Pushing toward the future to build the world’s economies-- to go farther, faster-- has long been a driving force for the pipeline industry.

Whether it was the first Russian kerosene pipeline construction in 1896, or the extremely efficient backfilling bulldozer invention by a simple farmer from Morrowville, Kansas in 1923, many monumental milestones define the industry’s global history. As necessity and demand for energy resources drove industry progress, so did the persistence, perseverance and tenacity of the thousands of pipeliners who built it.

In 1933, extreme global uncertainty and change was at the forefront. But, rising from the depths of the Depression Era and despite precursors to world war, CRC-Evans emerged -- reflecting the rejuvenating spirit of innovation within the pipeline industry.

From the fearless Surgut, Siberian dope gangs that granny-ragged bitumen on the 1934 Kirkuk pipeline project, to the dedicated and skilled manual welders that worked tirelessly before the advent of automatic welding machines – these pioneering pipeliners from the past shaped our existing industry. As major oil discoveries were made across the globe in the 1950s and 60s, the pipeline industry answered the call for transportation. Even through challenging terrain and sub-zero temperatures, pipeliners prevailed to construct the 1970 Trans-Alaskan 48-inch pipeline that today crosses 34 major rivers over 800 miles.

A workforce embodying a heritage of internal fortitude, as well as technological advancements in equipment and materials will help the industry meet the next great challenges -- especially those anticipated for expanding farther and deeper offshore frontiers. During this our 75th year of service, we at CRC-Evans pay tribute to the pipeline industry that helped us grow and we also honor and reflect on the industry’s resilience and innovative spirit. This book chronicles that spirit in pictures that capture the essence of how far pipeliners and the technology have come over the last three quarters of a century. We are proud to have been a part of it and look forward to the next century of progress.



CRC-Evans is involved in nearly every aspect of pipeline construction. We manufacture equipment, sell and rent equipment, and subcontract pipeline construction services.
Pushing toward the future to build the world’s economies-- to go farther, faster-- has long been a driving force for the pipeline industry. Whether it was the first Russian kerosene pipeline construction in 1896, or the extremely efficient backfilling bulldozer invention by a simple farmer from Morrowville, Kansas in 1923, many monumental milestones define the industry’s global history. As necessity and demand for energy resources drove industry progress, so did the persistence, perseverance and tenacity of the thousands of pipeliners who built it. In 1933, extreme global uncertainty and change was at the forefront. But, rising from the depths of the Depression Era and despite precursors to world war, CRC-Evans emerged -- reflecting the rejuvenating spirit of innovation within the pipeline industry. From the fearless Surgut, Siberian dope gangs that granny-ragged bitumen on the 1934 Kirkuk pipeline project, to the dedicated and skilled manual welders that worked tirelessly before the advent of automatic welding machines – these pioneering pipeliners from the past shaped our existing industry. As major oil discoveries were made across the globe in the 1950s and 60s, the pipeline industry answered the call for transportation. Even through challenging terrain and sub-zero temperatures, pipeliners prevailed to construct the 1970 Trans-Alaskan 48-inch pipeline that today crosses 34 major rivers over 800 miles. A workforce embodying a heritage of internal fortitude, as well as technological advancements in equipment and materials will help the industry meet the next great challenges -- especially those anticipated for expanding farther and deeper offshore frontiers. During this our 75th year of service, we at CRC-Evans pay tribute to the pipeline industry that helped us grow and we also honor and reflect on the industry’s resilience and innovative spirit. This book chronicles that spirit in pictures that capture the essence of how far pipeliners and the technology have come over the last three quarters of a century. We are proud to have been a part of it and look forward to the next century of progress.

	Early pipeline construction workers like these may not have imagined that their skills, tenacity and dedication would build an industry as strong and reliable as it is today. But it was the laborer, the engineer, the welder and other pipeliners who had the foresight into today’s innovative industry. Southern Ontario, Canada. Date unknown.

	Ground-breaking Texas pipeliners lay a 16” gas line using the first sideboom, which practically eliminated the use of the hand-operated shear legs and block and tackle for laying pipe. By the end of the 1930s, contractors were beginning to use track-mounted sidebooms able to lift up to 30,000 lbs. Image circa 1933, Texas.

	This vigilant dope crew ignores the mess and smell as they apply hot bitumen coating to the pipe. The introduction of this machine replaced the tedious “granny rag” method and allowed an accurate, continuous coating of bitumen to be placed on the pipe. Image circa 1937.

