We fabricate custom equipment skids for Gulf Coast oil and gas, petrochemical, and industrial markets. Pump skids with piping packages, LACT units, chemical injection skids, separator base frames, generator skids, and complex process skids built to your drawings. AWS D1.1 structural and ASME Section IX pressure weld certifications. Ships nationwide.
We've seen every failure mode that shows up in skid fabrication work. The structural base frame that's undersized for the equipment weight and operating loads — it looks fine sitting in the shop, but the first time a 4,000 lb pump goes into service and creates vibration loads the designer didn't account for, the frame starts cracking at the gusset welds. The pump skid where the suction piping was designed on paper but the fabricator laid it out differently to save material, and now the pump operates with a short-radius elbow within 2 diameters of the suction flange instead of the 5-diameter straight run the pump manufacturer requires. Cavitation. Premature impeller wear. The skid gets returned.
The issues are almost always in three areas: structural design, piping layout discipline, and weld quality on pressure-containing components. We address all three with the same approach: we build from your drawings, not from our shop's preferred shortcuts. If the drawing calls for a 5-diameter suction straight run, the skid ships with a 5-diameter suction straight run. If the structural calculation specifies 3/8-inch base plate, we don't substitute 1/4-inch because it's lighter.
Our Baldwin County location puts us within the Gulf Coast's primary oil and gas, petrochemical, and maritime industrial corridor — Mobile Bay operations, the Mississippi River corridor refineries, and the pipeline systems throughout Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana are all within our direct delivery range. We understand the codes that govern skid fabrication in this market: ASME B31.3 for process piping, ASME B31.4 for pipeline systems, API 610 for centrifugal pumps, API 674 and 675 for reciprocating and controlled-volume metering pumps.
Skid fabrication covers a wide range of complexity and scope. Here's how we define each type and what the buyer should know about specification before ordering.
The most common oil and gas skid type. A pump skid is a structural steel base frame that mounts one or more pumps, their driver (electric motor, diesel engine, or turbine), and the associated suction and discharge piping, valves, instrumentation, and controls. The frame carries the equipment weight, the operating load from the pump's torque reaction, and the piping forces at the connections.
Key design considerations: Pump manufacturers publish baseplate rigidity requirements — API 610 pumps require a base that meets specific deflection criteria under operating load. Suction piping requires minimum straight run per the pump curve data. Discharge piping must accommodate pressure relief routing.
LACT units are the custody transfer measurement point for crude oil from a production lease to a pipeline. Every barrel transferred gets measured and recorded here — the accuracy and reliability of the LACT unit directly affects the producer's revenue. The skid mounts a meter run (turbine or Coriolis meter), flow computer, BS&W (basic sediment and water) probe, sampler, strainer, back pressure valve, and interconnecting piping. AGA-7 (turbine metering) or AGA-9 compliant meter runs per pipeline company specification.
Chemical injection skids deliver corrosion inhibitors, scale inhibitors, demulsifiers, biocides, and other process chemicals at controlled rates into production systems. The skid mounts one or more metering pumps (typically API 675 controlled-volume plunger pumps), day tanks or intermediate tanks, a control panel with flow rate adjustment, and interconnecting high-pressure small-bore piping. Small-bore high-pressure tubing is the typical piping medium — 316L stainless tubing with compression fittings or socket weld connections.
Generator skids for standby and prime power applications at remote oil and gas locations, pipeline stations, and industrial facilities. Structural frame sized for the genset weight and vibration loads — generator vibration isolator mounting provisions, integral fuel day tank, exhaust system provisions, and control panel mounting. Compressor skid frames follow similar structural requirements but must account for reciprocating compressor dynamics — frame stiffening to resist torsional loads from compressor crankshaft.
Full process skids integrate multiple process functions onto a single base frame — heat exchange, separation, pumping, metering, and control — as a complete, pre-assembled, and pre-tested package. The advantage of a process skid over field-erected equipment is speed of installation, quality assurance in a controlled shop environment, and the ability to pressure test and function test the entire package before it leaves the shop. Complex process skids for the Gulf Coast petrochemical market represent our highest-value fabrication work.
Skids for pipeline applications — metering runs, pig traps, pressure regulation stations, and block valve stations — built to ASME B31.4 for liquid pipelines and B31.8 for gas pipelines. Pipeline piping materials are typically A106 Grade B or API 5L carbon steel with full penetration butt welds per ASME B31.4/B31.8 requirements. NDT — radiographic, ultrasonic, or magnetic particle per the pipeline company specification — coordinated through our third-party inspection network.
The skid base frame is structural work — it carries real loads, and undersizing it creates failures that show up after the equipment is in service. Here's how we approach frame sizing and what information we need to quote accurately.
