Pipe Cutting

A pipeline crew is cutting an end off a natural gas pipe. If you view LARGE you can see that they are apparently cutting off a bad weld.

This is a flame cutting operation, the oxygen has just been started. A clever fixture is clamped to the pipe. A track and gear guides the torch around the pipe to make a perfectly square cut. The man with the green sleeve guards is the welder. Not only is it a badge of his craft, but also it prevents burning holes in his shirt.

Widening of Oracle Road means that utilities need to be moved out of the way. This new pipeline will be at least three and maybe five miles long.

All of the men wear long sleeves in the hot sun. Sweat will wet the shirt and evaporation will keep the person cooler. Temperature today will be about 104 degrees and the sun blazes down from cloudless skies. People need to drink LOTS of water!

There will be many steps to this project which should make an interestiing group of photos. Lucky for me because I am starting to run low on ideas for photos.