Pipeline
 

Can someone tell me what a front end crew does on a pipeline job.

Strings skids, builds skid piles, pre heats pipe, moves and sets clamps, hooks up slings, stabs joints, spaces gap, cleans bevel etc. Is there a specific reason you ask. Depending on the job the front end can be a 15 guy crew or 3 guys. Above ground or below?

Depends where you are if it's all rock the blasting crews get the right away fixed for stringing and welding ,if it's dirt all the things that were mentioned above.The best part on getting on front end is that once the back ends starts up and front end is almost done you can get moved back to where you first started and be there till the end if you do your job well.Don't kiss arrs,just work the best you can and someone will be watching for guys who aren't brown nosen.

I ask cause my son was offered a position in the front but he is unsure he is a 3rd year welder.

Good way to see some cool country

He will more then likely be hustling skids


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He won't be welding. He'll be at the bottom chucking skids probably or maybe stabbing

Lol it's not a glamorous job that's for sure.

But it's a job I guess

It's not a job it's a way of life. She'll suck you in and next thing you know you are 60 and laying on the r.o.w clutching your chest thinking, jeezus wasn't that grand. Wouldn't trade it for nothing. Good hardworking people, a good cast of characters, fresh air. Won't get rich but you live a comfortable life and get a month or two off here and there to do your thing. Jason Muirhead.

The pipeline, depending on which outfit he’s with is a great place to learn about addiction, what do with money, and what not to. It will teach you work ethic, standing up for your fellow worker, and about venirial disease! I may have spelt venirial wrong, I’m a rig welder not a doctor.

The pipeline may be a good spot for your boy to make a few bucks, but nowhere I’d want my kid to be for the long term.

Getting experience and learning many other aspects of a job from a broader scoping perspective helps immensely.

It let's one know how others affects their job, how they affect others...how sometimes little things mean tons to others...broad knowledge pays back in spades if you ever move up into leadership. Many jobs have aspects of collaboration. The best at it have strong trust and good relationships. Broader knowledge helps that also.

In case your son is thinking this job is not the best...I would suggest he reconsiders. Experience means everything when young and starting out.

He will hate chucking skids all day in -30 weather. Waist deep in skeg adding skids to the pile to hold up the pipe, draining the ditch so welders can weld and NDE can inspect. If anything once he does the job it will motivate him to get a better job.


I'm an NDE tech and have done many pipelines, never once have I ever wished I was on the front end of mainline lol.

Each to their own. I know guys that love hustling skids.

And when they are old? Will they still love it? Doubtful. And by time they are too old for it what are they gonna do? Be spread boss? Maybe, if not then what?