JC Utility, Inc

 Harrisburg, MO.

 

Community Construction Hazle Hurst, MS.

 

All American Safety and Training LLC

 Longview, TX.

 

FBE Construction

Irving, TX.

 

Spectrum NDT USA, Inc.

Calgary,AB Canada

 

CH4 Services, LLC

 Mesquite, TX.

 

Powers Engineering & Inspection, Inc.

 Vacaville, CA.

 

SAM-Construction Services, Inc.(SAM-CS)

 Dallas, TX.

 

NV5

Nolte Vertical Five

Colorado Springs, CO

   

"We are very pleased with the service we have received from EWN over the last year.  We look forward to continuing work as we evaluate the training program within our organization.  They are always available to provide outstanding service and assistance as needed."

 

Denise Moye | Coordinator, Skills & Learning Systems

Alagasco

  

"Jeremy Green was our keynote speaker at my Florida Natural Gas Association's annual conference and tradeshow this past September. He delivered a remarkable presentation of "The Next Generation of Natural Gas Leaders" and posed a serious and crucial question for our group to ponder; "Are you passing on your field knowledge of the aging infrastructure to your new employees?" He knew his material and had the data to back it up. I saw many in the room taking a few notes and you can tell that he reached them. His presentation was timely, on the mark and delivered in a poised and professional manner and just what a meeting planner dreams of. I'd call on him again and recommend him to anyone."

Kim Barber, Communication Director and Meeting Planner,

G. David Rogers and Associates

 

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood urged states to start promoting pipeline safety awareness with his Call to Action in March 2011. He also asked that pipeline operators accelerate efforts to repair, rehabilitate, and replace pipeline infrastructure, including cast iron pipelines. President Obama called for the DOT to conduct a state-by-state survey on the progress of cast iron pipe replacement when he signed the Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011.

 

PHMSA will now provide public access to an annually-updated inventory of the high-risk pipeline infrastructure mileage in the various states. This will allow users to know about the detailed efforts to replace cast or wrought iron pipe in use per state or by operator. The public can visit PHMSA's state pipeline profiles.

Thanks to pipeline operators' replacement efforts and increased state and federal safety initiatives, the amount of cast and wrought iron in use has dropped considerably. Some states have completely removed cast or wrought iron natural gas distribution lines within their borders, which include Alaska, Arizona, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, New Mexico, Oregon, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. Only 3% of natural gas distribution line is cast or wrought iron today.

 

Wrought iron pipes came into use in the 1870's and 1880's, then cast iron in the early 1900's. About 1970, PHMSA began collecting data about gas pipelines mileage grouped by pipe material type. In 1983, it was reported that 61,536 miles of cast iron was used and 4, 371 of wrought iron was in place. Wrought iron pipelines and cast iron pipelines used to be joined end-to-end with packing material stuffed in to form a seal. The pipelines transported wet, manufactured gas, so the packing material absorbed the moisture and the pipes didn't get dry, crack, and leak. Later, dry, natural gas was used and the packing material dried out and caused leaks.

 

The cast and wrought iron pipelines leak when the earth moves. Leakage can also occur with digging, seasonal frost heave, or changes in ground water levels. Graphitization is a natural process that degrades iron into other elements which makes the iron more likely to crack. With low-pressure system leaks, the amount of gas leaking through the crack isn't as much as if it were a high-pressure pipe. But even a small amount of gas leaking can have catastrophic consequences.

 

Although there is less cast and wrought iron pipeline in use, there have been some recent incidents that reinforce the need to pay attention to the risks. A house exploded in Austin, Texas, in 2012, killing one and injuring another. In February, 2011, an explosion in Allentown, Pennsylvania, killed five people, sent three people to the hospital, and destroyed eight homes.  For more information, go to www.phmsa.dot.gov.

Our new Regional Account Executive, Brandon Corneliius, comes to Texas from Kentucky.  Although he was born in Cleveland, OH, and attended school in Colorado for a few years, he calls Bell County, KY, his home.  He graduated from high school in 1995 and received a BS degree in Accounting in 2001 from Union College in Barbourville, KY.

  

After graduation from college, Brandon worked managing a pool installation company, then he taught science in the public schools for four years.  He moved to Corbin, KY, and worked sales in the bingo industry until that company went out of business.  He is excited to have the opportunity to be a part of EWN's sales force.

  

Brandon loves to cook and to eat even more.  He enjoys car clubs, magazines, and University of Kentucky basketball and football.  Due to a motorcycle accident injury to his left hand eight years ago, Brandon has had to learn to type with his right hand.  He's left-handed, so this has been a obstacle for him to overcome.  He's now up to 32 words per minute!  Welcome to the ENERGY worldnet team, Brandon.

  

   

                             

We can be reached by telephone from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, Central time.  Our number is