NESS
AILS
FAIR
FA
1-800-333-WASH (9274)
((9
92
9 274)
JUN.11 - www.gomcmag.com
www.WaterCannon.com GOMC 15
Ryan Likkel and Bill Van Zanten
check out a new NLB Corp. high-
pressure waterjetting system
with a 400-hp waterblaster that “Even though we’ve worked at one refinery for 27 years, we
pumps at rates between 8,000
and 24,000 psi. The machine still tell our people every day that today is a new day – to
is used for cleaning and water
cutting. work like it’s your first day here. Stay focused on safety,
quality and putting in eight solid hours of work a day.”
Jerry Libolt
Priority One Diversifying often means trying new things. An example is a foray into
what Libolt calls civil work for refineries and other customers – anything that
One thing that could easily ruin WRS’ long-standing relationship has to do with moving earth. As the refineries expand, they’ve asked WRS to
with its primary customers – oil refineries – is a poor safety record. do everything from site preparation to sewer installations.
One accident and the resulting job site downtime can cost those “Sometimes we say yes to a request for a new service, then wonder how
customers hundreds of thousands of dollars a day.
we’re going to do it,” Libolt chuckles. “But we love it. We thrive on it.” The
As such, the company provides comprehensive employee
training that has led to an accident rate almost 50 percent lower than refineries don’t mind that the company also works for competitors, as long as
the industry average, says Jerry Libolt, founder and chief financial it provides top service.
officer. “When the bell tolls, you’ve got to be there, 24/7,” Libolt says, “We’re
WRS employs a full-time, three-member safety staff focusing on always juggling employees. Either there are too many, or not enough. It’s a
compliance safety for everything from handling hazardous waste to constant struggle. And you can’t complain about short notice jobs. They want
operating equipment. They also meet with job site supervisors almost us to pull a rabbit out of a hat and make it happen.”
every day. Closer to the work, job site supervisors are required to hold
daily morning “toolbox meetings” to discuss safety issues related to BARRIERS TO COMPETITORS
the task at hand.
As WRS becomes more integral to refineries’ operations, Libolt has felt
“We work in a potentially dangerous industry, and we want our
employees to go home healthy every night,” Libolt says. “Our number more comfortable specializing in that sector. His comfort increases as new
one priority is employee safety. It’s something I fret about every night. barriers to entry in that market emerge.
It’s also an economic thing. If you want to create long-term work for “It’s getting tougher and tougher to work in a refinery,” Libolt says.
employees, you have to maintain a good safety record.” For example, Homeland Security regulations require employee background
Employee safety training also tells employees the company cares checks and Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) cards for
about them, and that fosters loyalty and helps minimize turnover. To all workers who require non-escorted access to ports and other security-sensi-
attract and retain quality people, WRS also offers competitive salaries, tive areas. Embedded with an integrated circuit chip, the cards cost $132.50
full medical, dental and vision insurance, disability insurance, and a each and are valid for five years.
401(k) retirement plan.
“So if the refineries get a company in that has all that, and does a good
“When you get quality employees, you have to take care of them,”
Libolt says. “Our company is only as good as the people who represent
job, they’re more willing to ask you to do things you don’t have a lot of ex-
us, so creating a good environment for them to work in is critical.” perience with, just to avoid all the hurdles of bringing in a new company,”
Libolt says. (continued)
16 GOMC www.gomcmag.com - JUN.11
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For some companies, long relationships
with customers could breed complacency.
But Libolt is vigilant about that. “One of our
biggest challenges is to stay focused – not
accept past success as something that will
just continue to happen,” he notes. “We’re
not assured of anything. You’ve got to keep a
razor-sharp edge. You can’t get lazy and stop
paying attention to details. If you do, before
you know it, you’ve got a problem.
“Even though we’ve worked at one re-
finery for 27 years, we still tell our people
every day that today is a new day – to work
like it’s your first day here. Stay focused on
safety, quality and putting in eight solid hours
of work a day.”
This Presvac vacuum truck, with
FARM-TO-REFINERY 5,500-gallon/130-barrel tank with a
As unlikely as it seems, Libolt entered the 21-ton payload, is one of 10 Presvac
refinery field by way of dairy farming. For his rigs in WRS’ fleet.
first 15 years out of high school, he was part
owner of a dairy farm. He might have stayed in
that business if he hadn’t noticed that a new regulation was forcing area farmers “The most important thing is to create a presence. Then you
to build lagoons to store manure during winter.
