Cost of foundation matting boards

[highpockets]

I have a friend that wants to built and rent matting for the oil industry.  The mats are something like
8' x 12' X 6" thick.  The mats are normally built with 2" boards nailed into a 3 ply mat. These of course are hard wood.  One would transport and set these mats for a given amount of days.  The normal  of a location is around 45,000 sq ft. 

I figured this would be some 45,000 x 6" would be equal to 270,000 board ft of lumber.  If this lumber was cut from logs 18' to 24" thick, how much would it cost ?   Also how much usuable lumber could one figure per log?   I think he told me that logs (tie cuts) were going for some $40.00 per ton in this area. 

[ely]

my wifes uncle used to make those mats and haul them to a rig in la. that was before i bought my mill though. i do not know any particulars but he did make alot of cash doing it.

[beenthere]

Do you have a pic of a mat? 
Are they solid, in that the 2" boards in each layer are butted side by each?
The yield you would get from logs would depend on the quality you can accept in the mats, and the quality of log you are going to saw.
From a volume standpoint, if the logs are free from rot, then most of the boardfoot volume should be useable in a mat if knots are acceptable (and what is acceptable would be up to the investor in the 'rental' mat and how much risk he wants to take that the mats end up in a condition to be rented again). 

Seems going to pick up used mats from a site would be a messy job but suspect that is part of the rental fee, and why few people might be in the business of mat rental.

Interesting thread. Would like to learn more.

[Mr Mom]

     I have been around some rigs before but i never seen a mat used.
    What are they used for??

    Sorry dont want to change the subject but it is new to me .



    Thanks Alot Mr Mom

[Rockn H]

Around here they are used to drive on.  Lay them down to form a road across wet or boggy areas.

[Mr Mom]

     I have seen them used for log trucks to get off the road and load.


     Thanks Alot Mr Mom

[highpockets]

The mats are a full 3 ply meaning it is a solid 6" mat comprising of 3 each 2" boards nailed together.  The top layer may be offset on the top where it interlaces with the adjoining mat. Normally the mats are set with a trackhoe, dozer.

As for the quality of the boards, a few holes, knots, etc are not going to be a problem.   Most rigs in this country and south of me are matted.   These are 20,000 ft rigs and weigh in at maybe 650,000 with out any drilling operation. Add a million pound casing load and that is enough to push them in the ground.  Many times there are pilings driven in before the matting is put in place. 

[sawyerkirk]

do a google search of "crane mats or truck mats" and you will find a handful of companies with lots of pics and some pricing, kinda figure $.85-$1.00/bf. but take into condideration you have to bolt these things together and load them. know of a fella one time that put together 100 8"x8'x20' mats then realized he could not lift them on the truck.

[sawyerkirk]

I should have read a litlle closer, I didn't see that they were laminated mats, those are much nicer to deal with

[highpockets]

Yes the laminated mat is the way to go. It can be taken apart and lumber salvaged for another mat.  I've been in the oil industry for some 42 years and have worked with these mats.  My problem is I am not sure the cost of a 2" x 8" x 10' board to be logged and cut into lumber.  My friend is considering a circle mill since he is already a logger.  He wants to cut his stuff.   

[Dana]

There is a company in Michigan that sells used plywood 2 1/2 or 3 1/2" thick by larger than normal length width. (don't recall exact size) I wonder if their plywood is reclaimed from the oil fields?

[highpockets]

Dana, I doubt that plywood would last standing in the water on locations.

[beenthere]

Seems variable lumber widths would be easy to accomodate when making these mats, and any width from 3-12+" would be useable, and it would add greatly to your yield from a log. I'd think you could then just use the Int'l log scale to estimate your yield and come out pretty close. I suspect full 2" thickness would be the norm as well. Live sawing sound logs and edging the flitch's as wide as possible, if the only use for the lumber was the mat construction, might be a way to go.  One would want to decide if all the quality material in the log was to be used in the mats, as just the lower quality may be the most profitable (sell the higher quality for more $$).