Forget the lasso – this rodeo is all about pipe wrenches and precision.
More than 150 natural gas workers from across the U.S. are gearing up for the annual National Gas Rodeo, slated for Sept. 12 and 13 at Turfway Park in Florence, Ky. Duke Energy, which delivers natural gas to more than 560,000 customers across Northern Kentucky and nearby southwest Ohio, is the event host along with Piedmont Natural Gas.
Gas rodeos have been around for more than 30 years and, like electric lineworker rodeos, feature timed events that reflect the critical jobs utility workers do each day. These pros compete on two- or four-person teams and each team must complete four preliminary events. The top finishers then face off in a unique relay to determine the overall champions.
Follow along as Scott Faircloth, a Piedmont Natural Gas supervisor and former rodeo competitor, talks through some gas rodeo events while his teammates demonstrate.
Meter Set
Competitors must assemble a natural gas meter, which measures the amount of gas a home or business uses. These meters are composed of many components, including flow cylinders, differential pressure gauges, rotating elements and transmission devices, and extra fittings are included in this event to increase difficulty.
Records:
- Four-person team: 25.62 seconds
- Two-person team: 31.27 seconds
Service Run
Using the right gas pipes and fittings, teams must install a natural gas service line and tracer wire to a natural gas main about 50 feet away. Once connected, they test the line for air tightness and turn the gas back on to test the flow.
Records:
- Four-person team: 58.22 seconds
- Two-person team: 81.61 seconds
Pipe Cut
Competitors manually cut a 4-inch section off a 6-inch steel pipe. In their day-to-day jobs, cutting a gas pipe may be necessary for repairs, renovations or appliance upgrades, but it should only be done by qualified professionals. This ensures safety and prevents risks like gas leaks or fires.
Records:
- Four-person team: 5.47 seconds
- Two-person team: 8.62 seconds
Hand Dig
Teams dig through a mix of sand and pea gravel to uncover four colored dots at the bottom. A “dig box” or “hand dig” refers to the process where natural gas workers manually excavate around underground gas lines to safely expose them. They may use this method to avoid damaging gas pipes with heavy machinery.
Records:
- Four-person team: 25.01 seconds (set by a Piedmont Natural Gas team in 2011)
- Two-person team: 16.13 seconds (set by a Piedmont Natural Gas team in 2015)
A series of consecutive events including Truck and Trailer Backup, Egg Pickup, Pipe Squeeze (four-person teams only), Mini-Excavator Pickup, Regulator Bypass and Water Cooler. Read about each Relay event on the National Gas Rodeo website.
Records:
- Four-person team: 100.34 seconds
- Two-person team: 111.91 seconds (set by a Piedmont Natural Gas team in 2018)
Meet the 2024 Natural Gas Rodeo competitors
