Walking The Pipeline

So...just what are we doing for these new jobs?

Let's see if I can explain without being boring.

Basically, we are checking for natural gas leaks in meters at homes and businesses (active services) or at risers (a pipe sticking up out of the ground where the meter has been removed) for inactive services (often homes or businesses that are unoccupied and sometimes occupied buildings where they have simply decided not to have gas service any longer.)

Or checking for leaks along high pressure pipelines.

The first part of our job for the gas company here in South Carolina (we're living on the state line) was doing the inactive services. About 10 days ago, we started walking the pipeline. Underground pipeline, so we're walking along following markers and hoping we're in the general vicinity of the actual line.

The pipeline we're walking is 70 miles long and most of it goes through farm fields. Maybe 15 miles total is along the road, the rest is off road. We locate drop off and pick up points, usually where the pipeline crosses the road. Ideally, we're able to always make forward movement and can "hopscotch" over several miles.

For example, Chris drops me off at point A. He drives to point B and leaves the car. He walks from point B to point C. When I get to the car at point B, I drive to point C and leave the car. Repeat until I need a bathroom break.

But what happens if there's a large stream or pond or swamp that we can't get around? That's when we have to do an 'out and back', which is a little frustrating since we're walking twice as much but not covering twice as much of the pipeline.

I've commented several times that being here in the Carolinas isn't a whole lot different from being in Ohio (other than the weather) because it looks about the same. Well, there's one big difference between northwest Ohio and York County South Carolina---hills. Lots of them. In Ada it was flat and the wind came howling over the fields. Here, it's hilly and the knots in my calves can prove it.

We also have to open locks on gates along the way. They are all in the gas company right of way, so we have a key that opens all the gas company locks. But some of these locks haven't been touched in a year, so I go out packing a small can of WD40 to blast the stubborn locks.

The best equipment we've purchased is walking sticks. Mine is aluminum with a sharp point on the bottom. Chris's is wood. More distinguished. I use the stick to steady myself going down slopes and sometimes to drag myself up a hill. The right of way has been mowed, but it's not like walking through your lawn. There are holes and weeds and branches. The walking stick has kept me from falling many times.

Some days, we aren't too thrilled about walking for a living. It can be muddy and tiring.

But at other times, I stop and look around and realize "I'm getting paid to walk through some very pretty countryside." Here are a couple photos I took recently.

A stream with nice fall colors. Fortunately, this was to the side and not one I had to cross. 

These are small fungi that look like turkey tails. Very pretty. I may have to break down and get a better phone just so I can take better pictures.