An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Fairchild receives new transfer fuel line

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Earlandez M. Young
  • 92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. --  Project and construction managers here, along with Garco Construction, are in the process of finishing up a construction project which was awarded in June 2010 and began in August that year. The construction team has installed a new fuel transfer line that runs from off-base stretching nearly across the installation.

"The reason why we are installing this new system is simply because of the age of the previous fuel transfer line, which was installed in the early 1950s," said Stacy Jacques, 92nd Civil Engineer Squadron project manager.

The new distribution line is more than 7,800 feet long and has an average depth of 6-10 feet depending on the areas under ground. The pipe holds an estimated 33,000 gallons of fuel.

To ensure the fuel line is operational, project managers, construction managers, Garco contractors and Airmen from the 92nd Logistics Readiness Squadron teamed up and will be testing the new pipe line throughout the rest of this month. 

On Sept. 9, the team tested the new fuel line by filling the pipe at a slow rate so they could get all of the air out of the pipe. Once the pipe was full, they were able to push fuel across the installation from bulk storage to pump houses A and B without any leakage from the pipe. 

During this test, Airmen from the 92nd LRS vented air at highpoint vents to get the air out of the pipe. 

"The pipe itself goes up and down as it goes across the base because of utilities in the ground," said Jason Foster, of Bay Associates. "So, as you initially fill the pipe, you drop air and have to get it out. You basically vent off the air that's trapped in the system."

The team has been sending "pigs" into the pipe, which are shaped like a bullet and have bristles around them to scrape and clean inside the pipe while also making sure the jet fuel delivered into the pipe isn't dirty.

The team also ran a final "pig" through the pipe called the "intelligent pig." 

"The intelligent pig is about 6-feet-long and costs $2 million," said Danny Kiter, 92nd LRS operator. "It basically does a geometric survey of the pipe by taking measurements, snapping photos, checking the thickness of the pipe and etc. It also prints up a report to inform us on all the specs on the pipe."

In order for Fairchild pilots to complete their mission, they have to be provided fuel -- uninterrupted.

"We launch airplanes, and they need fuel," said Ken Allestad, 92nd CES construction manager. "This new project provides that critical link to complete the mission." 

The project is slated to be operational in November.

"Garco Construction would like to thank the project and construction managers from the (92nd) Civil Engineering Squadron, Airmen from the (92nd) Logistics Readiness Squadron, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, for the help and cooperation necessary to make this project successful," said Ken Olley, Garco Construction superintendent.