ISSUE
01
Newsletter published by Snelson Companies, Inc.
December 2010
The Scoop This Issue
PLCA Scholarship Fund Applications
Vernal Compressor Station Questar 36” Pipeline Project Employees of the Month Gill Ranch Compressor Station
Snelson Companies, Inc. has received the Pipe Line Contractors Association (PLCA) scholarship applications for the 2011-2012 academic calendar year. To be eligible, applicants must be children, stepchildren or grandchildren of full-time employees of Snelson Companies, Inc., who are high school seniors or graduates, 25 years of age or younger, who plan to enroll (or students already enrolled) in a full-time undergraduate course of study at an accredited 4-year college or university. Transcript information must be attached to the application. Applications will be accepted between the dates of October 15, 2010 and those postmarked prior to January 7, 2010. To obtain an application, please contact the PLCA office in Dallas, TX; (214) 969-2700.
President’s Note It is with sincere pleasure for me to introduce the Snelson family to our new president, Mr. Brad Sitton. Brad has shared with me how excited he is to join our family: “I am humbled by, excited and enthusiastic about this great opportunity to join the Snelson family. After having met many of the great people in the company, I believe there is no doubt that Snelson's legacy of excellence in our industry can continue. Above all, I value teamwork and personal integrity as the key ingredients for an organization to achieve excellence in any aspect
Brad was born in Evansville, IN in 1963 and was raised
of its business. Snelson appears to share and exhibit
in south Texas, as well as Indiana and Colorado as a
these character traits across the organization and I
result of his father's career and travels as a drilling
hope to earn my way into the fine fold that has been
contractor in the oil and gas industry. He attended
created here. Thank you all for the warm welcome."
Texas A&I University and The University of Texas at
Brad joined the Snelson family on November 1, 2010
Austin and earned a BS in civil engineering in 1987.
and is currently commuting from Denver and living in
For 20 years (of his 23 year career), Brad has worked
La Conner (during the week). Brad and his wife,
in the pipeline industry alongside engineering and
Donna, have plans to relocate to Washington in spring
construction companies including working with owners
2011 at the end of the school year. Brad and Donna
in project engineering, project management and senior
were married in 1999 and they have five children: Lily
management
(5, kindergarten); Gabe (7, second grade); Sarah (16,
my
eleventh grade, Houston, TX); Clay (19, U.S. Navy
Happy holidays!
boot camp, Great Lakes, IL); and Bailey (22, 2009 graduate of St. Edwards University, Austin, TX, holds a BA in international business).
(domestic
pleasure
to
and
welcome
international). Brad
to
our
It
is
family.
President/COO
The Dale R. Michels Scholarship for 2011-2012
Vernal Compressor Station by Matt Hewitt
The application is posted on
Williams celebrated our joint efforts along the way
the DCA Website at: www.dca-online.org Completed applications should be returned to the
Williams NWPL: Rock Spencer, Rosemary Lewis, Lance Buckley
DCA office for review and submission to the Scholarship Committee. The scholarship deadline is January 20, 2011. In the event that more than three (3) applications are received by the DCA from a member company, the member company will be asked to review and select three (3) for inclusion in the application pool. The deadline for inclusion for companies having over three applications will be January 27, 2011. The winning applicants will be awarded an unspecified amount of financial aid for the 2011-2012 academic year and this amount could
In July, the Snelson team was in-
Reporting began with one week cycles for
During the ten week period our team
formed by Williams of a need for
work activities and one week cycles for
was able to install all large bore
assistance on a compressor station
schedule updates.
above
in Vernal, Utah. The project was over
Within two weeks time the project re-
piping, all small bore piping and
budget, behind schedule and had
alignment and sequencing began taking
pulled the project back on schedule
numerous erroneous aspects with
shape and our crew members were able to
with zero safety incidents all the
severe quality issues. Upon arrival,
punch the throttle.
while maintaining a high level of
Snelson assessed the project site
In just ten weeks of performing work on-
efficiency. Commissioning began on
and it was in dire disarray; no pipe
site, the Snelson team reached mechani-
schedule, purge and pack began on
was accepted as installed. Pre-
cal completion (and in some historically
schedule and the commissioning
fabricated pipe and civil busts con-
knowledgeable minds), faster than anyone
team was on schedule to fire up the
sisted of wrong elevations and loca-
they had ever seen!