Before, farmers would spread manure on fields all year, but that contrib- can see customers’ needs and jump on opportunities.
uted to water pollution from runoff in spring. The lagoon meant farmers had to You can tell them, ‘Hey, I can help you with that.’”
pump liquid manure onto fields, instead of using manure spreaders.
“I saw an opportunity because many farmers didn’t have the equipment Jerry Libolt
to pump it onto the fields, and no one else was doing it,” Libolt recalls. “The
lagoons were so new that no one knew what kind of equipment was even
needed. I started out with a pump that ran off a tractor’s power takeoff, an irri- dustrial cleaning and hydroexcavating.
gation pipeline, and a sprinkler. It was hard, inglorious work. There were many Most of the time, WRS buys new vehicles because it can’t afford break-
times I wondered what I was doing.” downs in the middle of critical jobs. Even if the company wanted to buy used
One day, Libolt got a call from an oil refinery that operated a farm where equipment, Libolt says, it’s difficult to find certified vacuum trucks on the used
oil waste was tilled into the ground. The refinery was having trouble making market. That makes new vehicles virtually the only option.
the program work, so a representative contacted the local soil conservation “Our industry is highly regulated, especially when it comes to transporting
service, which recommended Libolt. waste on public highways,” he says. “So all our trucks must be built in a certi-
“Sometimes you’re just in the right place at the right time,” Libolt says. fied shop by certified employees.”
“Eventually, one thing led to another, and pretty soon I was doing more and
more maintenance work – anything that had to do with cleaning. NEVER SLACK OFF
“As they gained confidence in me, they asked me to do other things. I’m To market the company and remain aware of new services the refineries
not the kind of person to shy away from challenges, so I took them on. Then may require, WRS relies on a staff of former oil industry executives who main-
I started visiting other refineries, because they all used the same processes. tain good industry contacts. They serve as new business eyes and ears, staying
Before I knew it, I was working with several of them, but it didn’t happen over- abreast of new regulations and other changes on the horizon.
night. It took one or two years.” “What you did yesterday may not be what you’re doing tomorrow,” Libolt
says. “So you have to stay ahead of the curve.” Libolt says the future looks
BUYING NEW VEHICLES bright, as long as the company stays focused on customer service.
At first, it wasn’t easy for Libolt to get his foot in the door at refineries, “The number one thing for me is in-
but he persevered, sustained by a belief that he could provide a truly valuable tegrity – to be trustworthy,” he says. “So more info
service. “If I hit a road block, I’d go and try a different person,” he says. “You much of what we do depends on the re- Guzzler Manufacturing, Inc.
don’t have to apologize for being persistent.” lationships we’ve built over the years. It’s 800/672-3171
www.guzzler.com
His scope of services eventually increased until he had to buy vacu- all about that trust factor. (See ad page 3)
um trucks to clean tanks “If a business trusts you, they’ll give
and other refinery equip- you opportunities they otherwise might NLB Corp.
Tell us your story ... ment. Today, WRS’ fleet not give. You have to work for other 800/441-5059
www.nlbcorp.com
Would you like to share your company’s success story
includes 10 wet-vacuum companies as if you’re working for your
with readers of GOMC? In every issue, we feature a trucks from Presvac Systems own. You can’t slack off. Don’t be there
different contractor who serves the energy exploration Presvac Systems, Ltd.
or mineral extraction industries. Tell us about your
Ltd., used mostly for refinery just to make money. Be there to help your 800/387-7763
business or nominate another company for a profile by work, and two vacuum trucks customers.” GOMC www.presvac.com
sending an email to editor@gomcmag.com. from Guzzler Mfg. Inc. for in-
IT SAFELY
T
Transporting hundreds of barrels of frac water, contaminated soil or other environmentally harmful
materials can be time-consuming and costly when your destination is hundreds of miles from the nearest
disposal site. Leak-proof steel frac and rubberized bladder holding tanks enable you to store oil, mud and other
contaminants on site until they can be safely and efficiently transported. A variety of standard and customizable
storage devices in easy-to-clean designs are available to meet your most demanding waste-handling needs.
