Services
Natural Gas, Petroleum Facilities and Pipelines
Planning and Design through Bid
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K's team of engineers and designers works closely with our clients to develop and refine designs that are cost effective while addressing the specific needs of our clients. We utilize tools such as process flow diagrams and piping and instrumentation diagrams to help clients develop conceptual system designs. Digital system models are often developed as part of the conceptual design process. Our final designs include complete project plans, details, material lists, and specifications to the extent required for a project. RK&K incorporates innovative, state-of-the-art and traditional methods in our design process. | |
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K assists our clients in determining the cost effectiveness of designing, permitting and constructing proposed projects, or in determining the most cost effective choice of proposed project alternatives. The common steps in addressing project feasibility include developing a clear project scope, preliminary site or route reconnaissance, developing preliminary designs, identifying preliminary property requirements, contacting all jurisdictional entities to determine permitting requirements, and developing preliminary cost estimates of alternatives. We prepare an analysis report of our findings written in a clear concise manner with supporting maps, photos, preliminary designs, and cost tables. Where applicable we address methods of project phasing, financing and provide cash flow analyses. RK&K applies our experience with similar projects to identify potential difficulties in design, permitting and construction. The report address both the practical and economic feasibility of the proposed project and where applicable compares alternatives. A professional feasibility study report provides our clients with the information required to make sound decisions on capital expenditures. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| Project cost estimates developed by RK&K may include the estimated costs of engineering and design, permitting, property and right-of-way acquisition, materials, management,, construction, testing and commissioning, and financing the project. Our years of experience in the industry allow RK&K to accurately estimate these costs enabling our clients to develop budgets and make decisions based on accurate data. | |
| (Back to Top) | |
| The proper route selection of any pipeline is crucial to the success of the project. The wrong route can lead to excessive easement costs, time-consuming permit acquisition, and difficult and expensive construction. RK&K performs initial route studies to determine the most advantageous potential pipeline routes and to identify possible obstacles. Route studies often include the use of existing or newly acquired aerial photography or digital orthophotography, existing planimetric and topographic mapping, tax mapping, zone mapping, GPS surveys, and mapping of known wetlands and archeological sites. We identify the most likely construction techniques and develop cost estimates for each route. Our route studies compare the advantages and disadvantages of each route for our clients. We then assist our clients in determining the best possible route to meet their needs. Presentation-style graphics are often produced for client management and public meetings. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K provides evaluation of the design, facilities, operation, and management of petroleum terminals, distribution pipelines, airfield fuel supply systems, and associated environmental compliance and permitting. We specialize in providing total engineering services to assist our clients in the upgrade, maintenance, and operation of their petroleum facilities. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K performs all aspects of pipeline planning for natural gas and petroleum systems. These include route studies and selection, cost estimating and feasibility studies as described under these topics. Our staff performs complete pipeline design services including selection of pipe size and material, stress analyses, modeling of gas and liquid pipelines, uprating procedures, detailed design (including pipe bends, horizontal directional drilling, encasement, weighting, thrust blocking, anchoring, cathodic protection, specialized coating, etc.), as well as testing, purging, and commissioning procedures. Plans are normally prepared in alignment sheet format and can be developed in many ways including instrument surveys, overlays on aerial photography, and from digital orthophotographic or planimetric mapping. Plans can be prepared in several digital formats including AutoCAD and MicroStation. RK&K also prepares complete materials and construction specifications for pipeline projects. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| Members of the RK&K staff specialize in the planning and design of natural gas distribution systems. RK&K has been performing these services for over a decade for major operators in the Eastern U.S.A. Our services include developing cast iron retirement and replacement programs; developing system expansion planning studies; preparing uprating procedures; preparing conceptual designs; preparing cost estimates; performing feasibility studies; selecting routes; permitting; system modeling; and determining pipe pressure, size and material. Our staff is experienced in working with other utility owners and operators and highway authorities to clear conflicts with existing and planned utilities and drainage facilities. RK&K also prepares complete construction and materials specifications for distribution projects. