Welcome!

EMS Quality Control, LLC (EMSQC) would like to welcome you to the fifth issue of our quarterly newsletter.  The purpose of this newsletter is to inform our inspectors and clients of both current and future projects for EMSQC.

We appreciate your time and attention.  Now take a moment to become familiar with EMS Quality Control, what we're up to and where we are headed!

Kentucky

Shane Honn, President, shanehonn@emsqc.com

Mary Smith, Vice President Administration, msmith@emseng.com

Texas

David Bennett, VP, davidbennett@emsqc.com

Margaret Bennett, Director of Field Services, mbennett@emsqc.com  

Corporate Office:                                                                 

EMS Quality Control, LLC                                                

109 Fieldview Drive                                                            

Versailles, Kentucky 40383                                               

(859) 873-0076         

Branch Office:

EMS Quality Control, LLC

9122 N. Highway 146

Baytown, Texas 77520

(281) 576-6705

Projects in Progress

Boardwalk Pipeline Partners

Gulf South

EMS Quality Control (EMSQC) is continuing to provide inspection services to Gulf South on Spread 2 of their Southeast Expansion Project consisting of approximately 40 miles of 42 – inch pipeline as well as assignments on two associated compressor stations in Harrisville, MS and Delhi, LA.

Gulf Crossing

EMSQC also continues to provide inspection support to Gulf Crossing’s 357 mile, 42 – inch pipeline project from Sherman, Texas to Perryville, Louisiana.  This project should be complete by the end of the first quarter, 2009.

Texas Gas Transmission

EMSQC is continuing to provide inspection personnel on the Fayetteville/Greenville Expansion Project for Texas Gas.  The project consists of two laterals which will transport gas from the Fayetteville Shale area in Arkansas to markets directly and indirectly served by Texas Gas and its sister pipelines.

The Fayetteville Lateral, consisting of approximately 165 miles of 36 – inch pipeline will originate in Conway County, Arkansas and proceed southeast through the Bald Knob, Arkansas area to an interconnect with Texas Gas’ mainline in Coahoma County, Mississippi. 

The Greenville Lateral, consisting of approximately 95 miles of 36 – inch pipeline will originate at Texas Gas’ mainline near Greenville, Mississippi and proceed east to the Kosciusko, Mississippi area.  The Greenville Lateral will allow customers to access additional markets, primarily in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast.  The Greenville Lateral is six miles from being completely strung out.  Bending and welding is right behind and will soon be out.  The contractor will hydrostatic test the first of six test sections before Thanksgiving.  Depending on weather, the schedule shows all tie-ins complete by early January, 2009.  Clean-up will be complete in early February.

Tres Palacios Gas Storage

EMSQC is currently providing construction inspection services to Tres Palacios Gas Storage during construction of a new salt dome natural gas storage facility in Matagorda County, Texas.  The facility consists of five compressor stations with three storage caverns; the second of which is almost completed.  Three compressors are operational since the end of September, with the other two units set to be completed by December. 

In addition to the compressor stations, EMSQC is also providing inspection on the construction of 42 miles of 24 – inch pipeline to bring the gas in.  This project is winding down as well.  The South Corridor (10.5 miles) was completed the first week of October while the North Corridor (31.5 miles) is currently under construction and should be completed by November 30th. 

Quicksilver Resources

EMSQC continues to supply inspection personnel to Quicksilver Resources Inc.  (QRI) in support of their 2008 projects being operated from the Glen Rose, Texas field construction office.  These projects and responsibilities should be winding down in the first part of December.

Equitable Resources

EMSQC is currently providing inspection personnel on Equitable’s Ranger project in West Virginia and Kentucky.  This 8 – inch, 60 mile pipeline will transport liquid hydrocarbons from Equitable’s Langley Facility located in Floyd County, Kentucky to an interconnect with MarkWest’s Transandy Pipeline located in Lincoln County, West Virginia.

Phase I of this project (West Virginia) will be completed by the end of November and Phase II (Kentucky) will begin after the first of the year.

LDH Energy

EMSQC is currently providing inspection personnel to support the Cedar Bayou Dual 20” project for LDH Energy.  This is a pipeline project that will allow LDH Energy full connectivity to the Colonial pipeline system east of Houston and, at present, is approximately 80% complete.  The contractor has right at 1000 feet of pipe remaining to lay before they are completely welded out.  Once the pipe is welded there will be over 30 tie-ins to be made as well as two horizontal directional drills; each at 970 feet.  These drills will be made inside the LDH Energy facility at Mont Belvieu where they will cross under 18 existing pipelines.  This project should be completed around December 15^th.

