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PG&E OQ
PG&E Operator Qualifications

CERTIFIED OQ
CONTRACTOR.

Apex Directional Drilling holds all required PG&E Operator Qualifications — trained, tested, and certified for every covered task on PG&E gas and electric facilities across the Bay Area.

Home→ Services→ PG&E OQ Certified
PG&E Approved 2nd Party Vendor
OQ-02-15 Qualified
CSLB #838568 (A · B · Haz)
OSHA Shoring Certified
20+ Years Bay Area Experience
QR-Verified Wallet Cards On Site
Apex PG&E certified crew on site
Who We Are

BAY AREA'S PG&E
OQ CERTIFIED HDD CREW.

Apex Directional Drilling (Core Engineering Inc.) has completed all required training and met the qualifications for the PG&E Operator Qualification (OQ) program — allowing us to operate as a certified contractor on any job that involves PG&E gas or electric facilities.

We are a PG&E approved 2nd party construction vendor and applicant installer contractor, holding current 02-15 OQ qualifications. Every crew member carries a QR-verified wallet card on every job site — verifiable by PG&E inspectors at any time.

"In effect, any construction job that requires the contractor to pull a PG&E permit now requires a supervisor of the workforce to hold a PG&E OQ certificate. Apex holds every required qualification — and carries the documentation to prove it on site."
PG&E bore setup
PG&E joint trench
Utility crossing bore
Site restoration
The Requirement Explained

WHAT IS PG&E'S OQ
REQUIREMENT?

The PG&E OQ mandate is driven by the Department of Transportation's Operator Qualification Rule (49 CFR Part 192, Subpart N). This federal regulation requires that only qualified personnel perform "covered tasks" on gas pipelines and any adjoining facilities. PG&E uses its own OQ program to meet this DOT requirement.

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What is a PG&E Facility?

Gas transmission or distribution mains, service lines from mains to meters, gas-occupied joint trenches, and any other gas or electric structure. This includes excavating and drilling on or around existing facilities, or the installation of new gas services.

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What is a Covered Task?

Any operational, maintenance, or new construction task performed on a pipeline facility that affects the operation or integrity of the pipeline. This includes backfill and compaction of a PG&E trench — even if a PG&E crew dug the trench and left it for a contractor to backfill.

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Who Needs to Be Qualified?

Any person performing a covered task must have earned PG&E's OQs through the required training and testing process. Any job requiring a PG&E permit now requires a qualified supervisor on-site holding a current PG&E OQ certificate with a QR-verifiable wallet card.

The DOT OQ Rule — 49 CFR Part 192, Subpart N

The rule mandates having the qualification to operate or oversee a covered task that is: performed on a pipeline facility; an operational, maintenance, or new construction task; performed as a requirement for meeting the DOT rule; and affects the operation or integrity of the pipeline. The contractor must also meet PG&E's material and design standards — approved pipe and fitting manufacturers, trench configurations, backfill sand requirements, shading, compaction, warning tape installation, and minimum cover requirements.

Full OQ Listing

EVERY PG&E OQ
WE HOLD.

Below is the complete list of Apex Directional Drilling's current PG&E Operator Qualifications. All are active, on file, and verifiable via QR code on our wallet cards.

Apex Directional Drilling — Active PG&E OQ Qualifications

All Current & Active
OQ Code Qualification Description Category Status
LMS Admin Integrity Statement — PG&E LMS Administration Administration ✅
OQ-0212 Install Pipe in Bore (SOC-1:3) Pipe Installation ✅
OQ-0214 Tracer Wire Installation Pipe Installation ✅
OQ-0215 Pipe Installation, Backfill & Compaction Installation & Backfill ✅
OQ-0403 Leak Test at Operating Pressure Testing ✅
OQ-0504 Non-Production Locate and/or Mark Locating ✅
OQ-0507 Damage Prevention During Excavation Safety & Excavation ✅
OQ-2114 Mechanical Fitting Connections for Polyethylene (PE) Pipe — Lyall Lycofit Brand, with Visual Inspection (SOC-1:0) PE Pipe / Fittings ✅
3.1 PG&E Dig-In Prevention for Safe Excavation Safety & Excavation ✅
AI Safety Applicant Installer Safety, Quality & Conduct Assessment Safety / Compliance ✅
What We Handle

COVERED TASKS WE
PERFORM FOR PG&E.

Every item below is a PG&E covered task requiring on-site OQ-certified personnel. Apex holds the qualifications and the documentation for every one of them.

HDD Bore Installation

Directional bore under existing PG&E gas and electric facilities — pre-bore crossbore drawings submitted and approved before drilling begins.

Pipe Installation & Backfill

Placement of PE pipe at correct grade, bedding, backfill, and mechanical compaction — all to PG&E material and design standards.

Tracer Wire Installation

Continuous tracer wire installed and tested on all PE pipe runs per PG&E specifications for future locating requirements.

Leak Testing at Operating Pressure

Post-installation leak testing at operating pressure — documented and submitted as part of the PG&E project closeout package.

Utility Locating & Marking

USA 811 coordination, private utility locating, and non-production locate and mark prior to any excavation near PG&E facilities.

Damage Prevention During Excavation

OQ-certified competent person on site for all excavation near PG&E facilities — monitoring compliance with PG&E's Safe Excavation practices at all times.

PE Mechanical Fitting Connections

Lyall Lycofit mechanical fitting connections for polyethylene pipe with visual inspection — SOC-1:0 qualified per OQ-2114.

Full Asphalt & Surface Restoration

City-specific asphalt restoration, T-cuts, saw cutting, sub-grade preparation, permit documentation, and as-built drawing delivery.

How We Run a PG&E Job

OUR PG&E PROJECT
PROCESS.

01

Pre-Construction

Pre-construction meetings with PG&E, USA 811 coordination, traffic control plan design, 3rd-party private utility locating, and crossing potholing at all conflict points.

02

Crossbore Prevention

Pre-bore crossbore drawings submitted and approved. Post-bore crossbore inspection and paperwork completed. PG&E ITS card scan fees managed by Apex.

03

Bore & Installation

Pilot drill, reaming, and conduit/pipe pullback with real-time bore path tracking. Drilling fluid managed and reclaimed at approved facilities throughout.

04

Leak Testing

Post-installation leak test at operating pressure — witnessed, documented, and submitted to PG&E as required before any service is activated.

05

Full Restoration

City-specific asphalt restoration to required width. T-cut and over-cut edges, sub-grade prep, and compaction testing — all to city and PG&E specifications.

06

Closeout Package

Complete documentation package: as-built drawings, crossbore photos, compaction test results, ITS card scans, permit submittals — delivered on project close.

Apex crew with PG&E credentials
On-Site Verification

QR-VERIFIED
WALLET CARDS.

Every Apex crew member carries a PG&E qualification wallet card containing a QR code that opens a live record of all completed training requirements — verifiable by PG&E inspectors, project owners, and general contractors in real time.

Contractors and project owners are welcome to view our certificates at any time. Our OQ records are maintained current and in good standing through PG&E's LMS system.

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QR-Verified On Every Job Site

Scan our wallet card QR code to instantly verify all active PG&E OQ qualifications — no paperwork required from the inspector.

PG&E
Need a PG&E OQ Contractor?

CALL THE CERTIFIED
CREW.

If you need a PG&E-qualified contractor for your project — gas bore, joint trench, electric service, or any work near PG&E facilities — give us a call. We carry every required qualification and provide full documentation from pre-construction to closeout.

Get a PG&E Bore Quote Call David — (408) 849-6200