Rick Layh has had 32 years experience in the pipeline industry, much of which has been spent in the development of padding machines. In the early 1970s, Mr Layh developed a sand padding machine which was the first of its type.
In 1985, Mr Layh and C.B. Landrum produced another first, the “Rockeater,” which was a self-contained backfill separating machine. The design allowed screened excavated backfill material to be placed around the pipe in rocky areas in order to protect the coating and the pipe from damage. Canadian, US and Australian patents were issued to Mr Layh and Mr Landrum for this machine, which eventually changed the way in which contractors and owners protected pipelines.
In 1989, Mr Layh sold the Canadian patent to Mark Osadchuck and Ozzies Pipeline Padder, and licensed Ozzies Pipeline Padder to operate in the United States. He sold his company, Rockeater Inc. in 1994, after which he was employed by Ozzies Pipeline Padder & Directional Drilling until 2002 when Yorktown Investments acquired this company.
Since 2004, Mr Layh has been involved with the development of new padding machines, which are the most technically advanced of those on the market. These machines are now offered by Worldwide Machinery under the brand name “˜Superior’.
Mr Layh’s focus will now be on developing new and innovative pipeline products, which will be available through the pipeline division of Worldwide Machinery.
New padding technology
Worldwide Machinery’s newest padding machines are available in three sizes: the Model SPD-350 which services all sizes of pipe, the SPD-250 which is designed for pipe projects ranging from 4-16 inches, and a newly designed and patented utility padding machine, which is a high production, self contained and extremely mobile unit that will focus on the utility pipeline construction market.
All of the Superior machines feature a fully enclosed air conditioned and heated cab, as well as unique dual control stations in the cab which permit the operator to view and control the padding operation from either side of the trench.
The machines also come equipped with an electronic switch that gives the operator the choice of controlling the machine from the right or left control panel, providing a clear view of the padding operation and the pipe in the trench.
Worldwide Machinery has also incorporated the largest and longest screening area of any padding machine currently available, and the machines use the latest hydraulic function controls.
Projects
Although the technology is only at the stage of being trialled in Australia, it has a proven track record in the United States, where it has been used on a number of projects.
The SPD-350 was used for the Fugal Pipeline’s 24 inch Duke Energy Project in Wyoming, USA. This machine was able to cover the 24 inch pipe in a single pass and easily kept up with lowering-in operations on the project.
The system has been used on two other recently completed pipelines for Pumpco, owned by Energy Transfer. They included 80.5 km of 24 inch and 40.25 of 24 inch pipeline, and are part of a large system that includes several contractors and owner companies.
The SPD-350 was also used successfully on an 11.27 km 16 inch project in Texas for Pumpco. This project required protection of the pipe coating on any section where rocky soil was encountered. The padder separated fine material from the excavated trench material, and then deposited the screened fine material around and over the pipe to protect both the pipe and the pipe coating.
Worldwide Machinery’s first project in Europe was in 2005 in Germany for PPS. It was a 40 inch 80 km gas pipeline, and Worldwide Machinery rented out one SPD- 250 and one SPD-350 for the project.
The company had one SPD-250 working on the 36 inch, 60 km TAG project in the Austrian Alps together with the companies Habau and Bonatti.
In 2006, the company will be working on a 32 inch 60 km gas pipeline project in Germany for Vorwerk, using one SPD-350 and one SPD-250. Worldwide Machinery will also be working with one SPD-350 on a 32 inch 60 km gas pipeline project in Germany for PPS.
Worldwide Machinery will also be working in the UK this year, using one SPD-350 on a 48 inch, 140 km gas pipeline project for Entrepose.
The company will also be working on a project in Algeria with Russian company Stroytransgaz. This project will involve two SPD-350 machines on a 42 inch, 240 km gas pipeline project.
New padding technology in Australia
The new padding machine was put to the test by AJ Lucas at the recently constructed Otway Pipeline Project in Victoria. The pipeline was 11.3 km and 20 and 4 inches in a 1.5 m ditch.
Kevin Lester, Pipelines Manager for AJ Lucas, said that the project provided “an ideal testing ground for the machine.
“We found the new padder was a significant improvement on the old Padders,” Mr Lester said.
“In particular, the design features we found a significant advantage were operator comfort, and visibility from the cabin which was excellent. Elevator design improved so that wetter material was able to be screened without clogging up the elevator and significantly greater screen area allowed more material to be screened in a shorter timeframe,” Mr Lester said.
Jürgen Hafemann has also recently joined Worldwide Machinery in the role of Vice President – Pipeline Operations. Based in Germany, Jürgen worked for Ozzie’s Pipeline Padder for 14 years, and along with Mr Layh, Mark Osadchuk, and Carl Turnage was one of the key figures to introduce the padding business worldwide. He was also the first person to bring a padding machine to Europe and the Middle East.
In the last three years of his time at Ozzie’s Pipeline Padder, Jürgen worked intensively on Australian projects. For the last year he has been working together with Mr Layh for Worldwide Machinery, endeavouring to improve the company’s padding machines, and to offer quality service with trained technical personnel and spare parts storage.
Jürgen is currently working to build up a service station in Australia with trained technical personnel.
“On a long term basis we don’t only want to have padding machines in Australia, but also all equipment which is needed in the pipeline business,” he says.
Jürgen is a well known figure in the Australian Pipeline Industry and will be down under regularly, including at the APIA Convention in Alice Springs where Worldwide Machinery will be exhibiting.