Given the limited availability of funds for road maintenance, one of the biggest challenges for oil and gas operators is getting the most from the budget while keeping costs down.
For this reason, when deciding how to allocate budgeted funds, it is important that operators choose the right option for their roads if they want to maximize their use.
Operators can either leave unpaved roads as they are and treat them, or rebuild segments or entire roads. Both of these options have pros and cons that must be considered before a decision is made.
Leaving a Road Unpaved
Pros:
- Leaving a road unpaved is a cheaper option than re-paving.
- Stabilization products can improve an unpaved road’s structural performance and keep roads free of dust and potholes.
- Stabilization and dust control products offer good value and can significantly extend a road’s lifetime.
Cons:
- Leaving an unpaved road as it is can make it more prone to erosion.
- There are many types of dust suppressant products to choose from, and it can prove difficult to determine which product is the best for the type of road being repaired.
Re-building a Segment of an Existing Unpaved Road
Pros:
- Any potholes in the road or damage caused by vehicles and erosion will be mended.
- Rebuilding the road will extend its life and reduce maintenance during its lifecycle.
Cons:
- Requires significant investment.
- Operators need to make sure the road or segment that has been rebuilt can withstand heavy use and intense oil and gas traffic.
- Without protection, the wear and tear caused by traffic will break down the reconstructed road segment over time.
Midwest Recommends
At Midwest Industrial Supply, we know that every road has its own requirements. Our Managed Services empower oil and gas companies to discover the most cost-effective solution for their road maintenance needs.
As a part of the program, our experts help construct a decision tree to illustrate the cost-benefit analysis of each maintenance option available for a given project. In turn, we will help to fully implement whichever solution makes the most sense.
We’re problem solvers, and we pride ourselves on following our projects through from conception to completion. And more so than that, we’re eager to get you on the right path to road recovery, stabilization, and preservation. To accomplish our goal, below we have included some of our strongest recommendations for low-cost, high-quality road maintenance.
To Help Make the Best Decision, Use Our Managed Services® Program
Our Managed Services program aims first and foremost to take the focus away from “product-only” thinking. Instead, it emphasizes the critical importance of understanding the process of applying maintenance solutions.
In other words, we believe that the recipe for success is only 40% product, but 60% application. Only after we have taken full stock of the road’s current state do we choose the product best suited for your project.
To Help Lower Lifetime Maintenance Costs, Use Our Fines Preservation Program
For roads intended for long-term use, Midwest’s Fines Preservation program is designed to help address the loss of dust particulate (fines) from a road system. We offer long-term, consistent, and effective dust control, as the program aims to maintain and improve the “as constructed” quality of a road and reduce the unpleasant maintenance costs associated with less proactive approaches.
With Fines Preservation in place, companies don’t have to worry about washboarding, potholes, or the loss of road surface. The key to low maintenance costs over the lifetime of a road is good stewardship from day one.
One product we highly recommend as part of our Fines Preservation program is EnviroKleen®, the first synthetic organic dust control product on the market. EnviroKleen is chemically engineered with a synthetic fluid and polymeric binder system that enables it to quickly penetrate and coat road surface materials, capture fines, and keep them locked into the surface.
This product is a cost-effective option for eliminating PM10 and PM2.5 fugitive dust, and will not stick to public roadways or vehicles.
To Help Strengthen Failing Roads, Use Our Stabilization System
For roads in need of full-depth reclamation, Midwest has solutions that create more stability with less invasive and costly procedures. At a depth of just 6 inches, Midwest’s solutions can achieve the same level of stability that others can only manage at 12 to 18 inches. We can increase California Bearing Ratio (CBR) by 80% in 48 hours, and by 500% with traffic and surface maturation.
Midwest offers a range of products to help stabilize road surfaces that enable us to get better results with less reclamation work. SF2 and other Midwest products successfully eliminate dust and increase the load that roads can bear, and are environmentally safe.
Choosing the Right Option
Oil and gas operators have difficult decisions to make when it comes to allocating their road maintenance budget. They want to spend as little as possible yet still ensure that they get the best out of their roads and avoid any long-term, costly maintenance.
Midwest can help companies achieve this perfect balance by providing the precisely correct treatments for their unpaved roads. With a number of excellent products proven to keep costs down and road quality standards up, choosing the best option among them can be the most important decision of all.