4
2
6
1 3 5
10
8
12
7 11 13
include peaked roofs with hatches, side-to-side rolling lids, over/under sliding volumes, colors and construction are available. 888/231-8515; www.
lids, and side-to-side rolling tarps. Containers can be made for standard cable monstertanksinc.com.
and hoist roll-off truck pick up, hook-lift or other designs. Standard containers
are sandblasted and feature two-part epoxy primer and urethane coating. Other 12. MPC CONTAINMENT
coatings are available. 713/699-0152; www.flotrend.com. Collapsible storage tanks from MPC Containment are made from
synthetic-coated fabric for chemical and fuel compatibility that can withstand
8. GAPVAX INC. temperature extremes. Tanks feature rounded-corners to redistribute
The SV32 roll-off, skid-mounted vacuum system from GapVax Inc. is shell stress uniformly and can store diesel, jet fuel, aviation gas, fuel oil, brine
made for oil field and refinery use. Constructed of Exten steel, the unit is and frac water, as well as water containing oils and heavy metals that must
blasted, primed and painted with industrial-grade urethane paint. The interior be treated prior to discharge. Tanks are available in 500- to 210,000-gallon
is polymer coated. The unit is designed as an all-inclusive wet/dry system, sizes. Custom diameters and heights are available. Fittings for inlets, outlets,
featuring a moisture trap (scrubber), two cyclones and filter baghouse. The drains and vents are included. 800/621-0146; www.mpccontainment.com.
baghouse has 30 polyester filter bags and 30 heavy-duty galvanized steel hi-vac
cages. Delivering up to 3,800 cfm at 28 inches Hg, the unit has an electric or 13. PINNACLE MANUFACTURING LLC
diesel drive system. 888/442-7829; www.gapvax.com. Frac tanks from Pinnacle Manufacturing LLC are made from 1/4-inch steel
with formed channel exterior braces – no interior rods or corrugated walls.
9. HUSKY PORTABLE CONTAINMENT Standard features include 500-barrel (21,000 gallon) capacity, smooth walls
Flexible frac pillow tanks from Husky Portable Containment can store with epoxy lining, four manways: three 20 inches (front, roof and rear) and
water, brine or oil. Lighter than steel tanks for easier transport, capacities range one 25 inches on the passenger side. Models include the Side Stair, Flat Top,
up to 1,100 barrels (50,000 gallons). Made from XR and urethane materials, Open Top, Gas Busters, mix and double-wall. Options include inside and
tanks can withstand temperatures from -50 degrees to 180 degrees F. A variety outside manifolds, gel lines, heat coils, sign plates, additional manways, valves
of fittings are available, from Banjo polypropylene, brass and stainless steel and fittings. 256/840-8031; www.pinnaclemfg.net.
17
19
15
18
16
14
20
can be installed. Handle-straps are provided. Ground sheet and straps are 20. WASTEQUIP
available, along with a choice of materials and colors. 888/436-9778; www. The 500-barrel frac tank from Wastequip is designed to hold crude
savatech.eu. oil, chemicals, runoff water, diesel fuel or other materials without leaking.
Featuring 1/4-inch construction, tanks have a round bottom for easy cleanout,
16. SMITH & LOVELESS INC. vertical reinforcements on smooth sidewalls, raised galvanized bar grating,
The MOBILE FAST wastewater treatment system from Smith & Loveless stairways with handrails and 25-inch manway at the rear. Other features
Inc. is designed for gas and oil field camps. Utilizing fixed-film FAST bio-treat include continuous welds, heavy structural channel substructure and heavy-
technology, the system yields pristine effluent without the need for clarifiers duty suspension system. All tanks are hydrotested to ensure against leakage.
or advanced filtration. Microorganisms typically used in biological wastewater Custom designs with a variety of interior coatings are available. 877/468-9278;
grow on the fixed-film media in an oxygen-rich submerged environment. Each www.wastequip.com. GOMC
system is configured for standardized intermodal transportation, fitting railcars,
trucks and container ships. Four over-the-road transport models are available.
Units include a machinery room with lockable steel door for protection against
KNOW-HOW
TO GET YOU
MOVING
VACUUM TRUCKS
WATER TRUCKS
888-201-9166
www.badgertruck.com
JUN.11 - www.gomcmag.com GOMC 23
On the Money
Y
our success as a business owner entrepreneurship is based on taking risks, It is important to run your business in a
comes down to whether or not you but where cash flow is concerned, err on the manner that tolerates a certain amount of le-
can pay your bills and still turn a side of conservatism. Remember that cash niency with clients, but don’t let them walk
profit. Seems obvious, right? But achieving is king. No matter how much we dislike it, all over you either! If you establish yourself
a healthy balance between monetary intake cash flow determines what we are able to do as a complete pushover, even clients with
and output is an art that confounds many with our business. the best intentions will take advantage of
Ty Freyvogel
entrepreneurs. I am not exaggerating when I you. It is also important not to run your
say that your ability to manage cash flow will Don’t underestimate the value of a good company with an iron fist. You want to
either make you or break you. customer. find a happy medium that will keep you in
I have seen otherwise-successful You have the choice to run your business business and keep your clients happy. That
business owners crumble under the stress as you see fit. But no matter how successful being said, don’t be afraid to politely call a
of poorly managed cash flow. Likewise, I and powerful you become, remember that customer who hasn’t paid a bill and remind
have watched colleagues flourish under a your customers are the reason you exist. him or her that it is overdue. They under-
well-structured, well-maintained accounting So be good to them. Some of my oldest stand that you have provided a service and
system. Fortunately, it’s quite possible customers are still my best customers. it requires a payment. You can preserve your
to stay on top of the money coming into One company can spend millions on your client relationship and get your money by
and going out of your company. Read on services over the years. If you’re a consumer treating the client with integrity.