Enerteq Engineering

EMSQC is providing inspection personnel on the Enerteq Engineering 4.5 mile, 16 – inch project for Denbury Resources, LLC that will tie into the 20 – inch line in Laurel, Mississippi that EMSQC was also involved with in 2007.  The project also includes a meter station, two 10 – inch meter runs, and a horizontal directional drill of approximately 800 feet.  This project should be complete by mid – December.

Buckeye Pipeline

EMSQC is overseeing the construction efforts for Buckeye’s 16 – inch, 33 – mile pipeline.  The Landfill Gas-to-Energy (LFGTE) pipeline originates at the existing LFGTE plan located at the Blue Ridge Landfill in Ft. Bend County and terminates at the INEOS Olefins & Polymers, USA Plant located in Brazoria County, TX.  The pipeline is expected to be in service December 2008.

What’s on the Horizon

New Office Location

Since EMSQC was formed in 2006, we have made a good effort to market our services and capabilities to the Dallas – Fort Worth area in Texas and have resulted in several new clients and projects.  Due to these opportunities and the sustained level of activity in the area, EMSQC will move forward with plans to open an office in the Dallas – Fort Worth area in the near future. 

To that extent, we are seeking a Director of Operations who will be responsible for the overall management, administration and oversight of the Dallas – Fort Worth office location.  Must have sufficient experience (10 – 15 years) in the natural gas industry to fully understand work processes employed by EMSQC.  Specific experience with construction management and quality control inspection personnel is preferred.  The Director of Operations will be the primary contact for clients in this region and will be expected to develop new opportunities and clients through effective marketing strategies.  It will also be his/her responsibility to maintain the highest level of expertise by recruiting and staffing projects with qualified and experienced personnel that has become the trademark of EMSQC since its inception.  Please send resumes of any interested and qualified candidates to Shane Honn, Chief Operating Officer of EMSQC (shanehonn@emsqc.com) or to Sallylyn Williams, Director of Human Resources for Energy Management & Services Co. (swilliams@emseng.com).

Vendor Surveillance

Recently, EMSQC has had an increasing number of requests from clients to supply quality control personnel to handle vendor surveillance of various materials including storage tanks, pressure vessels, pipe coating, pipe fabrication, heat exchangers, separators, etc.  If you are interested in being employed by EMSQC to handle Vendor Surveillance for our clients and have the appropriate certifications (AWS, API, ASME, NACE, etc.), please send your updated resume to inspection@emsqc.com or fax it to (281) 576-6708. 

Updated Resumes

Due to the prolonged high level of activity in the industry, which many analysts and experts seem to think will last for quite some time, EMSQC would certainly welcome updated contact information from any qualified inspectors.  If you know of any inspectors with a strong inspection background who may be interested in working for EMSQC in the near future, please have them send an updated resume to inspection@emsqc.com or fax it to (281) 576-6708.

Safety Tip of the Quarter

Are you ready for the cold and flu season?

As the cold and flu season approaches, it's a good idea to think about ways that you can help employees avoid catching and spreading the influenza virus.

Employees should know:

Common flu symptoms
Influenza usually starts suddenly and may include the following symptoms:

·         Fever (usually high)

·         Headache

·         Tiredness (can be extreme)

·         Cough

·         Sore throat

·         Runny or stuffy nose

·         Body aches

·         Diarrhea and vomiting

Having these symptoms does not always mean that a person has the flu. Many different illnesses, including the common cold, can have similar symptoms.

Risks from the flu
In some people, the flu can cause serious complications, including:

·         Bacterial pneumonia;

·         Dehydration; 

·         Worsening of chronic medical conditions, such as congestive heart failure, asthma, or diabetes;

·         Sinus problems; and

·         Ear infections.

How the flu spreads
The flu usually spreads from person to person in respiratory droplets when people who are infected cough or sneeze. Occasionally a person may become infected by touching something with influenza virus on it and then touching his/her mouth, nose, or eyes.

Healthy adults may be able to infect others one day before getting symptoms and up to five days after getting sick. Therefore, it is possible to give someone the flu before knowing you are sick.

Methods of protection
The single best way to protect yourself and your employees against influenza is to get a flu vaccination each year. Two kinds of flu vaccines are available in the United States: flu shot and nasal-spray flu.

There are also facemasks and habits for good health, such as covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing, washing hands often, avoiding contact with people who are sick, and staying home.

In Memoriam

On October 3, 2008 EMSQC lost a former employee and good friend.  Roger Brewer, who served as a Chief Inspector for EMSQC on the Equitrans Big Sandy Pipeline Project passed away suddenly after being diagnosed with cancer.  Roger was an excellent, knowledgeable inspector and a great person and he will be missed by all that knew him.  Our thoughts and prayers are with his family.