compressor October 26th.
ground
and
underground
tions that plagued the site. The cur-
Williams celebrated our joint efforts
rent project schedule and documen-
and the completion of the project by
tation were unacceptable. The first
hosting two different parties. Notable
order of team business was to begin
attendees included: V.P. Lewis, Troy
with organization, scope, schedule,
Ruflin, Mitch Zimmerman, Dale Mill-
budget and safety then generate a
sap, Chief Scheduler Spencer and
comprehensive plan and share this
Head Project Controls Buckley. Rosemary Lewis & Bree Madlung
plan with the client.
Small Jobs = Big Returns By Tim Brown
be renewable for up to four (4) years with proof of academic success. Financial need and community service will also continue to be
considered by
the Scholarship Committee. If you have any questions, please contact Kathy Pettersen.
A majority of Division 02s crews have
safe and successful project for Kinder
In Wyoming we put a crew together
been involved in smaller mainte-
Morgan. In Roy, WA we worked with
for the Questar project. Superinten-
nance work. These projects can be
employees we barely knew and had a
dant, John Kennedy, and our staff
just as dangerous and costly as big
tight timeline, but thanks to our superin-
added to Questar’s respect for our
ones if not well planned out. One
tendant, Trevor Thayer, not only did we
work. Enterprise also called for our
example of that is a project we just
accomplish what was asked of us, every-
help on some maintenance work by
completed in Palm Springs. This
one went home safe. This did not go
sending some of our crew out of
project combined using a crew we
unnoticed by our client, BP. That same
state. Despite the weather and vari-
had never met and working next to
crew went to Coeur d’Alene, ID and as-
ety of work requested of us, our
the railroad tracks, which could have
sisted
up-
safety and quality have not suffered.
caused problems. But, because of
grades. Creek restorations at Kelsey
Superintendant, Jeff Fox, is in Penn-
the planning of project manager, Lou
and
Colony Creeks for BP and also
sylvania assisting IPS Engineering to
Whitmire, and the supervision of our
cathodic protection installation for Wil-
begin work in the Marcellus Shale
superintendant, Jeff Elliott, we had a
liams Northwest have kept crews busy.
area, with plans of additional crews.
TransCanada
with
some
At
Questar 36” Pipeline Project By David Dixon
tThe New Curtis H. Allen Scholarship for 2011-2012 At the 2010 Distribution Contractors Association (DCA) Convention, Bentonite Performance Minerals announced that the DCA would facilitate a $2,500 per year
After the storm
scholarship in honor of the late Curtis Allen. The scholarship
The crew lays two double joint drag sections from the top. The crew has gotten to the overbend part of the hill near the top. This picture was after the Monday snow storm. High winds on top but moderate on the face.
will be funded by Halliburton.
Snelson had hoped to follow the
The Apex project in the Wasatch
We have had company neighbors;
GRS / California pipeline project with
Mountains to the west above Salt
John Kennedy and his crews are in
a July 15 start on the Questar ML
Lake City has already seen several
Opal, about an hour away. Division 5
133, 36” project in Green River,
feet of snow on top. We have had
has been working below us for Wil-
WY. Needless to say things changed
quite a few visitors from Corporate
liams on the Vernal Compressor
on both ends. At any rate, the
and IPS. For most of us it “almost”
Station. Jimmy Burns has his usual
Questar project got the go ahead late
seems like we’re home as this is the
group of key personnel and subcon-
on September 9.
fourth year we have worked in the
tractors on the project, which really
Personnel started drifting in the first
Rock Springs area. The project en-
makes for a smooth working spread.
couple weeks of the month. We have
tails the construction of approxi-
A few people miss Skagit Valley but
had to share the labor pool in the
mately 43 miles of 36” O.D. natural
they seem to be sticking it out.
