We’re stuck in camp at 42 below and dropping again. Dispatch in Deadhorse is projecting 50 below tomorrow. Funny how the internet weather shows it’s 25 below in Deadhorse. I think they need put their temperature probes outside the building so they get it right. The 16M started throwing a steering fit at about 35 below two nights ago so I switched to the 14H, but at 45 below last night even the 14H was struggling to steer. With 32,000 delineators to clean around the stick steer is awesome when it works right. We have been plowing anywhere from 14 to 18 hours a day to keep the ice road open to the drill pad and camp. When the wind is blowing it’s a losing battle, it snows sideways! This drill pad and camp is right on the edge of the Arctic Ocean so we get a fair amount of wind. Thank goodness it’s not blowing today, just extremely cold. We are getting ready for another drillrig to move in here on this iceroad. Should be interesting as the rig weighs 2.5 million pounds. :drinkup Regards, Randy
Fascinating pictures, Randy. After just having four days of 40-44C my mind can not even comprehend what 45 below would feel like. RnR.
Brrrrr...thats cold! Awesome pictures! thanks for sharing and keep warm!
Waiting to see the first sunrise. In about 1 week the sun will pop above the horizon for the first time in several weeks! Right now we can enjoy the awesome horizons with the sky on fire. Three nights ago we watched the Aurora dance for miles across the sky. Very Spectacular! Today is the rig camp and drillrig move, should be awesome. In the mean time we'll keep plowin and blowin. Regards, Randy
Great pics, love the sky pics. Who is allowed to use the ice road, I mean are members of the public allowed to run regular pick-up trucks up there? Permits needed or tolls to pay? I would love to head up there one time to see that part of the world. Keep the pics coming
Thanks for the pics Randy!!! After seeing these and reading your posts I'll no longer whine about how rough our winter has been!!! The only positive I can see for you is there's nothing to create tall drifts!!!
Thanks for sharing these pics Randy!:drinkup The pic of the pipelayers is surreal.
Thanks Ranfy, great info and pics!
50 below! You get all the fun jobs don't you. Great pictures as always. Thanks Randy
unreal!! that is all i have to say!! are all the cranes and dozer looking machines left running??? in temps like that they must be impossible to get going again!
Dang Randy that is so cool! Is that a farm tractor with a snowblower on it in front of you?
artic plowing MY question about the snow blower it looks like maybe its a fendt tractor our county highway dept. leases a fendt and snowblower they say it works great thanks the BIG D
you are one lucky son of a gun! wish i had the chance to work up there!
great pics as always :notworthy please keep them coming
Picture speaks a thousand words, and they all say cold. Thanks for sharing and keep the pics and post coming.
Awsome pics Randy keep them coming our way. You have one of those jobs that never seem to get old. New experiances every day.
Awesome pictures Randy! I have a good friend working up there as a sparky for Udelhoven. Hes been sending me some pics kinda like the ones you posted. Cold and beautifull! The first morning he was up there he sent me a text that said "32 below with wind chill of 50 below, welcome to Alpine"
Heres a couple pics he sent me Monday. Sorry if it goes off topic.
that looks like some fun stff wish i could do that
Great pictures, just like last year.
As always Randy, great photos and a professional job as always. Thanks for sharing. Trbo
Thanks for the great pictures... Looks like another day in paradise. How much of crew do they have for keeping the roads open?
dang!
Thanks for the great comments! Gentlemen I promise I will try and answer everyone of those questions as soon as this rig move is over. We just pulled a 26 hour straight and we have to be back on in 3 hours, so I get about 2 hours sleep. The rig lost a hydraulic drive motor tonight so while they repair it they told use to catch some sleep. The camp modules got on to the pad last night and at about the same time the drill rig started on to our iceroad 27 miles away. The mighty 14H had to help pull it up on to the rig mattes as we crossed the ice bridge over the Sag River. Awesome. Time to sleep
That looks like a million things can go completely wrong in half a second!!!! You folks must have nerves of steel that the cold cannot mess with or something...
Which Doyon rig is that Randy, I don't recognize the camp module? I see the Peak boys are still using the old KOH prime movers. They have been around for a long time, a true case of takes a lickin and keeps on tickin! They are a horse! Crossing the Sag you must be E or S of Prudhoe somewhere. 2 years ago I was out on the Jacobs Ladder site moving the Canadian rig in for Exploratory work boy was that a cluster Anyway enjoy your 2 hrs rack time, that's one thing i don't miss, the only thing that made it OK is dreams of dollar bills floating in my head!!! Take care out there and keep a full ditty bag!:usa
now THAT is a mobile home!!!
Wow. I have seen some rig moves before, but moving the whole rig at once, and with the derrick still in the air is a sight to see. Enjoy your nap and give us some more when you get a chance Randy.
What do you wear for clothing? What kind of boots?
