Our underground projects include:
- pipeline
- Concord - Sacramento
- Kern River Pipeline
- Pastoria Pipeline
- Cable and Conduit
- Pacific Gas & Electric
- Gas Distribution
- San Francisco
- PG&E
- Long Beach
- Water and Sewer
- Warner Avenue Relief Sewer
- Irvine Regional Park Sewer Conversion
- Horizontal Directional Drilling
Concord - Sacramento Pipeline Project
Completed for Kinder Morgan, ARB`s Concord to Sacramento project was an exciting and challenging project for our horizontal directional drilling group. Not only did our crews layout and install 70 miles of 20-inch pipeline, but this project also called for completing 14 drill crossings totaling 19,800 feet through numerous sensitive environmental areas for refined petroleum product. The project included cross-country pipeline methods and much of the work involved construction in congested urban situations.
Kern River Pipeline
The Kern River Gas Transmission decided to expand the existing Kern River gas pipeline by 700 miles. ARB, Inc. successfully bid on Spread 10 of the Kern River gas pipeline. Spread 10 consisted of 82 miles of 42-inch pipe, while all other spreads required 36-inch pipe, The larger diameter pipe gave ARB, Inc. the greatest challenge of the expansion. ARB met the challenge and completed the project in only four months. The Kern River gas pipeline begins in Wyoming and ends in California, and will provide 900 million cubic feet per day of natural gas. The new pipeline was severely important to provide the increasing need for natural gas. The original pipeline has been running at 100 percent capacity for a few years, and the federal government recognized the importance of the expansion and permitted the project in record time. All the crews and equipment where allowed on the right-of-way only one week prior to the start of the job, because of permitting. ARB had to review every detail of the pipeline and prepare for the worse. The equipment demand for a project of this scope was gigantic, and before the project start-up ARB mobilized 300 pieces of equipment. Three-quarters of the equipment used was owned by ARB.
Daggett to Mojave, California- The pipeline went through many environmental and archeological sensitive areas. ARB employees were trained about the sensitivity of the region and the proper procedures incase a situation were to arise. Monitors were placed with every crew along the right-of-way to guarantee a project with minimal disturbance to the area. Over 500 employees worked on the pipeline, including local labor. All employees had to go through safety instruction and drug testing implemented by Williams and additional training required by ARB. Safety is always a priority of ARB. With a pipeline of this size and working to meet a deadline, safety of all employees was a huge concern. The terrain of the project ranged from mountains to river beds. The trench had to be a minimum of 7 feet deep, and the majority was dug using two large trenchers cutting a 60-inch ditch. ARB had 23 directional drills under highways and railroad crossings, all completed with a brand new 60-inch boring machine. Automatic welding systems attached to pipelayers, where used to provide rapid accurate welding along the pipeline.
Pastoria Pipeline
The Pastoria pipeline called for the installation of 14.05 miles of 20-inch natural gas pipeline. This included fabrication and installation of associated facilities consisting of a meter/regulator station with filter separator, scrubber, storage tank and pig receiver at the Pastoria Energy Facility and a pig launcher and tie-in facilities at the connection point with Mojave Kern River and other related facilities. The project was originally bid for the installation of 12.2 miles of pipeline. Prior to award and due to the presence of Blunt-Nosed Lizard in the area, two re-routes occurred, which added approximately 11,000 feet to the project increasing the total distance to 14.05 miles. Approximately 3 miles of pipe were laid under pavement. This entire section required solid sheet shoring due to extremely sandy soil conditions. Due to permit problems, a section of the project had to be skipped requiring the crew to move to another location which left the highway and continued through a hilly section, most of which is located on the Tejon Ranch (approximately 8 miles). Soil conditions in this area became hard and rocky requiring the use of a ripper. There were many cattle fences on the Tejon property and numerous fence gaps had to be maintained. All vehicles required fire permits and water trucks were used for fire protection. Silt fences were installed for approximately 12,000 feet at various creek crossings. Soil excavated from the creek crossings was set aside and reused in the creek backfill. Culverts were used to divert the water and hay bales were used for filtration. The crews worked with on-site geologists at all creek crossings.
Pacific Gas & Electric San Francisco, CA- Cable and Conduit Project
ARB completed this project involving an underground conduit system in San Francisco. This Pacific Gas and Electric project involved the installation of utilities underground, allowing the removal of overhead utilities and poles. Our underground construction crews perform what is commonly known as Rule 20 work, converting overhead lines to underground. Rule 20 work includes power, telephone and cable TV. The work most often occurs in older, congested city environments.
