Romtec completed three critical projects along the Gulf South Pipeline Company, installing stormwater pump station for metering sites to keep the site secure and dry.

Gulf South Pipeline Company is a network of interstate natural gas pipelines, which needed tailored stormwater systems to ensure optimal site performance and protection at three of its metering sites: Stratton Ridge, the Dow Meter site, and the Westlake Compressor Station.

Gulf South Pipeline Company transports natural gas directly from supply areas in Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico, and indirectly from the Appalachian Region. The pipeline stretched 7,260 miles and has a daily throughput of 5.8 billion cubic feet, as of 2022, which is used to transport the national gas directly to markets throughout the South Central and Southeastern United States.

Gulf South Pipeline Company needed a stormwater pump station for metering sites Stratton Ridge, the Dow Meter sites, and the Westlake Compressor Station. These sites have millions of dollars of equipment that are outdoors, exposed to the elements. With outdoor sites it is important to keep the site secure and dry for the equipment and the safety of personnel. Romtec Utilities designed its stormwater lift station with that in mind.

A closer look at Westlake Compressor Station’s pump system shows that its gravity feeds from nearby underground basins to pump the water away from the site. The new stormwater installations ensure that these facilities efficiently manage stormwater, reduce flood risk, and maintain safety standards.

The Westlake Compressor site is located 2.5 miles outside of Westlake, Louisiana. The industrial city is part of the Calcasieu Parish in the Lake Charles metropolitan area in western Louisiana. Westlake is on the west bank of the Calcasieu River, across from the city of Lake Charles. The two cities are connected via the I-10 bridge, which is at the northwestern edge of the body of water after which Lake Charles is named.

This geographic context means the site is susceptible to heavy rainfall, runoff, and flooding. The stormwater pump station for metering sites designed by Romtec Utilities for Westlake Compressor Station takes water from the site and through a Romtec supplied sediment box, which pre-filters it before it goes into the wet well. From there, dual pumps and a jockey pump discharge water through a force main and perforated pipe.

Romtec Utilities’ industrial stormwater pump station at Westlake Compressor Station is comprised of a precast concrete wet well with a 4-foot inner diameter and a depth of 12 feet, two Ebara 1-horsepower submersible pumps, and a Jockey 120v sump pump which works to discharge water from the wet well.

Level sensing is achieved with four NOLTA MS1 float switches that transmit water levels to an Alternator Relay control panel, which controls the pumping cycles.

Romtec also supplied an above grade PVC skid for the project. The above grade skid includes ball checks, ball valves, and an air release valve. Air release valves can be important to relieve the air pressure at a high point in the system and can prevent air entrapment or an “air lock” which would impede the flow of water past that point.

Romtec supplied a sedimentation box upstream from the pump station to collect sediment and potential solids in the water before it arrives in the wet well.

The success of these projects depended on collaboration between several partners. TKE Engineering served as the site engineer for the Gulf South Pipeline Company’s projects, while installation was completed by Patriot Construction and Bluewater Construction.

Patriot Construction & Industrial provides a range of services, including industrial and commercial civil services and site development, marine services, deep foundation services, hydro excavation services, and trucking and material sales.

Bluewater Construction, collaborating with Patriot Construction, worked to ensure each stormwater lift station was installed to the exact specifications and functioned flawlessly within the company’s operational framework.

In summary, Romtec Utilities’ installations for the Gulf South Pipeline Company highlight the importance of customized stormwater pump stations for metering sites in the industrial sector. These sophisticated water pumping systems not only protect valuable assets from weather-related damage but also uphold operational safety and efficiency. Through strategic design and expert installation, Romtec’s solutions demonstrate the vital role that stormwater systems play in modern pipeline infrastructure.