My buddy sent me these yesterday. He said the rig is Doyon's #19. Is this the same one you helped move Randy? The second pic is of thier bucket truck/snowmobile. Pretty sweet setup!
Those Arctic pictures are just amazing. Can't imagine what's it's like up there now. I have only been north of the Arctic circle in summer, and boy is it different than those pictures show. Wow! That's the real deal.
Wonder how those tracks would make out on that Ford? Nice pics
The Rig is on the pad.... ....Thank Goodness that's over. I read back through all the responses and here's my answers: Digger Dan: Our Company built this iceroad under a subcontract to CH2MHILL who was general contractor for Savant Oil. To get out here we have to travel through BP’s security at the Prudhoe Bay Field. You have to have a BP Transit Badge, which I got at BP’s office in Anchorage. To get the BP Transit Badge requires a company sponsor/contract and an NSTC (North Slope Training Cooperative) Card. Though I don’t know all the details, we are on a BP Pad about 30 miles east of Prudhoe Bay. I also know most of the Savant Oil people are retired/ex BP personnel. In regards to traveling up the Dalton Hwy from Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay, it is open to the public in the spring and summer. It’s an awesome drive in a good pickup with Class E tires and spares. The tour company’s also run tours up here; they travel by bus or by 737 jets, which ever you prefer. JTL & Big Iron: We moved Rig #15, 50 below wind chills is not uncommon up here. The second nights of the rig move we had 70 below wind chills, it was horrible. We have a new Ford Crew Van with Matte Tracks. Those things work great for the pioneering phase, but once the ice road is done they only use them during a blow when there’s lots of drifting. Danial Doherty: that equipment in the picture is shut off. Any equipment that’s being used on a daily basis is left running at a higher than normal idle (1100 to 1500 rpm). If we shut something down and need to get it running again we put a parachute over it and put the ES700 heaters on it for about 2 to 4 hours, it lights right up. Some of the jobs run two shifts so it only gets shut down long enough for oil changes. Four days ago they stopped me right on the ice road at 36 below, suck out the oil, refilled, changed filters, took about 15 minutes and I was plowing again. EGS & BIGD: That is a Case 275 Magnum with an Avalanche snow blower, we have two of them. Very Impressive unit for their size. We also have two Cat powered blowers, which we quick couple on the front of our 120E Volvo’s. We save those for emergencies. W2bestoned: Right now its just 2 Water Tankers, 2 Water trucks, 1 blower and 1 blade (14H or 16M). We requested to run 2 blades and 2 blowers but the General said NO. That’s why last week I had 137 hours in 7 days. Oh boy here comes some new models! With the rig move done it has slowed down and we are now working 12 hours a day, but if another blow comes it will be long hours and more money again! Right On…….Cause I’m making plans to build another drag car. nedly05: carhartt long-sleeved undershirt, carhartt heavy duty hooded sweatshirt, carhartt black lined arctic overalls, RefrigiWear stocking face mask, regular cotton tube socks and Cabela’s 8T-0616 insulated leather boots. In the picture the grade doesn't look very steep, but 2 Kenworth Sows had to pull it up. It was awesome to watch!
Quite impressive Randy.:notworthy After seeing all of your pictures, and the ones my bud sends me, I really need to get up there and see that place for myself! He sent me a pic today of the first sunrise. Also said it was around 60 below, so him and two other guys were just out cruising around on the ice road. Thanks again for the pictures and try to stay warm!!
Randy, A.A.A.(awesome as always) rating on the pics & info. Thanks for sharing. Try ta stay warm. :drinkup Bob aka ZZ
Man your 16M sure is a lot pretter than my old 16G on the ice, looks alot more comfortable too . and your right is doesn't take much of a grade when your dealing with a 800 to 1000 ton module!!!. How long of a hitch are they letting you guys working now? 137 hrs is a should help build a pretty good drag racer!! Keep the great photos and comentary coming.
Great pics!!!! Minus HOW MUCH???? Keep the pics coming!!!!
44 Below 0 That was ambient temp a couple days ago. No wind-chill just damn cold. I personally would rather have 50 below ambient vs. 40 below chill. That wind-chill is horrible stuff. We did get to see the sunrise for the first time two days ago, that was Awesome! It peaked it's head over the Brooks Range for just a few minutes then disappeared again. Big Iron: I spend several years in a 16G just like yours and I loved it. They’re still around up here and will be for a while. In regards to our work schedule, now that the rig move is done we are back on a normal 7-12s, three weeks on two weeks off rotation. I go home on Monday and can’t wait to spend that money!
