As every person working in the oil and gas construction service industry knows, each project exposes a unique set of challenges. A worksite’s terrain will dictate which pieces of equipment and vehicles are best suited for the job. Oil and gas pipeline construction usually takes place in remote areas, far from major thoroughfares. To transport all the necessary tools and equipment across uneven terrain, construction teams rely on ground protection mats and other temporary access road solutions.

The question becomes how to accomplish this task in a cost-effective manner. Two options are most readily available: mat renting and mat buying. Each has its own set of advantages and disadvantages. But how can you determine which solution best fits your project’s needs?

The answer depends largely on the scope of the project and the resources available to you to carry out the task. With careful planning, you can choose the option that affords you both ease and efficiency for oil and gas construction service projects of any size. To determine which will work best for you, let’s take a closer look at the benefits and drawbacks of each option.

Renting ground protection mats

From timber mats to composite mats, ground protection mats quicken the pace and increase the ease with which you’re able to complete a project. To decide if renting or buying mats will work better for you, you’ll first need to assess the timeline of your project.

Benefits

For projects with a short duration, usually no more than 12-18 months, renting is typically the best option. Renting offers added flexibility for oil and gas construction services without the added commitment. And for those with limited storage facilities, renting becomes the obvious choice.

Resource your project with all of the necessary tools without incurring additional costs from access materials being left out in the open and suffering damage to the point of disrepair. Because rental rates are low and based on daily usage, customers can save money up front while reaping the benefits that ground protection mats provide.

Drawbacks

However, there are also some drawbacks to be aware of when renting ground protection mats. Renting saves you money in the short term, but if a project takes longer than expected, the cost of renting becomes less beneficial. Because rented mats must be delivered to you, workers must account for additional coordination and logistics, which can alter the course of a project’s timeline.

Buying ground protection mats

Other oil and gas construction projects far exceed the 18-month timeline. In these cases, it’s critical that companies invest in long-term solutions that cut down on costs and maintain efficiency at every turn. For these reasons, buying ground protection mats becomes the better solution.

Benefits

For extensive oil and gas construction projects, buying right-of-way access road mats increases your return on investment (ROI), because customers have the option of selling the mats back to ground protection providers. This is true even if they’re from another manufacturer. Once a company purchases ground protection mats, those mats can be recycled and repurposed for future projects to lower operational costs.

If you anticipate that a project may take place during a period in which mats are expected to be in short supply, purchasing mats alleviates the stress of not having all the equipment you need when you need it most.

Drawbacks

Although purchasing mats tends to be more cost-effective over time than renting mats, there are some hidden costs you should be aware of. The most significant costs associated with buying ground protection mats are related to maintenance, repair, storage and transportation.

The first and most immediate cost is a proper storage system for any purchased mats. Mats that are not properly stored could be exposed to the elements, which can cause severe or permanent damage. Mats that are damaged beyond the point of repair or retrieval from a worksite can cost companies thousands of dollars to replace. The same costly challenge exists for mats that are difficult to install or remove.

Another issue is fleet management. Transportation must be able to house and move dozens of mats at a time. Workers must also have the tools and equipment to load and unload large access mats with ease and efficiency.

Partner with United Rentals for your ground protection mat needs

For all of your rental and purchase needs, United Rentals is here to help. United Rentals is the largest, most complete access company providing matting solutions, the removal of temporary roads, construction of permanent access roads and civil services throughout North America.

Contact United Rentals today to receive a quote or to learn more about our ground protection mat rentals.