Hydrovac and Containment Questions, Answered

What is hydrovac excavation?

Hydrovac excavation uses pressurized water to break up soil while a vacuum unit lifts the resulting slurry into an onboard debris tank. Nothing metal ever touches the ground, so buried pipelines, fiber, power and gathering lines are not struck. Wolverine Construction runs hydrovac trucks throughout the Bakken Oil Field out of Watford City, North Dakota. Because the spoil is contained in the tank rather than piled beside the hole, the site stays clean and the material can be hauled to an approved disposal point.

What are daylighting and potholing?

Daylighting means exposing a buried utility so crews can see it before they dig or tie in. Potholing is the same idea at a single point, usually a small test hole to confirm the exact depth and alignment of a line. Both are done with a hydrovac because the water and vacuum method will not gouge a pipeline coating or cut a fiber bundle. Operators in North Dakota commonly require daylighting before any mechanical excavation crosses an existing line.

Can you hydrovac in frozen ground during a North Dakota winter?

Yes. Wolverine Construction runs heated hydrovac units that raise the water temperature enough to cut frost, so work continues through the Bakken winter when a backhoe or excavator would simply skid off the surface. Frost depth, wind and site access all affect production rate, so call with the location and the depth you need and we will tell you what to expect before the truck rolls.

What frac tank and containment services does Wolverine Construction provide?

Wolverine delivers, sets, and picks up frac tanks and builds secondary containment around tanks and equipment so that any release stays on the pad instead of reaching soil or water. Containment work covers liner placement, berms and the steel or poly walls that sit under the tank. Tanks are moved with our own winch trucks and lowboys, so the delivery, the set and the containment are handled by one crew rather than three vendors.

What is the difference between a dewatering box, a sand bin and a sludge box?

A dewatering box separates water from solids by letting the liquid drain through filters while the solids stay behind, which cuts the volume you pay to haul. A sand bin is a heavier open-top box built for abrasive material such as frac sand and drilling solids. A sludge box is sealed for wet, thick material that would leak out of an open box. The right choice depends on how wet the material is and where it is going, and Wolverine will spec it with you before the box is dropped.

What area does Wolverine Construction serve?

Wolverine Construction is based at 12602 22M St NW, Watford City, North Dakota 58854 and serves McKenzie County and the wider Bakken Oil Field, including Watford City, Alexander, Arnegard, Keene, New Town, Killdeer and the surrounding pads and lease roads. Call (701) 842-2227 to confirm coverage for a specific location. See our Watford City hydrovac services page for more detail.

How do I request a quote or schedule a truck?

Call (701) 842-2227 or email [email protected] with the location, the type of work, the depth or volume involved and the date you need equipment on site. The more detail you can give about access, utilities in the area and disposal requirements, the tighter the quote will be. Wolverine has over 20 years in the oil field and will tell you straight if a different method or a different piece of equipment suits the job better. You can also use our contact page.