sunrise Randy, The grader with sunrise very cool pic! Is that out on the iceroad? If so what about the lite plant? Are there lite plants along the road, or just certain spots? You mentioned BP's security, do youn's have to get TWIC card (transportation workers identification card)? The rumor down here is you're gonna have to get one to work pipeline because they fall in the transportation industry. Met a guy who had to go into the Harbor in Baltimore, said since he didn't have TWIC card he had to be escorted at all times while inside the gate. From what I've been able to find about one is it's a background check by the Feds that'll cost you 132.50. You can google TWIC for more info. What kinda car you buildin? Thanks for your time.:drinkup Bob aka ZZ
Randy, how do you like dealing with CH2MHill. I recently completed a project for them here in Michigan. Their site engineer tended to be a pain in the rear. Some of their thoughts on the project made no sense either. My favorite was a shoring system we installed. Typical H column, with wood lagging. Their site engineer approved the system, and the installation plan for it. When it came time to install the wood lagging, the engineer informed me that no one could go into the excavation in order to install the wood lagging as it was an "unshored" excavation.
Mukluk brought that old girl to the slope in the late 70's and i too spent a lot of time in her (don't think for a second i am calling myself a blade hand, that would be a slap in the face to a good blade hand). don't know what happened to its sister. that photo is the begining of an ice road off the west dock area heading off shore. I would hate to guess how many hours she has on her. I got a chance to run her again in 08 when i spent some time up there mostly plowing snow. Unforuntnatly VECO had as usual not spent a dime on Maintence for god only knows how long and she was loose as a goose. 3/2 is a good hitch, not too long and enough time home to spend some of that cash (that is whats left after the wife finished with it):drinkup Have a good r&r and don't slack off on the photos
1 More Day! Panhandler Bob: That picture was shot at what is known as “Mine Site Lake” where we load the water trucks. The picture posted earlier of the Kenworth Tanker and Volvo loading water was shot at the same lake. Wherever we put a a pump house/iceshack we put a lightplant. During the construction of the Ice Road they had several pump sights for loading water, but now for maintenance we have just two sights. You are 100% correct regarding the TWIC cards. I was told that we would all have to have them, but haven’t heard what the deadline date is yet. Turbo: CH2MHILL has been great to deal with on this job. Little tight on money, we wanted two blades and two blowers on maintenance, they said one blade and one blower. Right now they provide all the water trucks, during pioneering and the building of the road they used our 730 Cat Water Trucks. Big Iron: Speaking of VECO, CH2MHILL bought all VECO’s equipment and facilities. I just read in the paper 3 days ago that Bill Allen started his prison term. What a waste, the guy had it made but greed and corruption destroyed him. His graders may have been poorly maintained, but I have sure been impressed with their truck fleet. They all use to be owned by VECO. Had to come in an hour early yesterday due to Phase II conditions. Still amazes me how we can go from 20 miles of visability to 20 feet in just 20 minutes. These delineator are a chore to grade and clean around, but when the visibility goes away fast they sure make it nice for finding your way home to a warm camp and good food! Regards, Randy
Great job Keep it up Randy Work safe Tim
Love the pictures. Thanks for taking the time to share. How do you cope with the dark? I spent a couple years in Iceland where days were short in the winter....but nowhere near what you've got right now where you are. It sounds like work keeps you busy enough for now, but what is there to do in the off hours? If I could rewind 15 years, Alaska would be on my list of places to spend a year or two. :usa
I figured you would be getting your TWIC's before long I had to have mine on a BP site in OR 2 years ago. There kinda scary as the chip embedded in it basically tells big brother your life's story from inception!!! Yes Bill's story is sad, he never did figure out that even in AK business practices change and the good old days do go away. The real sad part was that Stevens got caught up in that and it cost AK one or the most powerful Senators in history. He got AK more from the gov than any senator in the history of the senate. As to VECO's equipment yes it is much better cared for now than the old days. They were still receiving new tractors when I was last up there for the BP contract and man having not driven a truck in 10 or so years, what a change. course i guess it would be the same as jumping from the old G model into your new M (I would have thought I had died and went to heaven) anyway Randy have a good R&R I look forward to more photos when you get back.:drinkup
Randy you definitely have the coolest job out there.:notworthy
In more ways than one.
R&r EGS: You're Right! I feel very lucky in that I have a career, which I enjoy and look forward to each day, well maybe not every day..... . I fly home today and will sleep for two days straight! Regards, Randy
Nice pic of Ole' Faithful
Hallo Randy , I have deep respect for the way you are working there in the cold , you are tolking over a drag car , and i have some pics over a drag grader for you . Regards , Roel .
Hello Randy, have a nice nap.:sleeping I'll have to say that you are about as crafty with the camera as u are with the blade. Keep up the nice Pics.
