By Alisha Adams | Miller Pipeline

Numerous companies were recently contracted to work along the United States and Mexico border. While drilling into the ground, one of the contractors damaged the pipeline causing an 11-inch hole in a pipe that supplied water from the United States to Mexico. “This water supply was critical to agricultural communities that rely on it to grow food and raise livestock for their families,” said WEKO-SEAL technician Ryan Cooper. The water that passes from country to country is under international laws and treaties, which could have caused a delay in the project’s progress. Knowing this project was of international importance, the contractors scoured the internet to find a company able to seal the hole quickly. Thanks to a solid reputation and the successful installation of over 300,000 seals under their belt, the experts at Miller Pipeline were called to install WEKO-SEALs, their proprietary internal joint seal.

WEKO-SEAL specialists are ready at a moment’s notice to deploy virtually anywhere. Within days of getting the call, the team was able to come up with a solution and ship the necessary materials to the job site. Once on-site, the team conducted their usual safety assessment of the area for precautions they would need to take. Since they were working in international jurisdiction, Miller employees had to provide government-issued documents to immigration and border patrol before they were able to get their hands dirty.

Together with the contractors, Miller worked to clear and clean the job site for a safe and prompt installment of two WEKO-SEAL internal joint seals. Cooper and another WEKO-SEAL technician, Jeremy Kieninger, made their way inside the 72-inch pipe where they were able to smooth the damaged inside wall to ensure the steel backing band would fit correctly. After fitting a rubber sleeve into place, Ryan and Jeremy secured two 72-inch seals, which they expanded to provide a bottle tight fit. Once the internal hole was secured, the team went to work on the damaged exterior surface. To repair this area, Ryan and Jeremy applied a concrete mortar around the pipe. Once the mortar had cured for about 16 hours, the team was able to verify their work with an air test.

After seeing no evidence of leakage, the job was officially complete. Within a week of getting the call, the WEKO-SEAL team at Miller Pipeline had sealed another pipeline, potentially saving many communities from suffering without water.