	The difficult U.S. Depression Era didn’t stop an industry from developing better ways of pushing through the grime of a dirty job. These persistent pipeliners guide a self-powered line travel cleaning machine down a 10” pipe. Image circa 1938.

	When reliable equipment was critical to the infrastructure needed to fuel the U.S. World War II effort, Jim Cummings – an early founder of the current CRC-Evans – backed the development of this original wrinkle pipe bender. This was the first cold bender for pipe 24” and larger and was used to make many of the bends in U.S. wartime pipelines. Image circa 1939.

	Machines that drove efficiency were as essential to the industry’s development as those who operated them. This line travel clean and prime machine was capable of cleaning two miles of pipe in eight hours, vastly improving output. Image circa 1941.

	During World War II, the U.S. government and industry collaborated to transport crude for the war effort. Pipeline welders break to enjoy a little camaraderie during move-up time. On the Texas to Illinois “Big Inch” pipeline route. Image circa 1943.

	An industry in constant motion, this novel hydraulic side bender was developed to allow pipe to be bent faster and easier. But, the hydraulic side bender was soon replaced by the vertical bending machines, which further increased efficiency and decreased environmental concerns. Image circa 1948.

	Attentive coating inspectors examine the pipe after an experimental small coat and wrap machine applied bitumen. The pipe was outer-wrapped with kraft paper to protect the coating. Although this method didn’t prove practical, it was typical of the innovative ways pipeliners sought to improve the industry. Image circa 1948.

	The demand for pipelines to move oil and gas spawned a "can do" attitude in a few brave men to rule over rough and tumultuous terrain. A bold pipeliner steers a cable-stabilized bulldozer down a steep mountain to clear the right-of-way. Image circa 1952, Coquilhalla Canyon, British Columbia.

	Unconventional and brave were those who made this industry great. Valiant welders work over the tumultuous Coquihalla River in British Columbia, Canada to build the first pipeline from the Alberta oilfields to America’s west coast. Image circa 1953, British Columbia, Canada.

	Even Mother Nature finds it difficult to stop the resilient pipeliner’s progress. A pipe welding gang slowly regains a flooded right-of-way using timber and brush to provide firm footing for them to progress on the right-of-way. Image circa 1953, British Columbia, Canada.

	Resourceful pipeliners evolved the cable bending machine to a vertical design for efficiency and productivity. Vertical bending machines eliminated right-of-way obstructions that lasted up to two hours from the horizontal side bending processes. Extremely reliable, three are still used today. Image circa 1956.

	The pioneering spirit and will of those who built the pipeline industry proved unbeatable. A woman from a nearby community crosses a right-of-way where a dope and wrap crew begins morning start-up operations. Image circa 1959, Tennessee.

	With a purpose and a plan of moving forward, this crew starts bending 36” pipe using a new style hydraulic vertical bending machine which was introduced in the 1960’s. Image circa 1963.

	From tractors with bulldozer attachments to reliable wheeled ditching machines, the industry evolved at a steady pace. This ditching machine helped pipeliners increase productivity by digging the ditch rapidly and moving the dirt to a neat spoil bank. Image circa 1963.

	Foresight, research and persistence led to CRC-Evans being among the first companies to develop an automatic welding system to help pipeliners do a better job, faster. Automated welding systems truly transformed weld quality, speed and cost efficiency for the industry. Image circa 1969.

	The advent of ingenious automated welding systems in the late 1960s enabled the pipeline industry to increase productivity, quality and profits. Pipeliners prep an internal welding machine for a 42” pipeline — one of the first lines in Canada to use automatic welding. Image circa 1972, Alberta, Canada.

	In the year that the world’s population reached four billion and an energy crisis loomed due to Arab oil embargos, pipeliners remained steadfast in preparing for demand. Here, workers lay pipe using a lean concrete mix to secure placement on erosive steep terrain. Image circa 1974, Alyeska, Alaska.

	Understanding the environment where pipes are run is vital to the success of a project. In extremely cold environments, like on the Trans-Alaska pipeline project, pipe is required to be built above ground in some areas due to thaw-sensitive permafrost. This machine, called the ‘manipulator’, wrapped the metal covered insulation around the pipe. Image circa 1976, Alaska.

	Bending large pipe in harsh freezing weather is grueling at best. This hydraulic pipe bending machine completes a 36” pipe joint bend on the TransCanada pipeline. Image circa 1978, Eastern Canada.

