A wealth of experience helps Hive Services LLC deliver quality pipeline services to customers in Oklahoma and beyond

Dustin Myrick and Derek Crawford had spent more than a decade in the oil and gas fields installing pipe, setting pumps, and overseeing projects for other companies before teaming up in 2021 to start Hive Services LLC in El Reno, Okla. Even though they had extensive experience and contacts in the pipeline industry, they admitted that starting a new business was tough. However, they were confident that their knowledge, along with their perseverance, would pay off in the long run.

“We were knocking on doors and trying to set up meetings before we got our initial job,” said Myrick. “We questioned ourselves, but we were determined to make it work. Our experience and reputations helped us get a foot in some of those doors. Our first job was a little truck offload. It wasn’t much of anything, but it was an opportunity. It was just us doing it — we were the labor hands, equipment operators, concrete guys — and we were on that job for a couple weeks.”

Myrick noted that Hive Services is a “pipeline company first and foremost,” so pipeline services have remained a constant on the company’s resume, including connecting wells and gathering pipe, station and facility construction, integrity checks, maintenance, and emergency response.

“We can provide a complete project, from start to finish,” said Myrick.

“Growth was fairly quick after we got our feet under us and were established with our customers,” commented Crawford. “In a short period of time, we added about 50 employees and moved from doing that first project, which didn’t have much pipe to it, to installing a couple miles of 16-inch steel.”

During the past few years, Hive Services has expanded into civil construction, including turnkey dirt work for commercial, residential and industrial projects; right-of-way maintenance and restoration; rock hauling; and more. Hive Services also offers work in the renewable energy sector such as solar array installation and sizing; support structures and framework fabrication; storage, inverter and charge switch/tracking equipment installation and procurement; as well as oil- and gas-related solar power equipment repair, procurement and installation.

“I feel like we’ve been successful so far because of our foundation,” said Myrick. “We are really focused on quality and building relationships, and I think that’s kind of built us to where we are today.”

Tackling tough projects

For a recent project, Hive Services installed 8-inch gas line in two sections, which involved putting in new pipe and hooking it up to a well. Along the way, the crew had to navigate around existing live and abandoned lines to put in about 2,500 feet of new line.

“It’s challenging to work around those old lines, and in many cases, the abandoned ones that are no longer in service are not marked,” said Crawford. “Fortunately, we have the experience to make sure it’s done safely and efficiently.”

That was the case on Hive Services’ largest project to date, which involved installing 4 miles of 12-inch water line with nine well connects in south central Oklahoma over a two-month period. While most of it was open-cut trench, about 3,000 feet involved boring, which Hive Services subbed out.

“Those bigger, more comprehensive projects — not just in pipeline — are really what we are looking for,” said Crawford. “We have always had the ability to do them, but not the capability due to our size. With a staff of around 60 people, now we do. They are a great group that’s a big part of our success.”

Myrick added that another advantage of Hive Services’ staff is a willingness to travel because the company has expanded its territory from beyond the immediate central Oklahoma area to “anywhere there’s pipeline.” He noted that Hive Services was recently awarded a project in Kansas, and the company is currently looking at work from North Dakota to southern Texas.

Outstanding service, versatile equipment

The ownership team at Hive Services emphasized that as their company has grown, so has their relationship with Kirby-Smith Machinery Inc. (KSM). Territory Manager Josh Lee and Rental Representative Brandon Haddad have helped Hive Services purchase Komatsu and Takeuchi equipment, as well as rent additional units as needed.

“We knew Brandon from before we started on our own, and he reached out to see how he and KSM could help,” recalled Myrick. “He helped us get a credit line. Us being a new company, it was hard to get rolling in the financial world. KSM stepped up, gave us a chance, and we appreciate it. If we need anything, they are right there, whether it’s machines or parts or service.”

Crawford added, “We really like that they are tracking the machines with Komtrax, so they can do the routine services under Komatsu Care. It ensures they are done on time, and the fact that they are complimentary for a certain period of time or hours is great. KSM does a great job.”

Hive Services prefers Komatsu PC210LC-11 excavators and uses the 165-horsepower machines to dig and set pipe.

“They are real versatile machines, and they’re fast,” stated Myrick. “Currently, we deal with up to 16-inch pipe, and the PC210s can easily handle anything up to that size. They have the power we need to dig trenches, and the lifting capacity to set the pipe. The other aspect we like is that their size allows for us to get into some tighter areas, as well as easily transport them. If we get into anything bigger, we will rent what we need such as a PC240. As we progress, we see ourselves purchasing those bigger class sizes.”

In addition to excavators, Hive Services uses a Komatsu D39 dozer with a side boom to handle smaller pipe.

“It’s the perfect combo for laying out and setting 4-inch to 8-inch,” said Myrick. “We pick up each joint, line it up, and hold it for our welders before we install the line. Like the PC210s, it’s easy to move and gives us versatility. After the pipe is set, we backfill with the six-way blade. It’s perfect for our needs.”

Hive Services also has Takeuchi TL12R2 compact track loaders.

“They’re equipped so that we can easily change attachments,” said Crawford. “We have buckets, forks, augers, and mowers. They’ve been great machines. We also have a TB260 compact excavator we use for small lines and anomaly digs.”

Bright future

As Hive Services moves forward, the ownership team would like to take on larger pipeline jobs as well as increase the company’s presence in the renewable energy and civil sectors.

“It’s full steam ahead,” said Myrick. “Our focus for now is continuing to build on our pipeline side first. It’s our intent that within the next five years that we are doing more mainline work, knocking out 30- to 40-mile jobs and doing them on time and on budget. As we continue to build our capabilities and staff, we’ll branch out more.”