Excerpted from Pipes and Pipelines International magazine:

Bryan Melan, former Pipeline Integrity SME (Subject Matter Expert) for Marathon Oil Company and Marathon Oil UK Ltd. Is pleased to announce the formation of Tide Water Integrity Services LLC operating from Georgetown, Texas. Bryan has over 45 years’ experience in the construction, operation, maintenance, inspection, and integrity management of hazardous liquid, NGL, and gas pipelines. His experience covers both onshore and offshore environments, both in the United States and many foreign locations.

The name “Tide Water” originates from the name and spelling of the first long distance oil pipeline constructed in the U.S., and possibly the world. Construction of the 109-mile long screw joint wrought iron pipeline began in the middle of winter in 1879 across the Allegheny Mountains in northern Pennsylvania. At that time the Standard Oil Trust and their partner the Pennsylvania Railroad had a stranglehold on the production and transportation of oil from northwestern Pennsylvania to the eastern seaboard refining and marketing centers, colloquially known as the “Tide Water”.

A businessman in the Pennsylvania oil regions, Clarence Benson, approached the few remaining independent producers and obtained their commitment to ship their oil through the 6-inch pipeline (10,000 bbl/day capacity) halfway across the state to a Reading Railroad terminal where it made its final journey to the coast. In June of 1879 the pipeline became operational using four booster pump stations and was supplying refineries independent of the Standard Trust. Eventually the pipeline was extended to New York Harbor and a second 6-inch line was laid parallel to the original. A few years later many independent producers and refiners succumbed to Standard’s influence and wealth and the Tide Water Pipe Line found itself more than 88% owned by the Standard Oil Trust.

Tide Water Integrity Services is committed to this original pioneering spirit and is dedicated to assisting clients in obtaining the best possible solutions for their problems. We can be contacted at +1 (713)992-5710 or bryan@tidewaterintegrity.com .