Break even.
Don’t worry if managing your cash flow seems very difficult and even overwhelming at first … You have to
After a few months, you will embrace your monthly monetary obligations and may at least break even
each month in
even find a sense of comfort in the ebb and flow of money. order to survive. If
you are facing hard
for some insights that have led to my own company, even one person can be worth times, your biggest goal will be to just break
businesses’ successful cash flow: thousands of dollars over the span of your even—and then get back on track. For obvi-
business relationship. For this reason, you ous reasons, you want your incoming cash
Assume that your estimates are wrong— must not let success change your mission to be significantly higher than your outgo-
and save for a rainy day. to give every client and customer the royal ing. So engrave your break-even number in
No matter how carefully you plan for treatment. They are, after all, responsible for your mind or sticky-note it to the front of
all potential cash-related scenarios, you the incoming cash you will use to pay rent, your computer, and see that you surpass
will not be able to accurately predict the taxes and other fees. that number each month. Simple. Here’s a
“weather” of your operating environment. quick tip: If you are having problems break-
At any moment, a storm front or even an Keep tabs on your expenses. ing even one month, tell your vendors,
unexpected sunny day could appear out of Don’t rely on your memory alone to don’t keep them in the dark. No one likes
the blue. Don’t get me wrong; it’s a good know when to pay your bills, order new surprises, especially your bank.
idea to make rough estimates for your cash supplies or bill your clients. Even if you run
flow. Just be sure to give yourself a healthy a very small business, you will never be able Be honest with the man.
margin for error and expect the unexpect- to pay everything on time if you don’t have Do not, I repeat, do not try to cheat the
ed. Keep a nice cushion of “extra” money a system in place to help you keep track government. Some very clever people have
in your account for surprise bills. I know of it all. For this reason, it is imperative to filtered out money from their business that
OILFIELD
RIG-UPS
Since 1976
Services Include:
• Vacuum Truck Pump Installa-
tions: Mechanical or Hydraulic,
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Installations, Pump Rig-Ups
STANDARD EQUIPMENT
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Hablamos Español Bed Trucks up to 430” WB
HyDROTESTING MARKET
Established in 2009, Husky Hydrovac is now a year-round contractor,
thanks to the X-10s. That’s because they can heat water to 160 degrees F and 785-325-2000 emisales.net 877-500-3993
excavate frozen ground. An antifreeze system keeps water from freezing in sensi-
tive lines when the truck isn’t in use, and a recirculation system keeps heated
water moving to prevent freeze-ups during operation, Barker says.
The trucks also allow the company to gain entry into a new market for
hydrotesting. “If they need more flow, we can hook up to the trucks and bring
the pipes up to pressure,” Barker explains. “Sometimes that requires 3,000 psi
or more, depending on the thickness of the pipe. It opens up a new market
for us.” 715/546-2680
Overall, Barker says the X-10s are indispensable assets.
“We’ve been able to convince our bankers that hydroexcavators are the Highway 45
(3) Hazleton Twin Volute Submersible Three Lakes, WI
way to go,” he says. “I would say they’ve increased our profits by about 20
Slurry Pumps w/ Power Units and Hoses WEB
percent.” threelakestruck.com
$19,500 each
And dramatically improved productivity and safety along the way. GOMC Size 8-GN, Type-SS, Model 440-400-1800, 3,000 GPM, 300 TDH, 400 hp.,
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Since World War ii, collapSible pilloW or bladder “The civilian customer is looking for a large containment system that’s
tanks have been employed by both the armed forces and the resource industry transported easily,” says paul reichard, division manager with Sei. “They’re
for temporary and long-term liquid storage, including fuel, oil, kerosene, water looking at how this product will save them money versus a steel tank and
and other chemicals. as the resource sector explores increasingly harsh terrain, drums to provide storage capacity where none exists. They demand a turnkey
tank designs and materials must keep pace with the industry. operation with everything required for immediate deployment. The military
The biggest change in north american pillow tank construction over the
decades has been the material used and the manufacturing methods. While vul-
canized rubber is still used for collapsible storage in europe, the north ameri- “The average frac tank will be moved 12 times per
can industry has moved to polyurethane-coated fabric. summer and 12 times per winter. It has to be rapidly
Sei industries ltd. with headquarters in delta, british columbia is one of
a number of manufacturers of pillow tanks. it has designed, manufactured and deployable, hooked to a Cat and unrolled quickly. The
commissioned structural engineered fabric products and related systems for frac market required us to develop a 50-ounce fabric
remote site logistics since 1983. The GoM sector accounts for about two-thirds
of the company’s sales, with military contracts making up much of the rest. with a thicker and denser coating.”