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| In conjunction with our pipeline and distribution system planning and design services, RK&K also plans, permits and designs the facilities related to gas and petroleum systems. Examples of natural gas facilities include gate, meter and regulator stations; compressor stations; propane/air facilities; and pig launching and receiving facilities to name a few. Related to petroleum, RK&K plans and designs bulk storage facilities; pump stations; retail gas dispensing facilities; and aviation refueling facilities. Design services related to these facilities include the application of state-of-the-art computer software in completing modeling, sizing and analyses involving all aspects of project engineering from geotechnical and site design through finite element analyses and instrumentation and control. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| Once the preliminary designs are finalized RK&K's team of engineers, designers, and CAD technicians develop the project plans. Plan sets are normally developed for permitting, bidding and in final form for construction. Depending upon the project and client's requirements, various intermediate plan submittals may be required. RK&K develops all necessary civil, structural, electrical and piping design drawings necessary for constructing the piping systems and/or facilities. For pipeline projects, RK&K creates the project plans in alignment sheet format and supports the package with civil and structural drawings and any necessary details required for construction. Plans are normally prepared digitally utilizing AutoCAD or MicroStation format. Plans can be developed in either metric or SAE units. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K develops construction specifications for projects of all types and sizes and they include specifications on excavation and backfilling; paving; materials handling; welding, fusion and mechanical pipe joining; blasting; testing, purging and gas-up, cathodic protection, environmental considerations, horizontal directional drilling, and others. Construction specifications are normally developed digitally in Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect format. | |
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K is capable of generating material specification for all projects that we design. These specifications are developed in accordance with all applicable codes and standards, the client's preferences, and with project economics and practicality in mind. Material specifications are normally developed digitally in Microsoft Word or Corel WordPerfect format. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| RK&K offers a full range of bid phase services, which can take our clients from the design phase to the construction phase with minimum effort on their part. Our services include creating all necessary documentation including; bid forms, bid qualification sheets, project drawings and specifications, terms and conditions etc. We also identify potential bidders, perform bidder qualifications, develop and administer the bid advertisement, issue bid packages, tabulate and evaluate the bids once they are received, and recommend award. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
| Our professional engineers, assisted by our experienced in-house staff, provides responsive, high-quality hydraulic analysis services to a broad spectrum of clients and governmental agencies. .We provide innovative solutions to a wide range of complex hydraulic problems in the water, petroleum and pipeline industries by applying the principles of fluid mechanics, finite element analysis methods, and our experience. Utilizing a “Systems Approach”, which considers the whole system and the interaction of system components, we are able to determine the most efficient solution, design or application of pipe sizes, pumps, storage, valving, anchoring, etc., that meet our clients’ needs. RK&K uses state of the art engineering software such as WaterCAD, PIPE-FLO, PUMP-FLO, ORI-FLO, and CON-FLO for analyzing liquid systems; enabling us to provide timely, accurate, and cost effective hydraulic analysis for our clients. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
When necessary, RK&K normally performs all pipe stress analyses on our design projects. Classical methods in addition to finite element analysis are employed as appropriate to the elements being considered. The primary software used by RK&K for finite element analysis is Algor PIPE PLUS. PIPE PLUS represents the state-of-the art in piping finite element analysis, and is one of the most widely used and accepted piping finite element analysis programs in the world today. Members of our staff are also experienced in the use of other popular stress analysis software packages . |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
RK&K develops digital models of gas and liquid piping systems as part of our design services for proposed systems and as an analytical tool for operating and optimizing existing systems. We model natural gas transmission and distribution, water and petroleum systems using state of the art software such as GASWorkS, FLO-Master, WaterCAD and others. Models are developed by the traditional manual method or from/within Geographical Information Systems (GIS) developed by RK&K or others. Integration with GIS allows information from the existing digital mapping, geospatial data, and, in the case of utilities, customer data bases to be electronically merged to develop the system model. It also enables digital models to be updated along with the system mapping and data sets. Our models are calibrated to actual system performance during various operating conditions. This results in modeled operating conditions that accurately depict expected operating conditions under the modeled constraints. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
RK&K designs horizontal directional drills of all lengths and materials, recommends required drilling rig capacity for each drill, and develops inspection procedures for the drilling operations. RK&K's staff maintains practical as well as technical expertise in directional drilling operations. Mr. David Willoughby, P.O.E., of RK&K has recently completed writing Horizontal Directional Drilling Utility and Pipeline Applications , published by McGraw-Hill. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
