The Situation
GasSearch Drilling Services Corporation (GDS) was founded in 2006 and is a subsidiary company of Cabot Oil & Gas Corporation. The company is based in Montrose, Pennsylvania and offers a full line of dirt construction, water hauling, trucking, and roustabout services in support of the natural gas industry.
Recently, GDS built a maintenance facility in Lenox, PA. Due to the nature of their business and the truck traffic that the facility will be subjected to Roller Compacted Concrete (RCC) was the pavement of choice. RCC got its start in the logging industry in the 1970s when the industry was looking for a paving material that could withstand massive loads and specialized equipment – but still be constructed quickly and economically. Since then, the uses for RCC have expanded greatly, and can be considered for any project where strength and durability are a concern.
“We were looking for a product that provided good value for our construction dollar and feel we have that with the RCC.”
The Solution
GDS Operations Manager Chad Gorman and Construction Superintendent Toby Watson discussed with us why RCC was selected and the benefits that they see incorporating the material into this, and future, construction projects.
Both gentlemen noted that their knowledge of RCC was limited until they met with Bob Housel, owner and President of Masters Ready Mixed Concrete in Kingsley, PA. A primary topic of discussion during the meeting was the repeated truck loadings that the pavement would be subjected to on a daily basis. Gorman noted that “we anticipate 70 water trucks and over 100 cars per day entering and leaving the facility. A durable pavement was a must.”
“An alternative pavement (asphalt) was initially considered” stated Watson; “but despite the initial cost being slightly higher for the RCC we found other areas (such as sub-grade preparation work) where we were able to save money” he noted. Gorman added “We were looking for a product that provided good value for our construction dollar and feel we have that with the RCC”.
A visit to the GDS facility reveals over 2500 cubic yards of RCC pavement placed at a thickness of 6”. An adjoining lot on the property will also see RCC installed at a later date.
Another feature to the parking/travel areas are the LED light fixtures. LED lighting is in great demand these days due to their energy efficiency. The installation of the lighter and more reflective RCC will enhance the performance of those fixtures. If you’re interested in learning more about the reflective properties of concrete pavement and its benefits please download the brochure available here.
What do the owners think? “We’ve been pleased with what we have experienced with the RCC to date and will be using it for similar projects in the future” Gorman stated.