	Striving to develop new technologies and applications, fusion-bonded epoxy (FBE) field joint coating was introduced to combat corrosion and provide superior adhesion to the pipe substrate. An offshore worker applies FBE to a concrete-weight coated offshore pipe. Automatic powder coating technology soon followed and was implemented in the offshore pipeline construction market. Image circa 1980, Offshore.

	The early 80s marked the beginning of several technological advancements that changed the way we worked from personal computers to mobile phones. Continuous improvement in pipe bending technology was no exception. During this time, pipe bending machines, like this model with a hydraulic mandrel, had far surpassed those of the 1950s. In 30 minutes, the operator of this machine could produce a 15 degree bend in a 40’ joint of pipe. Image circa 1982, Canada.

	Keen knowledge and authoritative experience helped bring the automatic welding process to Impresa Unione’s development of a 39-mile, 80” water pipeline in southern Italy. After two months of using manual stick welding techniques, pipeliners decided to use the automatic welding process to increase the quality and speed of the welds. Image circa 1983, Italy.

	Sheer competition and drive can enable pipeliners to set new records for production. This welding crew was tired, but very proud after welding 121 pipe joints in one day on this 56” Middle East pipeline. These highly motivated pipeliners considerably surpassed the previous record by 20 welds. More astounding, they required no special equipment to reach the new feat. Image circa 1985, Saudi Arabia.

	Like a well-oiled machine, pipeliners know how to work seamlessly to get the job done. One pipeliner sets controls on an internal welding machine to prepare it for welding, while the others begin to position the machine into a 42” joint on the TransCanada pipeline. Image circa 1992, Southern Alberta, Canada.

	As the demand for larger pipe and increased productivity heightened, so did the size and strength of pipe equipment. The images show a bending crew positioning and loading 48” pipe into an innovative vertical hydraulic bending machine on the Nova Pipeline Project. Image circa 1992, Southern Alberta, Canada.

	Pipeliners overcome intimidating jobs with ingenuity and creativity. When Majestic Pipeliners sought to lay more than 580 feet of 48” pipe across the Red River on the south side of Winnipeg Manitoba, Canada, buoyancy was an issue. So, they coated the river section pipe with a 10” layer of concrete that weighed more than 700 tons, and took 21 sidebooms to lift and place. Problem solved. Image circa 1993.

	Through the toughest elements, the industry has mastered placing pipe where it’s required. Pipe spooling vessels were initially created during World War II to install fuel lines offshore. Today, reel barges are used to lay up to 18” pipe to connect wells to platforms. Image circa 1999, Australia.

	Watchful and observant, these operators keep an eye on ditch padding progress on the Chad Cameroon pipeline project located near a slope in the African jungle. On this job, Spiecapag used one of the first state-of-the-art, self-loading padders, which delivered maximum output while reducing support equipment. Image circa 2002, Africa.

	Even through temperatures of -25 degrees Celsius and remote locations, pipeliners persevered. Automatic welding crews and their equipment systems performed to the highest standards. The Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan (BTC) 1099-mile, 48” pipeline project benefited from these dedicated pipeliners and their technology, which assisted the project’s completion in two years in extremely rough conditions. Image circa 2003, Turkey.

	This crew represents the heritage of pipeliners over the last 75 years – bold, adventurous pipeliners who are able to weather below freezing conditions to ensure project completion. Here, workers are conducting field joint coating activity in a remote area of Turkey. Image circa 2003, Turkey.

	Adapting and exploring unconventional methods have been key to the pipeliners’ evolution. Interestingly, after being welded on a barge afloat near shore, the 42” pipe is pulled from the barge onto flotation devices until it reaches shore. Once the pipe is correctly positioned, the flotation devices are removed and the pipe is set to lie on the sea bed. Image circa 2006, Nile Delta, Nigeria.

	Deepwater oil and gas production established new requirements for pipe’s anti-corrosion, thermal and quality characteristics at extreme depths. On a J-lay barge, workers apply an anti-corrosion coating to field weld joints on high-temperature flow lines before applying advanced solid polyurethane insulation to maintain pipe temperature. Image circa 2006.

	As the industry prepares for the next pipeline frontier, bending automation will be the next major step forward. Here, workers successfully tested the first automated bending system, which incorporates an automated bending machine and mandrel. Automated bending will help pipeliners increase bend quality, reduce errors and lower costs. It will set the stage for bringing a much higher level of technology to the right-of-way. Image captured July 8, 2008, Texas