Pavement Restoration on Main Replacement Projects Pipe Splitting and Keyhole Technology At Southwest Gas Corporation Southwest Gas Corporation Kenny Pollock Manager Gas Operations Support Staff

What is Keyhole? 12”/18”/24” diameter core precision cut through pavement Core set aside for reinstatement after repairs Underground facilities exposed by vacuum excavation Repairs made from the surface using long-handled tools Hole is then backfilled to base of pavement Utilibond Grout is then mixed with water and poured into hole Core is reinserted back into the hole and bonded to the pavement for a permanent restoration Road is re-opened to traffic within 30 minutes to an hour –Weather conditions dictate curing time

Chronological Order of Keyhole Events At Southwest Gas 1999 –Research began on keyhole processes Spring of 2001 –First live demo of coring equipment Completed core

Chronological Order of Events cont.’ Summer of 2002 –Live demo, including vendors of various tools and products used for “Keyhole Processes.” Winter of 2002 –Presentation to the City of Phoenix on “Keyhole” processes.

Chronological Order of Events cont.’ Spring 2003 –Field demo for the City of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Gilbert, as well as several other utilities in the Phoenix metropolitan area. Demo included one 18” core, vacuum excavation, Trenton patch, backfill utilizing the “Soil Compaction Supervisor”, and the reinstallation of the original core. Spring 2005 –Demo for Pima County and City of Tucson

Keyhole Processes and Equipment Keyhole Processes and Equipment Post Wrapping Anode Installation using the Thermo weld process

Keyhole Processes and Equipment cont’. Valve Box Replacement Electro fusion Service Tee

Keyhole Processes and Equipment cont’. Service to main mechanical connection Flow Control

Keyhole Processes and Equipment cont’. Snake Eyes II Camera Utilized for down hole inspection Soil Compaction Supervisor Soil Compaction Supervisor w/data logging capabilities

Coring Units Truck Mounted Skid Steer

Division Success Northern Nevada Division –Currently performing service replacement and service to main connections Utilizing the Split and Pull method –Anode installations for isolated steel project –Bond wire installations –Sub-surface utility engineering (SUE)

What’s in the Future? Processes continue to be improved and refined –Service replacement, stop offs, both emergency and planned. New Tools and Technology improvements –As existing processes are mastered, new ones are evolving re., different types of electro fusion, welding through a keyhole, launching cameras for inspection, etc. New Vendors and Equipment –Manufacturers continue to bring down the cost of tooling and equipment –Ideas and techniques for new processes are being shared by tooling manufacturers

Northern Nevada Replacement Project Byron Elkins Manager Operations Planning and Analysis

Example: Open Trench: 500’ of PVC Main w/10 Services 500 x 3.8 = 1,900 Square Feet of Pavement Restoration Required Split & Pull w/Keyhole: 500’ of PVC Main w/10 Services 500 x.5 = 250 Square Feet of Pavement Restoration Required

Benefits Reduced Labor Improved relations with governmental agencies Enables excavations on “No Cut Streets” One-stop Shop Improved customer satisfaction Visually Aesthetic No Maintenance

Questions?