Rockies with the spreads on the
gas steel pipe. It runs from the com-
looks like we will be working right up
Bison project out of Gillette and the
pressor station Division 5. Five were
to the holiday season at the end of
Ruby project heading from Opal
added on a few years ago behind
December, trying to get the line
westward. Just up the street, Price-
Cruel Jacks to Cubin 31, which is
tested. Final cleanup again will de-
Gregory also has a project yard. The
west of Little America. The line gen-
pend on nature.
pipe gang kicked off on September
erally parallels I-80 and crosses two
27. Since that time, we have been in
rivers. There are five directional drills,
a race with the weather. So far, only
all but one now completed by South-
a handful of snowy and cold days
east Directional Drilling. Snelson’s
have slowed up the crews. The last
own crews are drilling approximately
week of October temperatures were
11 road and railroad bores.
in the teens.
Sixty percent of the project parallels
Convention. The application can be found on the DCA Website: www.dca-online.org. Please note the following guidelines: Completed applications should be returned to the DCA office for review and submission to the Curtis H. Allen Scholarship Committee. The deadline for the scholarship is January 20, 2011. In
pany will be asked to review and select three (3) for inclusion in the application pool. The deadline for inclusion for companies having over three applications will be January 27, 2011. The winning applicants will be awarded an
as those we worked on in Colorado
ice cream cones.”
awarded at the March 2011
company, the member com-
with hills and canyons just as steep
and all its signs advertising “fifty cent
nical school and will be
by the DCA from a member
mately 15 miles of aggressive terrain
ward and goes right by Little America
dents entering a trade or tech-
(3) applications are received
the east end, which has approxi-
last year. The line continues west-
will be on a student or stu-
the event that more than three
existing lines. The crews started on
Digging Horse Canyon. Keith's hill crew finished in White Canyon and moved to Horse Canyon to do a sharp valley pipe lay on each side. The crew is digging the coming in side ditch.
It
The focus of the scholarship
unspecified amount of finanPipe gang in canyon. Hot filler trucks coming over rise waiting for pipe gang to get off hillside.
cial aid for the 2011-2012 academic year, unless other arrangements are made.
Our “Normal” Payroll Process
2010 Employees of the Month
By Robie Nash
Our employee level can alter,
August
August
September
often by 200 to 300 within a week or two (we’re currently at approximately 600 employees spread over five states), but there are some constants within our processes. We process a minimum of four payrolls per week for multiple companies (only when our work volume is low). We are currently processing eight payrolls and our “high” was nine. ALL payrolls must be finished by 5pm on Thursday although we are usually finished with all processing by Wednesday afternoon. And out-of-area jobs process on Monday or Tuesday. We print the checks to
Jeri Pagh, is the office Employee of
Mike Robinson (aka Sugar) is the
Judah Larsen is the Office Em-
the Month. Jeri is an Administration
Field Employee of the Month. He is
ployee of the Month. Judah has
Assistant for Donna Kearns and
a versatile employee, a
qualified
been an outstanding contributor to
Kathy Pettersen. She has been with
teamster and purchasing agent /
the success of several challenging
Snelson for over nine months. She
warehouseman. He is the first one
IT projects in the last six weeks.
has done an excellent job with all
there and the last one to leave. A
Judah is a highly valued team
that is put before her.
great team player.
member.
September
October
October
the jobsites or via FedEx. We submit approximately 100 union reports each month. Some are required weekly but most are once a month. Each craft, local and agreement (PLCA, DCA, AGC) have their own requirements for reporting. Those reports are in addition to the miscellaneous dues and deduction reports required. We submit assorted state taxes weekly, monthly and quarterly depending on the state and volume. Quarterly reports are required for about 15 states for the four companies we’re currently processing. The reports must be submitted even if there is no activity in a state. There are also weekly garnishment and levy payments plus questions to answer. That is our “normal” payroll cycle. Next time we’ll address our “abnormal” processes. Stay tuned.