aviation, environmental and firefighting customers round out the client roster. Paul Reichard
The difference between military and GoM clients?
Thermal or rF consTrucTion
The tanks are primarily constructed using one of two
methods. in the first, the tanks are constructed thermally
with seams heated by either hot air or a hot metal wedge
that liquefies the surface coating of the tank material. The
material is then squeezed between contact rollers and
cooled as the seam is completed.
Pillow tanks are primarily “This method is fast and economical, but the alternate
constructed one of two ways: heating, rolling and cooling cycles can allow gaps to form if
thermally or using radio it’s not done properly,” says reichard.
frequency (RF) welding.
(continued)
28 GOMC www.gomcmag.com - JUN.11
FROM START TO FINISH
to better serve our customers
Challenger
heavy duty
All Banjo
Parts
50 %
OFF
t o ck ! !
2011 Freightliner M2-112 triaxle
In S
cab & chassis with a New 4,600 U.S.
Gallon (110 BBL) tank with a
Masport HXL400WV pump package.
Unit can be Equipped with front and
rear, push – pull bumpers.
monThly inspecTions
Sei recommends that tanks be inspected monthly, including connections,
hoses and fittings.
contractors should also keep a record of what’s going into the tanks and
what’s coming out, says reichard. “if it’s fuel, we recommend limiting access
to the site to authorized personnel only, because theft is a major problem, even
on a remote site.”
a berm supporting a pillow tank full of fuel must remain empty of precipi-
tation to perform its functions as a containment system.
“What we’re concerned about is that a berm might fill with rain or melting
snow,” says reichard. “if there was a fuel spill, we don’t want fuel breeching the
“The berm structure depends on the regulations of each country,” says secondary containment system.”
reichard. “it could be an in-ground geotextile liner placed inside an excavated likewise, pressure vents on the tanks must also remain free of fluid or
depression, or a frame surrounded by a liner.” fallen snow. The systems are fitted with gravity drains that remove water, but
once in place, the contractor will install appropriate accessories, includ- will shut down if hydrocarbons make contact with a special cartridge inside the
ing pumps, vents and hoses. pillow tanks can also be interconnected to form drain.
a tank farm. Sei is testing a remote monitoring service that will allow the company to
“You dig the site holes, lay out all the tanks and connect them through a inform contractors of the condition and contents of pillow tanks when tanks are
manifold system,” says reichard. “You can install and fill a 10-million-liter-tank untended, often for two to three months.
farm inside three weeks.” “one of the misconceptions about something called a ‘pillow’ tank is that
The most common pillow tank user error: overfilling. The tanks have a it isn’t tough,” he says. “You can’t simply walk up to a pillow tank and stab it
design capacity for some overfill, but adding too much liquid puts a strain on with a knife—it takes a lot more than that to destroy one. even under a shock
tank material and creates inaccurate content readings. Second most common wave from a missile strike 30 meters away, the force of the shock wave tends to
user error: leaving a valve open. move over the surface of our pillow tank, not through it, so it doesn’t rupture.”
Product Spotlight
Eliminator Offers Hassle-
Free Pump Installations
By Ken Wysocky
Manufacturers and distributors serving the gas, oil and mining industries may send product news to editor@gomcmag.com.
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What makes the Omnibus Control System the most intelligent operating system
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1986 2011
969 Hall Park Drive • Green Cove Springs, FL 32043 • Tel: 904-284-4200 • Fax: 904-284-3305 • vns@vac-con.com
Vac-Con is a subsidiary of Holden Industries, Inc., a 100% employee-owned company.
JUN.11 - www.gomcmag.com GOMC 39
VACUUM PUMPS
“Over 50 years of service and here to stay!”
MORO
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