Explosives Manufacturing Center
Baker Hughes
Location: Pine Island, TX
Size: 20,675 GSF
Delivery Method: Design-Build
Construction Type: New Construction
Challenge
Given the high-risk nature of the activities occurring inside this testing facility, this project required intense coordination with multiple authorities having jurisdiction, including the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, the Texas Department of Transportation, and local government, among others. These agencies often had overlapping and/or conflicting building codes and chain of custody requirements for handling the highly volatile raw materials used in charge production.
Solution
In addition to designing a blast-resistant facility for the testing and production of perforating technology, we developed a workflow process to ensure the safe handling of bulk raw materials and finished products. We engaged a specialty blast consultant to confirm adherence the chain of custody requirements of the various AHJs involved, while navigating these agencies’ overlapping and/or conflicting code requirements.
The facility’s underground perforating flow laboratory can test under pressures up to 25,000 PSI (1724 bar) and temperatures as high as 350o F (177o C). The technology center also houses R&D, engineering, manufacturing, and modeling resources for wireline and tubing conveyed perforating systems. In the first year of service, the manufacturing facility created over 1 million high-quality explosives for use and won the Tricia Appleton Award for Safety by the Institute of Makers of Explosives.