Nick Beutler is the Field Employee
Eric Dahlgren is the Office Em-
Keith Maxwell is the Field Employee
of the Month. Nick does a great job
ployee of the month. Eric has per-
of the month. Keith has been with
communicating with his fellow su-
formed at a high level throughout
Snelson Companies for over 15
pervisors and lining the laborers
2010 and in his 18 months of em-
years. He has done an excellent job
out. Nick also has been a key per-
ployment he has become a key
on the current Questar project in
son in the implementation of safety
member of the Snelson team. Much
Wyoming, having been assigned to
corrections at the Vernal Compres-
of his work bridges relationships
lay pipe up the four steepest hills on
sor Station. Nick is always eager to
with our partners Sheehan Pipe
the project that required equipment
accommodate and cooperate with
Line Company and IPS Engineering
from above with cable. He has the
fellow trades and carries an uplifting
as well as our parent, IPS. He is
most difficult feature of the project.
attitude that is spread to all those
always willing to lend a hand and
His crew is always well-organized
around him.
his positive attitude makes him a joy
and operates safely in extremely
to work with.
difficult situations.
Finishing Strong By Todd Wright, CSP
We are close to the end of
The Gill Ranch Compressor Station
another great year and wrapping up several successful projects. When projects get close to completion the risk of complacency and the urge to hurry
By Clint Shearer
and get done is present. As a project is winding down it is a great time to reenergize your project environmental safety and health processes. Put emphasis The amount of work Snelson and
The next goal of mechanical comple-
Snelson was able to overcome a
on the small things; remem-
GRS has accomplished in the past
tion is to be done by November 30th;
difficult compacted schedule to meet
ber to recognize positive
year in the San Joaquin Valley has
this work is well under way and will
our goals. This would not have been
behaviors or accomplish-
been nothing short of amazing. We
be achieved before the deadline. We
possible without the hard work of
ments and keep positive
have now worked more than 330,000
are scheduled for the project to be
many talented local tradesman, sub-
attitudes prevalent as they
man-hours on the compressor station
completely finished by December
contractors and vendors. The local
are contagious. Many
and well pads alone with only one
31st. We currently are down to just
area has proved to be abundant;
weeks or months of long
recordable incident and zero lost
59 crew members from a peak of well
excellent resources and people. The
work days naturally take
time. The crews have done an in-
over 200. Demobilization is well
hard work has culminated into a safe,
their toll emotionally and
credible job of staying safe and effi-
underway and we should all be home
successful conclusion of a high qual-
physically on all employees.
cient. The project reached the first
before the end of the year. Though
ity project that those involved should
Do your part to help your
major mechanical milestone of gas
challenging, this project has been a
be proud of. A big THANK YOU from
project and finish strong.
injection in early October and has
great experience.
the Snelson staff to all who safely
been running ever since.
made this project a success.
2011 Holidays Observed New Year’s Day Fri. December 31, 2010 President’s Day Mon. February 21, 2011 Memorial Day Mon. May 30, 2011 Independence Day Mon. July 4, 2011 Labor Day Mon. September 5, 2011 Thanksgiving Day Thurs. November 24, 2011 Day after Thanksgiving Fri. November 25, 2011 Day after Christmas Mon. December 26, 2011
Company Interests A group from the pipeline project in Green River, WY traveled to Cheyenne on September 11, 2010 to attend a concert by Country Music Hall of Fame star, Roy Clark. Roy hosted the long running T.V. series Hee Haw and is also a personal
Snelson 2010 Christmas Fund
friend of Jim and Patricia Burns. After the show the group was invited back stage to visit and take pictures with Roy.
Snelson Company, Inc. will
Mark Tyra found
match any donated funds.
this little bunny
We will be collecting for the
rabbit on his well
local food bank, Teen Oasis
pad on the GRS
and our Special Seasoned
Project and it was
Citizens at Ovenell Family
all alone.
Home. We hope to continue
They didn’t know what to do with it, so one of the guys on his crew, Antonio Bentencourt,
the support with your gener-
had a Chihuahua named Che-wawa, that just had puppies. So he suggested bringing it
ous donations. Please con-
home and seeing if the momma would take it in. Sure enough!
tact Colleen at the front desk: 360-856-6511
The Scoop
601 W. State Street Sedro-Woolley, WA 98284 Phone: 360.856.6511 Fax: 360.856.5816 Email: info@snelsonco.com Web: www.snelsonco.com
Issue 01 December 2010