Xodus secures contract with US Air Force for gas leak detection survey

The US Air Force (USAF) has awarded Xodus Group a multi-year contract for the annual gas leak detection survey at Altus AFB in Oklahoma, officials announced on Thursday.

The project, which involves surveying the piping system that delivers natural gas to the base facilities, is the first that Xodus has won since qualifying and registering with System for Award Management (SAM), the official US Government e-procurement system.

The work, which is expected to take 5-to-6 days and be carried out by a team from Xodus Group’s Houston office, will help to ensure the safety of the base’s natural gas piping system and identify any potential leaks, which require remedial attention.

The contract is initially for 2015, but the Air Force has the option to extend the contract with Xodus for three additional years.

Altus AFB supports around 5,000 military personnel and their families and is the home of the 97th Air Mobility Wing of the Air Education and Training Command (AETC). The wing’s mission is to provide C-17 Globemaster III and KC-135 Stratotanker flight crew and aircraft maintenance training for thousands of USAF and international students annually.

 “This contract is important as it enables us to demonstrate our technical expertise around pipeline safety while helping to keep the base’s natural gas supply safe and operational," said Dirk van Oostendorp, Houston integrity manager at Xodus Group. 

"It is the first project we have won since being registered on System for Award Management, which we believe will open many opportunities suited to the wider integrity and corrosion services that we deliver in the US and globally," he added. "Maintaining the integrity of pipelines as they age is a costly issue, driven by increasing public safety regulations. Our innovative approach to inspection and repair services is giving peace of mind to pipeline operators.”

Xodus specialists have also developed an application of tools and technology for the process of removing casings from buried pipelines at highway, railway and waterway crossings which are causing major integrity issues. The end seals degrade over time, allowing the casing to fill with groundwater, which can then cause corrosion to the pipeline.

Xodus says it has assisted several clients by removing the casings and providing a permanent integrity solution, which delivers long-term cost efficiencies when compared to temporary repairs or potential failure of the pipeline.

The company says it also provides a fast response remediation service for third-party mechanical damage, which according to the US Department of Transportation is the leading cause of in-service failure for buried pipeline.

“It’s an all too common problem that companies installing new underground facilities or lighting poles accidentally strike an existing buried pipeline, despite the fact there are one-call systems in place," said van Oostendorp. "Our team responds quickly to assess the damage using conventional and 3D laser scanning, makes repair recommendations and ultimately manages the repair process swiftly.”

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