Most equipment skids are fabricated from ASTM A36 wide flange or S-section structural steel — it's the most economical structural material and more than adequate for the loads involved. Heavy equipment skids — large generators, multi-pump systems, separators — may step up to A572 Grade 50 high-strength low-alloy steel when the load requires it without going to a heavier section.
Skid bases are typically built with W-section (wide flange) perimeter beams and W-section or C-channel interior cross members. The perimeter beam size is driven by the span between mounting legs or cribbing points — typically W8 or W10 for lighter skids, W12 or W14 for heavy equipment packages. Cross member spacing is driven by the equipment mounting footprint — anchor bolt patterns define the cross member locations.
To give you a fixed price, we need: equipment weights and center of gravity locations, anchor bolt patterns for each piece of equipment, the overall skid footprint (length and width), lifting lug requirements, and whether the skid includes piping and instrumentation scope or is a bare base frame only. Drawings are best — a general arrangement drawing or equipment GA drawing with the skid outline gets us there. We've worked from equipment data sheets and a phone conversation too — it takes more back-and-forth but we get there.
| Parameter | Typical Specification |
|---|---|
| Perimeter beams | W8×31 to W14×53 depending on span and load |
| Cross members | W6×15 to W8×31 at equipment anchor bolt locations |
| Base plate | 1/4" to 1/2" A36 plate, welded to beam flanges |
| Lifting lugs | 1/2" or 3/4" A36 plate, radiused, per ASME BTH-1 |
| Anchor bolts | Pre-drilled to equipment anchor bolt pattern |
| Gussets | 1/4" or 3/8" plate at beam-column connections |
| Drip pan | 3/16" A36 plate, sloped to drain with 2" NPT outlet |
Our Baldwin County location in the heart of the Gulf Coast industrial corridor gives us direct access to the markets that buy the most equipment skids in the country.
Production operations across Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana need pump skids, LACT units, and chemical injection systems for every producing well pad and gathering system. The Mobile Bay offshore production corridor, onshore production throughout South Alabama and Mississippi, and the extensive pipeline gathering networks throughout the region are our core upstream market.
Common scope: LACT units, crude oil transfer pump skids, produced water injection pump skids, chemical injection packages, separator base frames.
The concentration of refining and petrochemical capacity from Baton Rouge to Mobile represents one of the densest industrial markets in the country. Refineries and petrochemical plants use equipment skids for utility systems, chemical feed systems, water treatment packages, and process equipment replacements throughout the facility. Turnaround shutdowns create concentrated demand for replacement skids.
Common scope: Pump skids, utility water packages, chemical injection systems, process equipment base frames, test skids.
Pipeline operators use equipment skids for meter stations, pig launcher/receiver stations, pressure regulation stations, and block valve stations. ASME B31.4 and B31.8 piping code compliance is required. Material certifications and NDT documentation are standard deliverables. Pipeline company specifications often include specific equipment vendor lists — we work with whatever equipment is specified.
Common scope: Metering skids, pig trap frames, pressure regulation stations, cathodic protection skids.
Offshore platform equipment skids face additional structural requirements — dynamic loading from wave action, wind loads, and the constrained working space of platform decks. AISC structural design, offshore lifting certification per DNV or ABS standards, and marine-grade coating systems (epoxy primer + topcoat) are standard for offshore work. Our Baldwin County location and proximity to Mobile Bay offshore operations makes this a natural market.
Common scope: Pump skids for water injection and produced water, chemical injection packages, utility systems.
Municipal water authorities and wastewater treatment facilities use skid-mounted pump systems for lift stations, chemical feed systems (chlorination, fluoridation, pH adjustment), and process equipment packages. NSF/ANSI 61 certified materials and coatings required for potable water contact surfaces. Pre-assembled and pre-tested skid packages reduce field installation time and cost for municipal projects.
Common scope: Lift station pump skids, chlorination systems, chemical feed packages, filtration equipment frames.
Manufacturing facilities across the Gulf Coast use equipment skids for cooling water systems, compressed air packages, hydraulic power units, lubrication systems, and chemical process equipment. Unlike oil and gas skids, industrial manufacturing skids often don't require ASME piping codes — ANSI B31.3 may still apply depending on the process fluid. We work to whatever code and documentation standard the project requires.
Common scope: Cooling water pump packages, compressed air treatment systems, hydraulic power units, lubrication system frames.
