As a company that focuses on the installation of both steel and thermoplastic HDPE (high-density polyethylene) natural gas lines, Diamond S Company (DSC) – formerly known as Enoch Smith Sons Construction – has encountered many issues and unique situations that required innovative solutions throughout our 80 years in business. We have become known for our ability to “think outside of the box” to develop the right plan and solve the issues when others could not.
Two of our projects – one historical (dating back to the 1980’s) and one recent – demonstrate our ability to develop new ways to overcome unique obstacles to get the job done.
Great Salt Lake Stork Project
In the late 1980’s, Utah’s Great Salt Lake often overflowed and flooded Interstate-80 and the surrounding train tracks, both of which were crucial arteries for industry. It was decided that water needed to be pumped from the Great Salt Lake to the West Dessert. The pumps that would accommodate such a job were driven by natural gas.
Our company bid on the project, but lost out to a competitor. However, that competitor was unable to come up with a viable plan to complete the job and contacted Enoch Richard “Dick” Smith to help develop a solution. When Dick came up with a feasible solution that outlined an innovative way to install pipes beneath the lake to pump the water out, our competitor hired us to do the job.
Dick’s solution involved installing a large lift kit on our equipment, enabling us to dig a trench across the Great Salt Lake. Once the trench was in place, we were then able to float and sink the pipes into place. Once the pipes were in place, the pumps were activated and the water was diverted to the desert.
Salt Lake City 16 Inch Steel Gas Line
This past year, 2021, we were called upon to replace an old steel gas line that had been in the ground too long and the associated gas lines that ran to neighboring homes. In order to minimize the disturbance to the surrounding neighbors, directional boring or horizontal directional drilling, a trenchless method of installing gas pipes, was required.
While directional boring projects are always more difficult than trench projects, this project had the added challenge of running a long, deep line through a busy neighborhood.
The replacement line ran 800 feet long and needed to be installed 34 feet deep to run underneath existing train tracks. In addition to excavating the site, welding the steel lines together, installing a directional bore steel line to requirements, tie-in and welding, backfilling the site, and replacing the asphalt, we also needed to provide an easy way for the local residents to navigate around an 800 foot pipe while we welded and installed it.
Fortunately, we devised a plan that allowed us to do the job with minimal disruption to the surrounding community and completed the project in record time.
DSC Is On The Job
These are just two examples of the types of challenges we have faced and the innovative solutions we have developed over the years. Although not every project involves this type of innovation, when dealing with natural gas lines every project can be unique and requires attention to detail in order to keep both our crews and the people in communities where we work safe. And rest assured, when DSC is on the job, we will do everything we can to get it done safely – and get it done right!