Roel, :drinkup Bob aka ZZ
Panhandler Bob In regards to the Drag Car project; I started on this scale model last year just to test my theory on how it would look. It’s about 80% complete and it has the appearance I was hoping for; radical and wreck less! The license plate is “DRJACK”. I have always wanted to build a gasser style straight axle Camaro even though the straight axle gasser era ended right before the Camaros were introduced. I had 4 Camaros at one time before children and a wife. I just got the last kid off to college and I divorced two years ago. So now it’s just me and it’s time to go back to being a kid! I can’t wait….:cool2 Roel: That's an awesome grader. I'll bet it doesn't have a bounce problem!:drinkup Regards, Randy
Randy, Pic in post 48 way Model lookin good (yellow, who'da guest LOL) Camaros rule, had 3 over the years 2 back in the 60's a 67 RS/SS 350 & a 68 SS350 in 91 had a 84 4cyl. automatic good lookin & great gas mileage Hope to have a 69 Z-28 before they plant me. Way off topic PM me if you wantta talk Camaros. Enjoy your R&R you earned it.:drinkup Bob aka ZZ
the pad construction Hello, Randy. How is the drilling pad secured to the ground? Or is it being built on the ice? Shlomo
Wow great pics I would love to work on a up there for a little while at least.
Drilling Pad Material Shlomo: This is a gravel pad and already has a production facility and main camp. It can be seen in front of the16M in the first picture posting. The pad was built several years ago when this field first started producing oil. This is a very basic description; the pressure in the wells dropped to a point where they could no longer produce enough oil to keep the oil warm enough and continue to pump oil from this pad in to the Prudhoe Bay Production Facility (approximately 35 miles). The plan with this years drilling program is to find more oil so they can increase production to a point where it is economically feasible to resume pumping. The nice thing now is that with newer Directional Drilling Techniques they can drill from some of these old pads and reach potential reserves, which they couldn’t reach years ago. There is gravel runway here also, which is generally used to perform logistics. Even though we have an ice road built to the pad for this seasons drilling program the crews, which man the production facility still fly back and forth to Deadhorse. The Mine Site Lake, which I mentioned earlier in this posting is just that; it’s the old mine site where they mined gravel to build the pad years ago. It’s about four miles from the mine site to the pad. Years ago they built an ice road, mined and hauled all the gravel in the wintertime. They had to drill and shoot the pit as the gravel is frozen like concrete. In this day and age due to all the new environment regulations most of the new “Exploratory Drilling Pads” are built from ice. This is to lower the environmental impact and prevent damaging the tundra. If they find economically viable reserves then they have to apply for all the permits and go through an extensive review process to build gravel roads and pads.
WoW, Randy what a great job u have and i bet u would'nt trade it for anything in the world. the pic's u share with us are great too. and just a question for u if u have the time, how thick is the ice up there before they open the ice road for the big rig moves ?? Thanks,
Something I just found out. Minus 40 is the same in Celsius and Fahrenheit. http://www.mathsisfun.com/measure/thermometer.html
Its that time of year, time to gain some perspective when you are feeling cold. It has been cold here in Seattle this week, but once i saw these photos I did not feel so cold afterall.
Hi Randy, I like the photo's I was wondering with the water trucks do they require extra heating other than exhaust heating to keep water from freezing in the tank and plumbing?
Brings back memories for me when I was working for Uncle Sam running D7G's in Fairbanks plowing snow out in the middle of nowhere's for practice / keeping roads open. Had a starter go out & had to change it out at 40 below. That was a nightmare job... I had to fight the belly pan back up with a come a long...Got it done though. It was not a few days later a kid started it w/ether when it was to cold & blew the side of the block out.
Insulated Tanks 245dlc The Cat 730 trucks have a double wall tank. When the tanks are new they use a hole saw and cut holes between all the bracing. Using a crane they hold the tank at about a 30 degree angle and this Urethane Insulation Companies comes to Cruz’s shop and sprays/pumps this Urethane insulation into all those chambers. Then it sits for a day while all that insulation sets and expands. They neatly trim off all the excess that expands out the vent holes and insert holes. The welders then weld all the hole saw pieces back in and grind them down smooth. A body man smoothes up all the holes and makes the tank pretty again then it gets primed and painted with Marine Epoxy paint. Most of the ice roads projects I’ve been on the water trucks run two 12 hour shifts so the water never sits in the truck very long. If they get caught in a blow with a full load of water they can just switch two valves in the dog house and circulate the water through the pump and back into the tank. Every once in a while when it gets super cold they send a truck to the drill rig and get a load of hot water on. They bring that truck back out to the job and run that one load through about 4 trucks and clean the ice build up out of the trucks. They never park the trucks empty; they always come back to camp loaded. It takes a long time for that mass to freeze, but if they are near empty it will start to freeze and then chunks get caught in their belly pan dump valve. The doghouse on the back where the pump and valves are housed is heated with a regular Cat heater just like was used in the early model equipment, the coolant lines are all insulated from the engine all the way back to the dog house. They also have a 110 heater which they can plug into when they are in camp. Regards, Randy