Skid pricing spans a wide range because scope spans a wide range. Here are real numbers by scope tier — final price from your drawings within 24 hours.
| Skid Type / Scope | Price Range | Lead Time | Typical Includes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bare Base Frame — Single Equipment | $2,500–$8,000 | 2–3 weeks | Structural frame, anchor bolt layout, lifting lugs, prime paint |
| Pump Skid — With Piping Package | $8,000–$28,000 | 4–6 weeks | Frame, suction/discharge piping, valves, drip pan, prime coat |
| LACT Unit — Complete Package | $18,000–$55,000 | 6–10 weeks | Frame, meter run, flow computer provision, valves, hydrostatic test |
| Chemical Injection Skid | $12,000–$40,000 | 4–8 weeks | Frame, metering pumps, day tank, tubing package, control panel |
| Generator / Compressor Skid | $6,000–$20,000 | 3–6 weeks | Frame, vibration mounts, fuel tank, exhaust provisions |
| Complex Process Skid | $35,000–$150,000+ | 8–16 weeks | Full integrated package, piping, instrumentation, testing, docs |
| Pipeline Meter Station | $20,000–$75,000 | 6–12 weeks | ASME B31.4/B31.8, full NDT, material certs, pipeline spec compliance |
Our process is designed around one goal: the skid arrives at your site ready to install, and nothing needs to be redone in the field.
We review your GA, P&ID, and equipment specs. We flag issues before we cut metal.
Detailed scope breakdown and fixed price within 24 hours. No estimates — a committed price.
Shop drawings issued for your approval before fabrication starts. Changes happen on paper, not in steel.
AWS/ASME certified welders. Material traceability maintained. QC inspection at key milestones.
Hydrostatic test, dimensional check, coating inspection. Ships with full documentation package.
Send your drawings — or describe the scope — and we'll price it. Fixed price from your specification. Call (251) 776-4337 to talk through the project first, or fill out the form below and we'll reach out within 24 hours.
Response within 24 hours — no obligation
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An equipment skid is a prefabricated steel base frame that mounts industrial equipment as a complete, pre-assembled package. The advantages: shop fabrication in a controlled environment is cheaper and faster than field erection, pre-assembly and testing catches issues before the skid leaves the shop, and a skid ships as a complete unit that drops into place and connects to field utilities without requiring a crew to assemble components in the field. For oil and gas applications, the economics strongly favor skid-mounted equipment over field erection.
A bare pump base frame — just the steel structure, anchor bolt layout, and lifting lugs — runs $2,500–$8,000 depending on size. A pump skid with suction and discharge piping, valves, a drip pan, and prime paint runs $8,000–$28,000. The piping package is where most of the cost is. Larger multi-pump systems with control panels run $25,000–$75,000+. We quote from your GA and P&ID within 24 hours.
LACT stands for Lease Automatic Custody Transfer — it's the measurement system that records crude oil transferred from a production lease to a pipeline and establishes the custody transfer point. LACT units run $18,000–$55,000 depending on flow rate, meter type, and scope. The meter run (turbine or Coriolis), flow computer provisions, BS&W probe, sampler, and valve package are standard scope items.
All structural welders hold AWS D1.1 structural steel certification. ASME Section IX welding procedures and procedure qualification records (PQRs) are available for pressure-containing piping components. We maintain welder qualification records and can provide copies for your QA documentation. Third-party witness testing available during production if required by your specification.
ASME B31.3 (process piping) for refinery, petrochemical, and most industrial skids. ASME B31.4 (liquid pipeline systems) and B31.8 (gas pipeline systems) for pipeline and gathering applications. ASME B31.1 (power piping) for steam-service skids. We work to whatever code your project specification requires — the inspection regime, NDT requirements, and documentation package change with the code, but we're set up for all of them.
Yes. We perform hydrostatic pressure tests on all piping packages at 1.5x the design pressure (ASME B31.3) or per your project specification. Test documentation — test medium, test pressure, hold time, and pass/fail result — is included in the documentation package delivered with the skid. Pneumatic testing available for systems that can't be hydrotested due to equipment or design constraints.
Bare base frames: 2–3 weeks. Pump skids with piping packages: 4–6 weeks. LACT units and chemical injection packages: 6–10 weeks. Complex integrated process skids: 8–16 weeks depending on material lead times and instrumentation procurement. Call (251) 776-4337 early in your project to reserve production capacity — we can often protect a schedule for a confirmed order without requiring drawings immediately.
Yes. We work with Bureau Veritas, Intertek, TÜV, and independent inspection agencies through our clients' specification. We maintain the inspection access and documentation that inspection agencies require — hold points, witness points, and review points are incorporated into our fabrication schedule. If your project requires a specific inspector, tell us at kickoff and we'll coordinate directly with them.
Equipment skids often arrive with access stairs, guard rails, pipe supports, and safety bollards as part of the complete installation package. We fabricate all of it in the same Baldwin County shop — order together for combined lead time and a single delivery.
Send your drawings or describe the scope. Fixed price in 24 hours. AWS and ASME certified. Ships nationwide.