Block Electric recently completed a fast-paced, six month project at Joliet Bulk Barge & Rail that was at times challenging because of the harsh winter and extreme weather conditions. With 90 percent of the job being outdoors, the installation of a crude oil unloading terminal in Joliet, IL. was difficult at times, required weekend work and peaked with manpower of 35 electricians. “I would personally like to thank all our electricians and supervisors for a job well done,” Project Manager Doug Henline said.

The job was supervised by Henline and General Foreman Chad Fowler, as well as Foremen Chris McCormick, Adam Mellen, Tom Kale and Gary Crutchfield.

The Joliet Bulk Barge & Rail project consisted of a 300 acre site, with 120 Train Car Unloading Stations known as the Safe Racks. The crude oil is off loaded from each train car and metered and stored in above ground storage tanks. Then the oil is pumped from the storage tanks and sent four miles away through a 20 inch pipeline to an interconnection with the Mobil Pipeline Company’s Site, know as the MOJO. From there, the oil has direct access to the Exxon Mobil Oil Corporation’s Joliet Refinery.

Block Electric installed two 15kv services from Commonwealth Edison’s transformers through utility metering cabinets and Vista Gear to a 15kv medium voltage switchgear. The 15kv switchgear fed five 15kv outdoor transformers. The transformers then fed 480 Volt and 4160 Volt Motor Control Centers in the Boiler House.

Most of the areas were rated as Class I Division 2 areas, with some Class I Division 1 areas.

Other work completed by Block included:

■ The installation of approximately 9,000 feet of cable tray outdoors on elevated pipe stanchions

■ The installation of 180,000 feet of armored tray cable for motors, control stations, instrumentation, lighting and heat tracing throughout the plant

■ The installation of approximately 500 Explosion Proof light fixtures throughout the safe racks, pipe stanchions, metering skids, pump areas and tanks.

■ The installation of 87 street lights and poles for the roadway lighting throughout the plant.

■ The installation of a Fire Alarm System for the Boiler House

■ The installation of Fiber Optics between the three buildings for the Fire Alarm System and the HMI’s.

■ The installation of Electric Heat Tracing on process piping along with the water lines for the Safety Showers.

■ The installation of PLC’s and UPS systems in the Boiler House for the plant instrumentation.

■ The installation of a plant wide emergency Alarm System

■ The installation of a Boiler Building.

General Contractor Ragnar Benson Construction, led by Dave Bergstrom and his staff, were “top notch to work for”, Henline said. “It is always a pleasure to work with quality individuals and companies, and that usually leads to a successful project.”

Thank you to the following crew members who worked on this project: Chad Fowler, Chris McCormick, Adam Mellen, Tom Kale, Gary Crutchfield, Bob Beuck, Miguel Chagoya, Matt Crutchfield, Mike Danielewski, Martin Deaville, Alex Giese, Joshua Hess, Jeff Holmes, Mike Johnson, Mike Kammers, Martin Kief, Brian Lacke, John Lattz, Eric Mathieu, Tim Matile, Mike Mautino, Larry McCormick, Kristin Miller, Joe Parthun, John Quigley, Nick Santorineos, Tim Schafer, Bob Schaffnit, Dave Senko, Kevin Sheridan, Lucas Simpson, Ron Stefaniak, Dan Stellato, John Thatcher, Joe Vignocchi and Bill Wills