As part of our design and operations services; RK&K provides a full spectrum of cathodic protection (CP) services to our clients. Our NACE trained staff performs soil resistivity testing and designs both impressed current and anodic protection systems for new or unprotected buried metallic piping systems and storage tanks. We also perform field services for the evaluation of existing CP systems as part of our clients' CP programs and as required by the new Integrity Management regulations. These services include obtaining pipe-to-soil potential readings, performing close interval surveys and direct current voltage gradient (DCVG) surveys to name a few. The advantage of using RK&K for CP services lies in our trained field staff being supported by engineers qualified by training and experience to understand and interpret the CP data. Our engineering staff is able to make sound evaluations of existing system performance, recommend effective remedial measures, and design efficient, cost effective new CP systems for our clients. Several of our clients utilize RK&K to review and interpret CP data obtained internally or by other firms, to evaluate compliance, and recommend remedial measures. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
Effective on February 14, 2004, operators of natural gas transmission pipelines are required by December 17, 2004 to comply with the requirements of Title 49, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 192, Subpart O – Pipeline Integrity Management . Similar regulations pertaining to Distribution System Integrity Management are expected to be adopted and implemented by early 2006. RK&K is available to assist our clients with the development, review and updating of Integrity Management (IM) Plans. We assist our clients with identifying high consequence areas, performing baseline assessments, identifying threats, and performing risk assessments. We also perform many of the integrity assessment services required under Subpart O. These services include direct examination and assessment of the external condition of a pipeline and coating, and determination of pipe wall and coating thickness and remaining pipe strength. We also perform indirect assessment services such obtaining pipe-to-soil potential readings, and close interval (CIS) and direct current voltage gradient (DCVG) surveys. Our engineers can assist clients with developing and maintaining the required records systems; developing reassessment programs and schedules; and determining preventative, mitagative and remedial measures as required. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
RK&K's experienced surveying staff is available to support our Natural Gas, Petroleum and Pipelilne Division with Total Station Instrument and/or GPS surveying services. Our surveying staff is experienced with linear projects such as pipelines and highways, as well as with site and property work. RK&K uses state of the art surveying instruments, data collection devices, and software. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
From route selection through ownership research, easement document development, valuation, and negotiation and acquisition; RK&K is capable of meeting all of our clients' right-of-way needs. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
We are capable of supporting our clients through project construction with trained and experienced project managers, administrators and inspectors. Members of our inspection staff are Operator Qualified as required by Title 49, CFR Part 192, Subpart N – Operator Qualification . RK&K's Natural Gas, Petroleum and Pipeline staff participates in a mandatory drug and alcohol testing program per the requirements of Title 49, CFR Part 199 – Drug and Alcohol Testing . IN addition to our management, administration and inspection services, RK&K also develops and administers facilities testing and commissioning programs, provides material and fabrication certification and control, performs vendor inspection, provides field and construction engineering, performs as-built documentation, and provides quality assurance and control. As a result of RK&K's completing the construction services for a client's project, RK&K provides organized and bound project construction records for the client's records. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
RK&K provide our nationwide clients with strategic solutions through our expert natural gas and electric utility management consulting services. Our specialized consulting services include: retail rate studies, regulatory studies, incremental pricing, forecasting, natural gas supply procurement, natural gas contract management, economic analysis, utility management, expert witness testimony, and other related services. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
Our firm is able to provide a full range of support services to our natural gas, petroleum and pipeline clients through our staff of managers, consultants, planners, engineers, surveyors, designers, scientists, specialists, and technicians. These services include complete environmental permitting, investigation, delineation, assessment and remediation; drafting and mapping; site engineering; structural engineering; geotechnical engineering; electrical and instrumentation engineering; utility engineering; automated mapping / facility management / and geographical information systems (AM/FM/GIS); customized software and database development and maintenance; subsurface utility location; and other related services. |
|
| (Back to Top) | |
|
RK&K incorporates a formal Quality Management plan that includes Quality Assurance and Quality Control procedures to ensure that technically accurate documents are developed and submitted to our clients. These procedures are modified according to the project or assignment scope. |
|